Enteral feeding tube with a flexible bolus and feeding bolus

Claim 1

An enteral feeding tube adapted for transpyloric passage and duodenal intubation of a distal end of said feeding tube in a patient capable of peristaltic contractions of the stomach wall, comprising: a. a feeding tube having a distal end; b. a feeding bolus located at the distal end of said feed tube, said feeding bolus having at least one opening in fluid communication with said feeding tube for dispensing nutritional fluids, and being of greater rigidity than said feeding tube; c. an elongated, generally flexible bolus, said flexible bolus extending from said feeding bolus; and, d. means for linking said flexible bolus to the feeding bolus of said feeding tube, said linking means having outer dimensions smaller than the outer dimensions of said flexible bolus and said feeding bolus, said linking means being of a length, diameter and deformability selected to initiate and maintain peristaltic contractions in the stomach walls around and behind said flexible bolus, the peristaltic contractions acting upon and advancing said flexible bolus, linking means, feeding bolus, and distal end of said feeding tube through the pylorus to achieve duodenal intubation.