Patent ID: 6126647
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: A61J,A61M,H01H

Abstract:
Apparatus for intubating a patient to introduce nutrition into the small intestine, comprising:an elongated flexible catheter having a ferrous metal follower at a distal end portion thereof, said catheter having an access channel extending to a lumen for conducting a nutrient to an eyelet communicating with said lumen at said distal end of said catheter upstream of said ferrous metal follower;a leader magnet having a magnetic field of a predetermined magnetic flux associated therewith, the magnetic flux of said leader magnet permeating body tissue of the abdomen and said ferrous metal follower and thereby establishing a magnetic coupling between said ferrous metal follower and said leader magnet at a predetermined distance between said ferrous metal follower and said leader magnet, the magnetic coupling causing said ferrous metal follower to move in response to movement of said leader magnet; anda shielded magnetic reed switch positioned adjacent said ferrous metal follower, wherein said shielded magnetic reed switch actuates within the predetermined distance to indicate establishment of the magnetic coupling.