Nasogastric tube

Abstract

A system comprising a nasogastric tube comprising a feeding mechanism, a suction mechanism configured to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus against said nasogastric tube, and a gastric decompression mechanism.

1 . A system comprising: 
       a nasogastric tube having a length and comprising:
 (a) a main lumen having one or more proximal connectors configured to connect to a source of substances or pressure; 
 (b) at least four vacuum lumens peripherally surrounding said main lumen; 
 (c) at least four suction ports configured to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst, each of said at least four suction ports associated with a different one of said at least four vacuum lumens, wherein said at least four suction ports are distributed between at least two different locations along the length of said nasogastric tube; and 
 (d) at least one gastric decompression port associated with at least one of said at least four vacuum lumens, said at least one gastric decompression port being disposed distally to the at least two different locations along the length of said nasogastric tube. 
 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A system comprising a nasogastric tube comprising:
 a feeding mechanism,   a suction mechanism configured to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus against said nasogastric tube, and   a gastric decompression mechanism.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said feeding mechanism comprises a main lumen having one or more proximal connectors configured to connect to a source of substances or pressure, and wherein said suction mechanism and/or gastric decompression mechanism comprise at least one vacuum lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein said suction mechanism comprises at least four vacuum lumens peripherally surrounding said main lumen, and at least four suction ports configured to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum source connected to said vacuum lumens. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein said vacuum lumens are connected to said vacuum source via a pressure regulator and a valve. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said main lumen and said vacuum lumens are constructed as one unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum lumens are a separate unit from said main lumen, and wherein said vacuum lumens are slidable relative to said main lumen. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said main lumen and said vacuum lumens are arranged as concentrically arranged conduits. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more auxiliary suction ports proximal to said suction ports. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least four suction ports comprises a graduated edging. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a manifold configured to connect said vacuum lumens to said valve. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said at least four suction ports comprises two or more suction ports, successively arranged along a portion of the length of said nasogastric tube. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said nasogastric tube further comprises two or more longitudinal radiopaque stripes. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein said two or more longitudinal radiopaque stripes are embedded in an outer wall of said nasogastric tube. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said main lumen comprises at least one feeding port at or adjacent to the distal end of said nasogastric tube. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 introducing a nasogastric tube into an esophagus of a patient, said nasogastric tube comprising a feeding mechanism, a suction mechanism configured to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus against said nasogastric tube, and a gastric decompression mechanism;   applying vacuum so as to decompress gastric gas;   applying vacuum so as to aspirate fluids from the esophagus; and   applying vacuum so as to sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  comprising:
 introducing a nasogastric tube into an esophagus of a patient, said nasogastric tube having a length and comprising a main lumen having one or more proximal connectors for connecting to a source of substances or pressure, four or more vacuum lumens peripheral to said main lumen, four or more suction ports, each of said four or more suction ports associated with a different one of said four or more vacuum lumens, wherein said four or more suction ports are distributed between at least two different locations along the length of said nasogastric tube, and at least one gastric decompression port being disposed distally to the at least two different locations along the length of said nasogastric tube; 
 applying vacuum so as to decompress gastric gas; and 
 applying vacuum interchangeably to said four or more vacuum lumens so as to decompress gastric gas and/or sealingly draw an inner wall of an esophagus thereagainst, each time in a different location along said esophagus. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising regulating the vacuum so that a suction level is not constant over time. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising regulating vacuum to said four or more suction ports of said four or more vacuum lumen, so as to create peristaltic movement or other oscillatory movement of the esophagus. 
     
     
         25 .- 29 . (canceled)