Methods and apparatus for guiding medical care based on sensor data from the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for guiding medical care based on sensor data from the gastrointestinal tract are described utilizing an apparatus which can be used with enteral feeding. Generally, the apparatus includes an elongated body having a length configured for insertion into a stomach and at least one pair of electrodes located along the length of the elongated body and positionable for placement within the stomach. A controller in electrical communication with the at least one pair of electrodes is included and the control may also be configured to measure a conductivity or impedance between the pair of electrodes and to determine a gastric residual volume of the stomach based on the measured conductivity or impedance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tubing assembly comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the proximal end and the distal end define a lumen therebetween, and wherein the catheter is configured for placement within a digestive tract of a patient; and   an acoustic sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The tubing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a multi-port connector comprising a nutrient branch and a branch for introduction of a second fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The tubing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor is located within the lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The tubing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to acquire sound data from sound waves traveling through the lumen from an opening in the distal end of the catheter and communicate the sound data to a processor in real-time. 
     
     
         5 . The tubing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor is configured for a wired connection or a wireless connection to the processor. 
     
     
         6 . The tubing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor is one of an electret, condenser, piezoelectric crystal, piezoelectric ceramic, piezoelectric film, fiber optic microphone, or contact accelerometers. 
     
     
         7 . A catheter guidance system, comprising:
 (a) a processor;   (b) a power source;   (c) a display device; and   (d) a tubing assembly, comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein the proximal end and the distal end define a lumen therebetween; and 
 an acoustic sensor; 
   wherein the acoustic sensor communicates sound data acquired by the acoustic sensor from sound waves traveling through the lumen from an opening in the distal end of the catheter to the processor in real-time via an electrical connection;   wherein the display device is coupled to the processor and displays a graph of the sound data communicated by the acoustic sensor;   wherein the catheter guidance system alerts a user as to correct placement of the catheter in a digestive tract of a patient or alerts the user as to incorrect placement of the catheter in a respiratory tract of the patient.   
     
     
         8 . The catheter guidance system of  claim 7 , further comprising a memory device storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to (i) interpret the sound data communicated by the acoustic sensor and (ii) cause the catheter guidance system to alert the user as to correct placement of the catheter in the digestive tract of the patient or alert the user as to incorrect placement of the catheter in the respiratory tract of the patient based on the interpretation of the sound data. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter guidance system of  claim 7 , wherein the acoustic sensor is located within the lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter guidance system of  claim 7 , wherein the acoustic sensor is one of an electret, condenser, piezoelectric crystal, piezoelectric ceramic, piezoelectric film, fiber optic microphone, or contact accelerometers. 
     
     
         11 . A method for determining if a catheter is placed within a digestive tract of a body of a patient, the method comprising:
 (a) inserting a distal end of a tubing assembly into an orifice of the body, wherein the tubing assembly comprises:
 the catheter, wherein the catheter has a proximal end and a distal end and extends in a longitudinal direction, wherein the proximal end and the distal end define a lumen therebetween; and 
 an acoustic sensor; 
   (b) electrically connecting the acoustic sensor to a processor via a wired connection or a wireless connection;   (c) activating the acoustic sensor, wherein the acoustic sensor acquires sound data from sound waves traveling through the lumen from an opening in the distal end of the catheter and communicates the sound data to the processor in real-time via the wired connection or the wireless connection;   (d) advancing the distal end of the catheter inside the body in a direction away from the orifice while the acoustic sensor is activated; and   (e) observing a graph of the sound data on a display device coupled to the processor, wherein the display device alerts a user as to correct placement of the catheter in the digestive tract of the patient or alerts the user as to incorrect placement of the catheter in a respiratory tract of the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to (i) interpret the sound data communicated by the acoustic sensor and (ii) cause the display device to communicate whether or not the catheter is placed within the digestive tract of the patient based on the interpretation of the sound data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the orifice is a nose or a mouth. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the acoustic sensor is located within the lumen of the catheter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the acoustic sensor one of an electret, condenser, piezoelectric crystal, piezoelectric ceramic, piezoelectric film, fiber optic microphone, or contact accelerometers.