Catheter for recovery of dysphagia

Abstract

A catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia comprising: a feeding tube; a sleeve for receiving the feeding tube and being movable longitudinally relative to the feeding tube, and a retaining formation attached to the sleeve for fixing the position of the sleeve relative to the feeding tube, wherein the retaining formation comprises a first part and a second part connected by a living hinge, the second part being movable relative to the first part between an open position whereby the sleeve can be moved longitudinally relative to the feeding tube and a closed position, whereby the feeding tube is clamped between the first part and the second part to positionally fix the sleeve relative to the feeding tube.

1 . A catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia comprising:
 a feeding tube;   a sleeve for receiving the feeding tube and being movable longitudinally relative to the feeding tube; and   a retaining formation attached to the sleeve for fixing the position of the sleeve relative to the feeding tube,   wherein the retaining formation comprises a first part and a second part connected by a living hinge, the second part being movable relative to the first part between an open position whereby the sleeve can be moved longitudinally relative to the feeding tube and a closed position, whereby the feeding tube is clamped between the first part and the second part to positionally fix the sleeve relative to the feeding tube.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is insertable nasally into the body of a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the retaining formation comprises a planar surface having a recess therein for receiving the feeding tube. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises an arcuate surface for clamping against the sleeve when the retaining formation is in a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining formation is formed from polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the retaining formation comprises one or more ribs protruding from the arcuate surface thereof and forms said ribs protruding from the arcuate surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 6 , wherein a thermoplastic elastomer liner is provided adjacent the arcuate surface of the second part of the retaining formation. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprises a connector for receiving a part of the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 8 , wherein the connector comprises a mounting element for receiving the retaining formation. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 9 , wherein the mounting element comprises a part of a mounting interface between the connector and the retaining formation. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 10 , wherein the retaining formation further comprises a corresponding part of the mounting interface between the connector and the retaining formation and a snap fit element co-operable with an indent in the connector. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 11 , wherein the snap fit element is a resilient finger. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining formation further comprises a closure for locking the first and second parts of the retaining formation together when in a closed condition. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 13  wherein the closure comprises a clasp. 
     
     
         15 . A catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia, comprising:
 a feeding tube;   a sleeve for receiving the feeding tube and being movable longitudinally relative to the feeding tube; and   a seal located on the sleeve,   wherein the seal comprises a first end and a second end with a lumen extending therebetween, the first end of the seal receiving a proximal end of the sleeve and the second end of the seal receiving the feeding tube, wherein the lumen has an internal flange for acting against an outer surface of the feeding tube, the flange inhibiting fluid from a patient being drawn up between the sleeve and the feeding tube.   
     
     
         16 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 15 , wherein the catheter is insertable nasally into the body of a patient. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 15 , wherein the lumen is tapered outwardly at either the first, second or both ends of the sleeve to receive the feeding tube and/or sleeve at respective ends thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 15 , wherein the seal further comprises an external flange running around the outer periphery thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia according to  claim 15 , wherein the lumen of the seal has a first diameter leading from the first end thereof and a second diameter leading from the second end thereof, said first and second diameters changing step-wise at a shoulder disposed within the lumen of the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A catheter for assisting recovery from dysphagia, comprising:
 a feeding tube; and   a sleeve, having a proximal end and a distal end, for receiving the feeding tube and being movable longitudinally relative to the feeding tube,   wherein the sleeve is constructed from first, inner ply of material and a second, outer ply of material, the first ply being formed from a first material selected to have a first material characteristic and the second ply being formed from a second material selected to have a second, different from the first, material characteristic.   
     
     
         27 - 41 . (canceled)