Bolus for non-occluding high flow enteral feeding tube
First Claim
1. A bolus adapted for use with an enteral feeding tube, the bolus having a generally tubular body defining a sidewall, a proximal end tube opening capable of being connected to a distal end of the enteral feeding tube, and a generally rounded terminal end, the bolus including a fluid opening within the sidewall of the bolus between the proximal end opening and the terminal end of the bolus, the fluid opening biased toward the terminal end of the bolus, and an elongated collar portion adjacent the proximal end tube opening of the bolus, the collar portion defining and extending over a first passage within the bolus.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a bolus for an enteral feeding tube, or catheter, that is capable of being used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure as well as other intubation procedures. The bolus has a generally tubular body defining a sidewall, a proximal end tube opening capable of being connected to a distal end of the enteral feeding tube, and a generally rounded terminal end having a flattened tip. The bolus includes a fluid opening within the sidewall of the bolus between the proximal end opening and the terminal end of the bolus. An interior surface of the sidewall opposite the fluid opening is curved and slopes upwardly toward a distal end of the fluid opening. The curved interior surface and the fluid opening configuration allows for fluid flow that approximates the fluid flow rate characteristics of an open-ended tube. The fluid opening is biased toward the terminal end of the bolus thereby defining an elongated collar portion adjacent the proximal end tube opening of the bolus. The terminal end of the bolus has an aperture therethrough that forms a stylet passage in communication with the fluid opening. The stylet passage is sized to allow a stylet to pass therethrough when the tube is used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure.
48 Citations
34 Claims
- 1. A bolus adapted for use with an enteral feeding tube, the bolus having a generally tubular body defining a sidewall, a proximal end tube opening capable of being connected to a distal end of the enteral feeding tube, and a generally rounded terminal end, the bolus including a fluid opening within the sidewall of the bolus between the proximal end opening and the terminal end of the bolus, the fluid opening biased toward the terminal end of the bolus, and an elongated collar portion adjacent the proximal end tube opening of the bolus, the collar portion defining and extending over a first passage within the bolus.
- 6. A bolus adapted for use with an enteral feeding tube, the bolus having a generally tubular body defining a sidewall, a proximal end tube opening capable of being connected to a distal end of the enteral feeding tube, and a generally rounded, non-conical terminal end, the bolus including a fluid opening within the sidewall of the bolus between the proximal end opening and the terminal end of the bolus, the fluid opening biased toward the terminal end of the bolus, and an elongated collar portion adjacent the proximal end tube opening of the bolus, the collar portion defining and extending over a first passage within the bolus, the terminal end of the bolus having an aperture therethrough and forming a stylet passage in communication with the fluid opening, the stylet passage sized to allow a stylet to pass therethrough when the tube is used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure.
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14. A bolus adapted for use with an enteral feeding tube capable of being used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure, the bolus comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body having a center axis and a proximal end including an end opening capable of being connected to a distal end of the enteral feeding tube, the opening in fluid communication with a fluid passage disposed within the body and along its center axis thereby defining a cylindrical sidewall, the fluid passage diverging from the center axis of the body and exiting through the sidewall to define a fluid outlet and a curved fluid passage surface, the fluid outlet defining an elongated collar portion and a distal end portion of the body, the collar portion defining and extending over a first passage within the bolus, the distal end portion including a generally rounded, non-conical terminal end;
the fluid outlet including a distal end and further defining edge surfaces of the side wall of the body having planar and distal curved portions, the distal curved portions converging and curving upwardly at the distal end of the outlet to form a curved outlet surface, the curved outlet surface terminating at a point immediately adjacent the generally rounded terminal end of the distal end portion of the body;
the distal end portion of the body including a stylet passage disposed along the center axis of the body that passes through the non-conical terminal end of the distal end portion and the curved fluid passage surface of the fluid passage, the stylet passage sized to allow a stylet to pass therethrough when the tube is used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An enteral feeding tube for administration and aspiration of fluids within the gastrointestinal tract, the tube having a wall of selected thickness, a proximal end of the tube capable of being connected to a fluid nutrient source, a distal end of the tube comprising:
a bolus having a proximal end in fluid communication with the tube, a fluid passage in fluid communication with the proximal end and having a diameter and defining a bolus sidewall, a generally rounded, non-conical terminal end, and a fluid opening in the sidewall of the bolus, the fluid opening in fluid communication with the passage, the fluid opening biased toward the terminal end of the bolus, and an elongated collar portion adjacent the proximal end of the bolus, the collar portion defining and extending over a first passage within the bolus, the terminal end of the bolus having an aperture therethrough and forming a stylet passage in communication with the fluid passage, the stylet passage sized to allow a stylet to pass therethrough when the tube is used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A catheter for irrigation and aspiration of fluids within body cavities, the catheter including a catheter tube having a wall of selected thickness and a proximal end capable of being connected to one of a fluid and suction source, a distal end of the catheter tube comprising:
a bolus having a proximal end in fluid communication with the catheter, a fluid passage in fluid communication with the proximal end and defining a bolus sidewall, a generally rounded, non-conical terminal end, and a fluid opening in the sidewall of the bolus, the fluid opening in fluid communication with the passage, the fluid opening biased toward the terminal end of the bolus, and an elongated collar portion adjacent the proximal end of the bolus, the collar portion defining and extending over a first passage within the bolus, the terminal end of the bolus having an aperture therethrough and forming a stylet passage in communication with the fluid passage, the stylet passage sized to allow a stylet to pass therethrough when the catheter is used in an over-the-wire intubation procedure. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification