Patent ID: 6482170
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: A61J

Abstract:
In an apparatus for relieving gastric pressure during enteral feeding of neonatal and pediatric patients, the apparatus being interposed between a fluid nutrient source and an enteral feeding tube, the apparatus having gastric relief tubing for collecting reflux fluids from the patients stomach, a proximal end of the tubing being in fluid communication with ambient atmosphere, a distal end of the tubing being coupled to a proximal end of the enteral feeding tube, the apparatus further including connector means for fluid communicatively coupling the fluid nutrient source with the tubing, the connector means being interposed along the length of the tubing, the improvement comprising:the gastric relief tubing having volumetric markings selected to measure quantities of fluid periodically refluxed during enteral feeding of neonatal and pediatric patients.