Probe

Abstract

A probe, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures, with a balloon coordinated to the insertion end of the probe tube, the balloon being fillable with liquid and emptiable in the inserted condition. The probe tube end is secured on a pilot probe and is detachable from the outside.

I claim: 
     
       1. A probe means, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures extending from the outside in an inserted condition in the creatures, comprising a hollow probe tube defining an insertion end,   a balloon constituting an end portion of said probe tube being coordinated to said insertion end of said probe tube and communicating therewith for filling the balloon, said balloon being adapted to be filled with liquid through said probe tube,   a separate pilot probe along said probe tube constituting exclusively means for initially inserting said balloon in a push-in path and said insertion end of said probe tube partially into the living creature,   means for emptying said balloon in an inserted condition detached completely from said pilot probe,   said pilot probe extending up to said end portion of said probe tube, grasping said balloon at a portion other than an end of said balloon, said pilot probe non-fluidly communicating with said balloon, and being completely separable from said balloon, said pilot probe further being removable from the living creature without said balloon, the latter remaining in communication with the outside via said probe tube.   
     
     
       2. The probe means according to claim 1 wherein said pilot probe is formed with a stick-in space,   said balloon has a balloon wall,   a loop formed by said balloon wall is clamped in said stick-in space of said pilot probe, said stick-in space of said pilot probe defines a clamp fastening location on said balloon disposed at approximately half the length of the balloon.   
     
     
       3. The probe means as set forth in claim 2, wherein said stick-in space is formed as a slot in said pilot probe,   said loop is clamped in the slot.   
     
     
       4. The probe means as set forth in claim 3, wherein said slot extends completely through said pilot probe and said balloon wall extends through said slot such that said loop extends outside said pilot probe.   
     
     
       5. The probe means according to claim 1, wherein said balloon has a wall,   said pilot probe has a terminal clamping cap means for clamping of said wall of said balloon and releasing said wall of said balloon upon a partial filling of said balloon.   
     
     
       6. The probe means according to claim 1, wherein said pilot probe defines an insertion side end formed with a plug-in space,   a portion of said balloon is removeably disposed in said plug-in space.   
     
     
       7. The probe means according to claim 1, wherein said pilot probe is arranged inside of said probe tube. 
     
     
       8. The probe means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pilot probe holds said balloon at a fastening location on one side of said pilot probe, said balloon has two balloon wall sections which are folded together lying on the opposite side of said pilot probe and said fastening location, and   said emptying means includes a collar holding said two balloon wall sections folded together, said collar being slidable off said balloon wall sections by a predetermined inner filling pressure in said balloon.   
     
     
       9. The probe means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pilot probe grasps said balloon in an unfilled condition thereof during insertion together of said pilot probe and said balloon. 
     
     
       10. The probe means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said probe tube including said insertion end has a substantially smaller cross-section than that of said pilot probe. 
     
     
       11. the probe means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said balloon is adapted for being transported to a target site in a filled condition thereof by peristalsis after the complete separation from said pilot probe, said emptying means includes,   closure means for holding said balloon closed until a predetermined inner filling pressure occurs in said balloon at the target site.   
     
     
       12. The probe means as set forth in claim 11, wherein said end of said balloon is open. 
     
     
       13. The probe means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pilot probe is formed as a hollow tube. 
     
     
       14. The probe means according to claim 13, wherein said pilot probe defines an insertion side end, a coupling connection of said probe tube to said pilot probe adjacent said insertion side end,   pulling means for decoupling said coupling connection,   said pulling means is contained in said pilot probe and extends therein up to said insertion side end.   
     
