Feeding tube facilitating improved placement and permitting subsequent delivery of a second prescribed product and method therefor

• US 4,874,365 A
• Filed: 10/11/1984
• Issued: 10/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Rhodes, David D., Steele, Sarah L., Arns, Christopher L., Frederick, Warren P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Application Number:
  US06/659,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 604/54, 604/29, 604/95, 604/170, 604/280-283, 604/270, 604/77, 604/207.14
• US Class Current: 604/516
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0007 inserted by using a guide-wire guide wires A61M25/09
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0061 fixing at an intermediate position on the tube, i.e. tube protruding the fixing means

Abstract

A naso-gastric feeding tube (10) includes a hollow, flexible tube (12) having an open, proximal end (14) permanently secured to a hollow adapter (16), forming an integral unit. A stylet (56) is removably mounted within the stylet port (42) of the adaptor (16). A syringe (72) may be secured to the placement port (44) in order to conduct the placement confirmation test to assure proper insertion of the feeding tube within the patient, eliminating the need for removing and then reinserting the stylet to confirm proper insertion of the feeding tube (10). Additionally, the feeding tube (10) permits delivery of a second prescribed product without disconnecting the tube (10) from the source of the first prescribed product.

Claims

1. A naso-gastric feeding tube comprising:

(A) a flexible, hollow tube having an open proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a discharge aperture defined near said distal end, in communication with the interior of said hollow tube;

(C) a hollow adapter permanently mounted on said open proximal end, the interior of said adapter being in open communication with the interior of the hollow tube, said adapter further including a stylet port and a placement port;

(D) at least one of said stylet port and said placement port including closure means associated therewith for closing said one port;

(E) a stylet including;

(i) a stylet plug removably mounted in said stylet port, and

(ii) a stylet wire permanently mounted at its proximal end to said stylet plug and extending substantially the entire length of said hollow tube, within said hollow tube;

(F) the maximum exterior diameter of said stylet wire being sufficiently less than the interior diameter of said hollow tube, so that said placement port is in open fluid communication with said discharge aperture so that fluid may be withdrawn through said discharge aperture through said placement port while said stylet wire is in said tube; and

(G) said stylet port and said placement port having means for simultaneously receiving separate products for discharge through said discharge aperture when said stylet is removed from said tube.

2. A method for correctly positioning a naso-gastric feeding tube within a patient, and subsequently feeding a patient prescribed products, the steps comprising:

(A) providing a naso-gastric feeding tube comprising;

(i) a flexible, hollow tube having an open proximal end and a distal end;

(ii) a discharge aperture defined near said distal end, in communication with the interior of said hollow tube;

(iii) a hollow adapter permanently mounted on said open proximal end, the interior of said adapter being in open communication with the interior of the hollow tube, said adapter further including a stylet port and a placement port;

(iv) at least one of said stylet port and said placement port including closure means associated therewith for closing said one port;

(v) a stylet including

(a) a stylet plug removably mounted in said stylet port, and

(b) a stylet wire permanently mounted at its proximal end to said stylet plug and extending substantially the entire length of said hollow tube, within said hollow tube; and

(vi) the maximum exterior diameter of said stylet wire being less than the interior diameter of said hollow tube, so that said placement port is in open fluid communication with said discharge aperture;

(B) inserting the naso-gastric tube into the naso-gastric system of the patient;

(C) with the stylet remaining in the stylet port and the tube, testing for proper feeding tube placement by one of

(i) injecting fluid by stringe through the tube around the stylet from the placement port in communication with the interior of the tube and listening for an audible mark indicating proper feeding tube placement, and

(ii) attempting to withdraw liquid by syringe through the feeding tube and placement port, indicating proper feeding tube placement;

(D) repeating said testing step until proper feeding tube placement is indicated;

(E) after said testing step indicates proper feeding tube placement, withdrawing the stylet from the hollow tube and adapter; and

(F) securing at least one of the stylet port and placement port to a source of first prescribed product to be administered to the patient through the tube.

3. The method as in claim 2, the steps further comprising:

(A) delivering the first prescribed product to the patient through one of said stylet and placement port;

(B) during said delivery step, without disconnecting the tube from the source, delivering a second prescribed product through the other of said stylet and placement port and the hollow tube to the patient.

4. The method as in claim 3, the steps further comprising:

after said delivery of a second prescribed product through said other port, closing said other port.