Catheter with imaging assembly with placement aid and related methods therefor

• US 9,198,835 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Swisher, David Rork, Davis, Kelly A., Naminy, Saeed Shakoori
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P
• Application Number:
  US13/606,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20140073853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 600/139, 600/156, 600/101, 600/102, 600/109, 600/110, 604/264, 604/523, 604/530
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00144 Hygienic packaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0026 Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type

Abstract

A feeding tube assembly having a feeding tube, an imaging assembly having a rigid axis and a bending axis transversely oriented relative to the rigid axis is disclosed. The imaging assembly can be preferentially deformable along the bending axis relative to the rigid axis. A marking disposed on at least one of the imaging assembly and the feeding tube can provide an indication of the bending axis. A packaging comprising a curvilinear cavity and a circular cavity can respectively contain the imaging assembly and the feeding tube, in a coiled configuration, which induces the feeding tube assembly into a pre-set, arcuate shape.

Claims

1. A method of providing a feeding tube assembly having a feeding passage and a feeding outlet for delivering enteral feeding liquid, the method comprising:

providing a feeding tube having an imaging assembly secured to the feeding tube proximate the feeding outlet of the feeding tube, the imaging assembly having a rigid axis and a bending axis that is transversely oriented relative to the rigid axis, wherein the imaging assembly is preferentially deformable along the bending axis relative to the rigid axis;

providing a container comprising a curvilinear cavity and a receiving cavity; and

arcuately disposing at least a portion of the imaging assembly in the curvilinear cavity in conformation with the bending axis of the imaging assembly to pre-form a desired bend into the imaging assembly facilitating insertion of the feeding tube assembly into the subject, the curvilinear cavity setting the imaging assembly in a curvilinear shape for being inserted into the subject;

removing the imaging assembly from the curvilinear cavity, the imaging assembly retaining the bend formed by the curvilinear cavity; and

inserting the feeding tube assembly into the subject after removing the imaging assembly from the curvilinear cavity without further bending the imaging assembly prior to inserting the feeding tube assembly into the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising coiling at least a portion of the feeding tube in a plurality of loops, each of the loops having a coiling direction at least partially coincident the bending axis;

and disposing at least one of the loops in the receiving cavity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feeding tube assembly further comprises a marking disposed on the feeding tube, and wherein the marking is configured to provide an indication of the bending axis.