     
       15. A probe means, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures extending from the outside in an inserted condition in the creatures, comprising a probe tube defining an insertion end,   a pilot probe adjacent to said probe tube,   a balloon constituting a probe tube end being coordinated to said insertion end of said probe tube, said balloon being adapted to be filled with liquid,   means for emptying said balloon in an inserted condition,   means for securing said probe tube end on said pilot probe detachable from the outside,   said securing means defines a connection position on one side of said pilot probe,   said balloon has balloon wall sections lying on the opposite side of said pilot probe and said connection position,   said emptying means includes closure means for holding said balloon wall sections together, said closure means for removing from said balloon wall sections by a predetermined inner pressure in said balloon.   
     
     
       16. The probe means according to claim 15, wherein said closure means constitutes a collar means for stripping off from said balloon wall sections by said predetermined inner pressure in said balloon.   
     
     
       17. The probe means according to claim 16, wherein said collar means combines said balloon wall sections in a folded-over condition.   
     
     
       18. The probe means as set forth in claim 15, wherein said balloon has an open end at an end of one of said wall sections. .Iadd.   
     
     
       19.  A probe means, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures extending from the outside in an inserted condition in the creature, comprising a hollow probe tube defining an insertion end range,   said insertion end range of said probe tube includes a balloon connected to said probe tube and communicating therewith for filling said balloon with liquid through said probe tube,   a separate pilot probe along said probe tube extending to said insertion end range of said probe tube, said pilot probe operatively engaging said insertion end range of said probe tube, not being in liquid supply communication with said balloon, and constituting exclusively means for initially inserting in a push-in path said balloon including said insertion end range of said probe tube into the living creature with the probe tube extending to the outside of the creature,   said pilot probe being selectively completely removable away from said probe tube and said balloon, respectively, with said pilot probe being removable from the living creature without removing therefrom said insertion end range of said probe tube and said balloon, respectively, the latter remaining in the living creature in communication with the outside via said probe tube,   means for emptying said balloon in an inserted condition in the creature, with said pilot probe removed completely from said probe tube and out of the creature. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       20.  A probe means, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures extending from the outside in an inserted condition at a target site in the creatures, comprising a probe tube having an insertion end range,   said insertion end range of said probe tube includes a balloon communicatingly connected to said probe tube, said balloon being adapted to be filled with liquid through said probe tube,   a pilot probe extending adjacent to said probe tube,   means operatively engaging said probe tube at said insertion end range by said pilot probe for initially inserting said probe tube and said balloon respectively into the creature and removably disengaging said pilot probe from said probe tube and from the creature from the outside, and   means for emptying said balloon in an inserted condition in the creature at the target site. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       21.  The probe means according to claim 20, wherein said emptying means includes closure means,   a free end of said balloon is open,   said closure means closing said free end of said balloon until a predetermined inner filling pressure occurs in said balloon upon filling the latter via the probe tube at the target site. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       22.  The probe means according to claim 21, wherein said closure means is a collar means for sliding off said balloon by said predetermined inner filling pressure in said balloon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The probe means according to claim 20, wherein   said balloon has balloon wall sections,   said emptying means includes closure means holding said balloon wall sections together, said closure means being removed from said balloon wall sections by a predetermined inner filling pressure in said balloon.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.24.  The probe means according to claim 20, further comprising pulling means for effecting said disengaging of said pilot probe from said probe tube, said pulling means is said pilot probe itself pulled for removal from outside of the creature. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A probe means, particularly for the enteral feeding of living creatures, comprising   a flexible probe tube having a distal end and adapted for extending from the outside in an inserted condition of the distal end in the creature,   a balloon, adapted to be filled with liquid, communicatingly connected to said distal end of said flexible probe tube, said balloon adapted at a target site in the living creature to be filled via said probe tube and emptied into the living creature,   a pilot probe exclusively constituting means for initially pushing said distal end with said balloon attached thereto in an unfilled condition of the latter into the living creature, said pilot probe being pushed into said flexible probe tube and for being separateable therefrom from outside of the living creature when said distal end and said balloon are in the   
     
