Patent ID: 11937777
Assignee: LOHMANN & RAUSCHER GMBH & CO., KG
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  Y | IPC A

Claim 17:
18. A method for treatment of esophageal defects, comprising:
inserting a sponge of a vacuum sponge system into an intestinal lumen of a human body over an esophageal defect in an esophagus, the sponge having an open-pore structure, an outer surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, spaced from the proximal end in an axial direction of the sponge, and a channel that extends from the proximal end of the sponge to the distal end of the sponge, wherein the vacuum sponge system further includes a drainage tube disposed at least partially in the sponge to be in fluid communication with the sponge, wherein the drainage tube is connectable with a vacuum pump such that a pressure generated by the vacuum pump is applicable to the sponge via the drainage tube; and a delivery member having an outer surface and extending in an axial direction of the sponge, wherein the delivery member comprises an enteral feeding device and is disposed within the channel that extends from the proximal end of the sponge to the distal end of the sponge;
extending the enteral feeding device distally of the sponge into a stomach or a small intestine of the human body; and
applying pressure to the sponge, including applying the pressure provided by the pump via the drainage tube in a vicinity of the outer surface of the delivery member and the outer surface of the sponge, to provide for a closure of a lumen of the esophagus and establish a fluid communication between a region distal from the distal end of the sponge and a region proximal from the proximal end of the sponge, in order to enable performance of enteral nutrition via the enteral feeding device.