Catheter With Imaging Assembly With Placement Aid And Related Methods Therefor

Abstract

A feeding tube assembly having a feeding tube, an imaging assembly having a rigid axis and a bending axis transversely oriented relative to the rigid axis is disclosed. The imaging assembly can be preferentially deformable along the bending axis relative to the rigid axis. A marking disposed on at least one of the imaging assembly and the feeding tube can provide an indication of the bending axis. A packaging comprising a curvilinear cavity and a circular cavity can respectively contain the imaging assembly and the feeding tube, in a coiled configuration, which induces the feeding tube assembly into a pre-set, arcuate shape.

1 . A feeding tube assembly having a feeding outlet for delivering enteral feeding liquid, comprising:
 a feeding tube having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, and a feeding passage extending along a longitudinal axis defined between the first and second longitudinal ends of the feeding tube;   an imaging assembly secured to the feeding tube proximate the first longitudinal end of the feeding tube, the imaging assembly having a rigid axis and a bending axis transversely oriented relative to the rigid axis, the imaging assembly preferentially deformable along the bending axis relative to the rigid axis; and   a marking disposed proximate the first longitudinal end on the feeding tube, the marking configured to provide an indication of the bending axis.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The feeding tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly comprises a deformable circuit element that is preferentially deformable with the bending axis relative to the rigid axis, and an imaging device mounted on the deformable circuit element. 
     
     
         4 . The feeding tube assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the imaging assembly further comprises a light source and housing enclosing the deformable circuit element, the imaging device, and the light source, wherein the marking is disposed on an outer surface of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The feeding tube assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the deformable circuit element comprises a planar longitudinal portion oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the feeding tube, and a planar transverse portion transversely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the feeding tube, wherein the deformable circuit element is preferentially bendable along the planar longitudinal portion, and wherein the imaging device and the light source are mounted on the transverse portion of the deformable circuit element. 
     
     
         6 . The feeding tube assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the deformable circuit comprises a planar longitudinal portion and at least one fold line on the planar longitudinal portion oriented transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the feeding tube. 
     
     
         7 . The feeding tube assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly has a curvilinear pre-set shape along the bending axis. 
     
     
         8 . A feeding tube kit comprising:
 a feeding tube assembly including a flexible feeding tube having opposite first and second longitudinal ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second longitudinal ends, and a feeding passage defined therein extending along the longitudinal axis between the first and second longitudinal ends, an inlet adaptor adjacent the second longitudinal end of the tube in fluid communication with the feeding passage, the inlet adaptor configured for fluid connection to a source of enteral feeding liquid to fluidly connect the source of enteral feeding liquid to the feeding passage, an elongate imaging assembly including an imaging device, the imaging assembly configured for generating and transmitting imaging signals indicative of images of the alimentary canal of a subject, wherein the imaging assembly has a longitudinal axis and is secured to the tube adjacent the first longitudinal end of the tube, the imaging assembly being bendable along its longitudinal axis in a bending direction, and a feeding outlet proximate the imaging assembly and in fluid communication with the feeding passage for delivering enteral feeding liquid to the subject; and   a package in which the feeding tube assembly is received, the package including a feeding tube receiving cavity, at least a portion of the feeding tube being received in the feeding tube receiving cavity, the package further including an imaging assembly cavity having an elongate, curvilinear shape selected to pre-form a desired bend into the imaging device, wherein the imaging assembly is received in the imaging assembly cavity so that the imaging assembly conforms generally to the curvilinear shape of the imaging assembly cavity and the imaging assembly cavity sets the imaging assembly in the desired bend so that the imaging assembly retains the desired bend upon removal of the feeding tube assembly from the package.   
     
     
         9 . The feeding tube assembly packaging of  claim 8 , wherein the imaging assembly cavity includes opposing, curvilinear side walls engaging the imaging assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The feeding tube assembly packaging of  claim 9 , wherein the imaging assembly is generally non-bendable along its longitudinal axis in a transverse direction that is generally transverse to the bending direction, wherein the feeding tube assembly further includes a marking on the feeding tube generally adjacent the first longitudinal end of the feeding tube, the marking configured for indicating at least one of the bending direction of the imaging assembly, the package comprising a transparent side wall, the marking being visible through the transparent side wall when the imaging assembly is received in the imaging assembly cavity to indicate that the desired bend has been properly set. 
     
     
         11 . The feeding tube assembly packing of  claim 10 , wherein the marking is aligned with the packaging to orient the imaging assembly in the imaging assembly cavity. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The feeding tube assembly packaging as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the feeding tube assembly includes a marking that is aligned with the packaging so as to orient the imaging assembly in the imaging assembly cavity to pre-set a shape in the imaging assembly for traversing the nasopharynx. 
     
     
         14 . The feeding tube assembly packaging of  claim 8 , wherein the feeding tube is coiled and received in the feeding tube receiving cavity. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a feeding tube assembly having a feeding passage and a feeding outlet for delivering enteral feeding liquid, the method comprising:
 providing a feeding tube having an imaging assembly secured to the feeding tube proximate the feeding outlet of the feeding tube, the imaging assembly having a rigid axis and a bending axis that is transversely oriented relative to the rigid axis, wherein the imaging assembly is preferentially deformable along the bending axis relative to the rigid axis;   providing a container comprising a feeding tube receiving cavity and an curvilinear cavity;   disposing at least a portion of the feeding tube in the feeding tube receiving cavity; and   arcuately disposing at least a portion of the imaging assembly in the curvilinear cavity in conformation with the bending axis of the imaging assembly, the curvilinear cavity setting the imaging assembly in a desired bend so that the imaging assembly retains the desired bend upon removal of the feeding tube assembly from the package.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coiling at least a portion of the feeding tube in a plurality of loops, each of the loops having a coiling direction at least partially coincident the bending axis; and disposing at least one of the loops in the feeding tube receiving cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the feeding tube assembly further comprises a marking disposed on the feeding tube, and wherein the marking is configured to provide an indication of the bending axis. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising disposing at least a portion of the feeding tube in the feeding tube receiving cavity such that the marking is visible through a transparent side wall of the package indicating that the desired bend has been properly set.