     
        inserted condition in the living creature. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  The probe means according to claim 25, wherein said balloon is formed with a free closure end adapted to be opened when the balloon is filled to a predetermined degree at the target site. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The probe means according to claim 26, wherein   said free closure end comprises a folded over free end of said balloon, said free end is formed with an opening,   means for holding said folded over free end of said balloon so as to close said opening and for releasing at a certain filling pressure in said balloon constituting said predetermined degree of filling. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.8.  The probe means as set forth in claim 25, wherein said probe tube is formed of a wire. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The probe means as set forth in claim 28, wherein   said wire comprises a core. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A probe means, particularly for enteral feeding of living creatures extending from the outside in an inserted condition in the creatures, comprising   a hollow probe tube having a distal end portion constituting an insertion end region,   said distal end portion includes a balloon communicatingly connected to said probe tube for receiving liquid through said probe tube from the outside, said hollow probe tube constituting means for supplying the liquid to said balloon,   a pilot probe extending along and operatively engaging said probe tube constituting exclusive means for initially inserting in an initial insertion push-in path said balloon in an unfilled condition into the living creature and said probe tube partially into the living creature with said probe tube extending out to the outside of the living creature, said pilot probe not being in fluid supply communication with said balloon,   said pilot probe constituting means for being completely removable relative to said probe tube upon reaching said initial insertion push-in path and for being removed from the outside from the living creature with said probe tube remaining partially inside the living creature and extending to the outside with the balloon remaining in the living creature in communication with the outside via said probe tube,   said balloon constituting means for being partially filled with the liquid through said probe tube from the outside of the living creature and without said pilot tube when the latter has been removed for moving to a target site by peristalsis of the living creature,   means for emptying the liquid in said balloon into the living creature at   
     
     
        said target site. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31.  A probe means, particularly for enteral feeding of a living creature extending from the outside in an inserted condition into the creature, comprising a probe tube defining a distal insertion end region,   a balloon connected to said insertion end region of said probe tube and communicating with said probe tube for filling the balloon through said probe tube,   a separate pilot probe along and operatively engaging said probe tube, said pilot probe extending up to said insertion end region of said probe tube and constituting exclusively means for initially inserting in a push-in path said balloon and said insertion end region of said probe tube into the living creature,   said pilot probe being completely removable from said pilot probe and from the living creature without said balloon, the latter remaining in the living creature in communication with the outside via said probe tube,   means for emptying said balloon in an insertion condition in the living   
     
     
        creature. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  The probe means as set forth in claim 19, 20, 30 or 31, wherein said pilot probe is disposed inside said probe tube during the initial insertion of said probe tube and said balloon into the living creature. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. A method for supplying liquid into the gastro-intestinal tract of a living creature via a flexible probe tube communicating with a balloon releasing its contents into the creature at a predetermined degree of filling of the balloon with the latter attached at a distal end of the probe tube, comprising the steps of   pushing the distal end of the probe tube with the attached balloon in an uninflated condition into the living creature in an initial insertion push-in path by operatively engaging said probe tube with a pilot tube, with the probe tube extending to the outside of the living creature,   from the outside of the living creature removing the pilot probe from the living creature, while leaving the distal end of the probe tube and the balloon inside the living creature with the probe tube extending to the outside,   partially filling the balloon with the liquid, such that the balloon with the probe tube connected thereto travels to a target site by peristalsis, yet with the probe tube extending to the outside,   filling the balloon with the liquid from the outside until the predetermined degree of filling of the balloon is reached, whereupon the   
     
     
        balloon releases the liquid into the creature. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  The probe means as set forth in claim 20, further comprising means for preventing the balloon from folding back upside down on its   
     
     
        length during said initial inserting. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  The probe means as set forth in claim 25, further comprising means for preventing the balloon from folding back upside down on its length during said initial pushing. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The probe means as set forth in claim 34, wherein   said probe tube and said pilot probe constitute members,   said preventing meand is a portion of one of said members. .Iaddend.