Insertion system and methods for nasogastric tubes including feeding tubes

1. A nasogastric tube insertion system for inserting a nasogastric tube in a human patient comprising:

a guide element for insertion into the patient's stomach;

a nasogastric feeding tube having a retaining structure adapted to slidably move along said guide element; and

an inserter element adapted to engage an end of said guide element to enable insertion of said guide element through a patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx;

wherein the guide element comprises:

a thin elongate element having a first end and a second end; and

a swallowable weight affixed to said first end;

wherein the inserter element comprises a curved insertion section which is configured to follow a curved insertion path through the nasal passages of the patient, wherein the curved insertion section is constructed with a curve that generally conforms to the anatomy of the patient's nasal passages and the curved insertion path;

wherein the curved insertion section is adapted to be inserted, with the guide element, along the curved insertion path, through the patient's nasal passages, and to the patient's oropharynx to position the end of the guide element in the patient's oropharynx;

wherein the guide element is separately insertable into the patient's stomach prior to insertion of the nasogastric tube;

said nasogastric feeding tube further comprising:

a tubular section having at least one lumen;

a proximal end having at least one port in communication with said lumen and adapted to receive fluid for delivery through said tubular section; and

a distal end having at least one exit port in communication with said lumen.

2. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said thin elongate element is constructed as a line having a single filament.

3. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said thin elongate element is constructed as a string.

4. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said swallowable weight comprises:

an attachment structure affixed to said thin elongate element; and

a resilient body substantially surrounding said attachment structure;

wherein the resilient body has a space to receive a tip of the curved insertion section of the inserter element.

5. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said retaining structure comprises a generally tubular element attached to said nasogastric feeding tube parallel to and near an insertion end thereof, said tubular element having an opening adapted to receive an end of said guide element.

6. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said retaining structure comprises a generally tubular element attached to said nasogastric tube parallel to and near an insertion end thereof, said tubular element being adapted for slidable movement of said nasogastric tube along said guide element.

7. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said retaining structure comprises a lumen extending through said tube;

said lumen opening to the exterior of said nasogastric feeding tube at an aperture near an insertion end thereof, and said lumen opening to the exterior of said nasogastric feeding tube at a second aperture spaced from said first aperture.

8. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 1 wherein said inserter element comprises:

a slender elongate body attached to the curved insertion section; and

a handle attached to the body near an end thereof opposite said curved insertion section.

9. A nasogastric tube insertion system for inserting a nasogastric tube in a human patient, comprising:

a guide element for insertion into the patient's stomach;

a nasogastric feeding tube comprising a retaining structure adapted to slidably move along said guide element;

an inserter element adapted to engage an end of said guide element to enable insertion of said guide element through a patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx;

wherein the guide element comprises:

a thin elongate element having a first end and a second end; and

a swallowable weight affixed to said first end;

wherein the inserter element comprises a curved insertion section which is configured to follow a curved insertion path through the nasal passages of the patient, wherein the curved insertion section is constructed with a curve that generally conforms to the anatomy of the patient's nasal passages and the curved insertion path;

wherein the guide element is adapted to releasably engage a tip of the curved insertion section of the inserter element;

wherein the guide element is adapted to be insertable, with the curved insertion section, along the curved insertion path through a patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx through employment of the inserter element;

wherein the guide element is separately insertable into the patient's stomach prior to insertion of the nasogastric tube.

10. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 9 wherein said retaining structure comprises a generally tubular element attached to said nasogastric feeding tube parallel to and near an insertion end thereof, said tubular element having an opening to adapted to receive an end of said guide element.

11. The nasogastric tube insertion system of claim 9 wherein said retaining structure comprises a lumen extending through said tube; said lumen opening to the exterior of said nasogastric feeding tube at an aperture near an insertion end thereof, said aperture being adapted to receive an end of said guide element, and said lumen opening to the exterior of said nasogastric feeding tube at a second aperture spaced from said first aperture.

12. A method for inserting a nasogastric tube in a patient comprising the steps of

a. engaging an end of a guide element with a tip of a curved insertion section of an inserter element to aid in placing the end of the guide element through the patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx, wherein the curved insertion section is configured to follow a curved insertion path through the nasal passages of the patient, wherein the curved insertion section is constructed with a curve that generally conforms to the anatomy of the patient's nasal passages and the curved insertion path, wherein the guide element comprises a thin elongate element with a swallowable weight at the end;

b. inserting the curved insertion section of the inserter element, with the guide element, along the curved insertion path, through the patient's nasal passages and to the patient's oropharynx to position the end of the guide element in the patient's oropharynx;

c. releasing the end of the guide element from the inserter element;

d. causing the patient to swallow the swallowable weight of the guide element into the patient's stomach;

e. inserting the nasogastric tube along the guide element into the patient's stomach after the step of causing the patient to swallow the swallowable weight; and

f. verifying the position of the nasogastric tube in the patient's stomach by examining the patient using an imaging modality.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein step a. thereof further comprises the steps of:

engaging the swallowable weight affixed to said end of the guide element to the tip of the curved insertion section of the inserter element; and

inserting the curved insertion section of the inserter element and the swallowable weight through the patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein step a, thereof further comprises the steps of:

engaging the swallowable weight affixed to said end of the guide element to the tip of the curved insertion section of the inserter element;

applying light tension to an opposite end of the guide element to retain the swallowable weight on the tip of the inserter element; and

inserting the curved insertion section of the inserter element and the swallowable weight through the patient's nasal passages and into the patient's oropharynx.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein step e. thereof includes the steps of:

threading an opposite end of the guide element through a retaining structure of the nasogastric tube; and

slidably moving the nasogastric tube along a path established by the guide element into the patient's stomach.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein step a thereof further comprises the steps of:

engaging the swallowable weight affixed to said end of the guide element to the tip of the curved insertion section of the inserter element; and

inserting the curved insertion section of the inserter element and the swallowable weight through into patient's nasal passages; and further comprising the step of:

b1. advancing said swallowable weight into said patient's oropharynx.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step b 1 . further comprises advancing said swallowable weight into said patient's oropharynx by applying to said guide element gentle longitudinal pressure in the direction of said patient's oropharynx.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein step f. thereof further comprises the step of:

determining correctness of a final position of the nasogastric tube by examining the patient using a conventional X-Ray.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:

g. introducing a radiopaque fluid through said nasogastric tube; and

h. determining correctness of a final position of the nasogastric tube by observing said radiopaque fluid under fluoroscopy.