Temporary tubes and a system for placing same in a patient

Abstract

A temporary tube for placement within a patient includes a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion, and a lumen increasing in cross section along at least a portion of the distal end portion toward a distal end. The lumen may increase in cross section to the distal end, along an entirety of the distal end portion, from the proximal end portion to the distal end, or along an entirety of the tube. An outer cross section of the tube is uniform along at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tube, or the outer cross section of the tube may be uniform from a proximal end of the tube along at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tube. The tube may include at least one vent positioned in the distal end portion.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An enteral tube for placement within a patient, comprising:
 a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion, and a lumen increasing in cross section along at least a portion of the distal end portion toward a distal end.   
     
     
         2 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen increases in cross section to the distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen increases in cross section along an entirety of the distal end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein the cross section is an inner diameter of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen increases in cross section from the proximal end portion to the distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein the lumen increases in cross section along an entirety of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein an outer cross section of the tube is uniform along at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein an outer cross section of the tube is uniform from a proximal end of the tube along at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , wherein the tube includes at least one vent positioned in the distal end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 1 , further comprising a tip attached to the distal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         11 . A temporary tube for placement within a patient, comprising:
 a tube for placement within a patient having a lumen increasing in diameter along at least a portion of the tube to a distal end.   
     
     
         12 . The temporary tube for placement within a patient of  claim 11 , wherein the lumen increases in diameter along an entirety of the tube. 
     
     
         13 . The temporary tube for placement within a patient of  claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the tube is uniform along at least a portion of a proximal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The temporary tube for placement within a patient of  claim 11 , wherein an outer diameter of the tube is uniform from a proximal end of the tube along the at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The temporary tube for placement within a patient of  claim 11 , wherein the tube includes at least one vent positioned in a distal end portion. 
     
     
         16 . An enteral tube for placement within a patient, comprising:
 a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion, and a lumen increasing in diameter along at least a portion of the tube to a distal end.   
     
     
         17 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 16 , wherein the lumen increases in diameter along an entirety of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 16 , wherein an outer diameter of the tube is uniform along at least a portion of the proximal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 16 , wherein the lumen increases in cross section from the proximal end portion to the distal end. 
     
     
         20 . The enteral tube for placement within a patient of  claim 16 , further comprising a tip attached to the distal end of the tube.