Patent ID: 8529471

Claim:
A method of measuring a gastric residual volume and an intra-gastric pressure (IGP) in a patient receiving a feeding solution through a naso-gastric feeding tube, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a collection container in fluid communication with the naso-gastric feeding tube, the collection container being sized to collect and measure a volume of stomach fluid from the patient anywhere within a critical range of at least 100 ml and up to 499 ml; elevating the collection container above the patient to prevent the flow of stomach fluid from the patient into the collection container; lowering the empty collection container below the patient such that the stomach fluid from within the patient's stomach flows into the collection container: measuring the volume of the stomach fluid in the collection container to determine the gastric residual volume of the patient; elevating the collection container including the collected stomach fluid above the patient to return the stomach fluid to the patient; and determining the intra-gastric pressure of the patient based upon the completed return of the stomach fluid to the patient.