Endoscopic Feeding Tube Delivery System

Full Description

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed an endoscopic feeding tube delivery system that directly delivers feeding tubes into the jejunum. By avoiding inadvertent tube placement in the lung, this technology will reduce medical errors and save lives. In addition, confirmatory radiography will no longer be necessary, thus reducing patient exposure to the harmful effects of additional radiation.

Clinicians who desire to place a nasal-jejunal feeding tube in their patients must currently rely on persitalsis to carry a blindly placed feeding tube from the stomach into the jejunum, fluoroscopy to pass the feeding tube under radiologic guidance, or per-oral sedated endoscopy to pull a feeding tube from the stomach into the jejunum. The new UC Davis feeding tube system will streamline feeding tube placement, making it easier for clinicians to place tubes, cheaper for the health care system, and most importantly, safer for patients.

Features/Benefits

The device developed by UC Davis researchers is safer for the patient and would remove the need for radiography, sedated per-oral esophagoscopy, pH monitoring, and/or intravenous sedation currently necessary to ensure placement of a feeding tube in the jejunum. Additionally, this device can also be manufactured to secure an ultrathin endoscope to a traditional nasal-jejunal feeding tube.

Patent Status