Weighted enteric feeding tube

Claim 1

In an enteric feeding tube including a flexible, elongated tubular member adapted for nasogastric and naso-intestinal use, said tube having a weighted bolus at its distal end to facilitate the placement of said tube within the body and having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of spaced openings in the wall of said tube adjacent the distal end thereof to permit the passage of fluids and comminuted solids to and from said tube, the proximal end thereof including means to facilitate the connection of said tube to a fluid feeding or fluid extraction arrangement, the improvement comprising said weighted bolus having an elongated, substantially cylindrical inner bore, a plurality of metallic weight means of a diameter substantially equal to and slightly smaller than said inner bore singularly positioned in side-by-side relationship within and extending longitudinally along said inner bore of said bolus, said weight means having adjacent surfaces of rounded shape and having an aggregate length less than the length of said inner bore to permit limited movement of said weight means relative to and along the longitudinal axis of said bore and to permit said bolus to bend as necessary, said bolus having a rounded distal end to facilitate movement through the body passages and secured at its proximal end to said tube in sealing relationship.