Patent ID: 8361041

Claim:
An optically guidable feeding tube comprising: a nasogastric or nasoenteric feeding tube comprising an elongate body having a distal end for disposition in a patient's gastrointestinal tract at or below a stomach and a proximal end for attachment to a source of feeding solution, the elongate body being of sufficient length that the proximal end may be disposed outside of a patient adjacent a nasal or oral cavity of the patient while the elongate body extends through the nasal or oral cavity of the patient, though the patient's esophagus and at least into the stomach, the elongate body including at least one lumen having an opening through the distal end, the lumen configured for passing a feeding solution therethrough, an optical system disposed within the elongate body comprising a lighting structure for conveying light for lighting tissue adjacent the distal end of the elongate body and an image transmitting structure for conveying images of tissue adjacent the distal end of the elongate body, the optical system being mounted in the elongate body so as to remain in the elongate body during use of the feeding tube.