Patent ID: 9517184
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: A61B,A61J,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A feeding tube assembly for insertion and delivery of nutrients into an alimentary canal of a subject, comprising: a feeding tube having opposite proximal and distal ends, an inlet at the proximal end for connection to a source of liquid nutrients, a feeding passage defined therein and extending between the proximal and distal ends and in fluid communication with the inlet, an outlet proximate the distal end and in fluid communication with the feeding passage and the inlet, and a port separate from the inlet and disposed at the proximal end and in fluid communication with the outlet through the feeding passage; an air insufflation device fluidly connectable to the port, comprising a compressible air bulb having a bulb inlet and a bulb outlet; an inlet check valve disposed at the bulb inlet to unidirectionally allow air to flow into the bulb, and a relief valve fluidly connected to the bulb outlet, actuation of the air insufflation device causing air to flow through the feeding passage and exit the outlet of the feeding tube; and an imaging assembly configured to acquire images of the alimentary canal secured to the feeding tube proximate the distal end thereof, the air insufflation device being configured to insufflate the alimentary canal to at least partially expand the alimentary canal and aid the imaging assembly in acquiring images of the at least partially expanded alimentary canal.