Modified nasogastric tube for use in enteral feeding

摘要

A nasogastric tube which includes a flexible, collapsible introducer sheath for facilitating guided gastric intubation of an enteral feeding tube. The collapsible sheath is made of thin polyvinyl chloride, is puncture and tear resistant, and is molded externally and lengthwise to a nasogastric tube. The sheath is open at its proximal and distal ends, and impregnated on its internal surface with water activated lubricant which allows for placement of a feeding tube into the stomach through the sheath of an already placed nasogastric tube.