The invention relates to a method for introducing a tube (3) in order to deliver or remove substance(s) at positions in the gastrointestinal tract by letting a human subject or an animal swallow a firm body (1), the "bead part", to which said tube is fastened and letting the head part (1) be moved by peristalsis to desired positions. According to the invention, said head part (1), which is provided with a bore (2) or cavity running through it and being in fluid connection with said tube (3), is halted at a selected position in any part of the gastrointestinal tract by fixing the tube at the entrance into the body or outside the body. Said tube (3) is marked to indicate length of the swallowed part of the tube in order to guide the finding of said selected position. Liquid or gas is delivered or aspirated through said tube (3) and said bore (2) or cavity running through the head part (1).

A wire-guided esophageal bougie comprises a PTFE-lined, silicone rubber tube with a tapered, silicone rubber dilator on its distal end, the dilator being more flexible than the PTFE-lined tube. Radiopaque material throughout the length of the tube renders it fluoroscopically visible in the esophagus while a radiopaque ring in the dilator fluoroscopically locates the position of the dilator relative to a stricture.

Novel system for providing lubricity to the surface of a nasogastric intubation device, which system comprises a substantially homogeneous mixture consisting essentially of: (1) an effective amount of an unsaturated higher fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms; and (2) a polymer compatible therewith. The mixture may be coated on the surface of the portion of the length of the tube assembly to be lubricated or, alternatively, the acid may be contained in the polymer mix employed in the manufacture of the tube assembly. When the acid-containing surface is contacted with an aqueous alkaline solution prior to intubation, the acid is converted to the corresponding lubricious soap.

A gastroenteric feeding tube is provided which is ideally adapted for endoscopic placement through an endoscope having a working channel and a steerable tip. The feeding tube is provided with a longitudinal length sufficient to allow the endoscope to be removed from about the feeding tube without disturbing the distal placement of the feeding tube within the patient's intestines. After the feeding tube has been properly positioned within the patient and the endoscope has been removed from about the feeding tube, a connector is securely attached to the proximal end of the feeding tube to allow it to be connected to a feeding pump, or the like, to provide nourishment to the patient.

A peel-away endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography catheter and a method for using the same is provided. An endoscope having a passage therethrough is introduced into the mouth of a patient and is guided through the patent's gastroentral tract until an opening at the distal end of the endoscope is in close proximity with the papilla of vater leading to the common bile and pancreatic ducts. A peel-away ERCP catheter is provided which may be guided through the lumen of the endoscope until the distal tip of the catheter emerges from the opening at the distal end of the endoscope. The distal end of the catheter may be guided through the sphincter of oddi and into the common bile or pancreatic duct. A radiopaque dye may be injected through the catheter, into the duct. Additionally, a guide wire may be guided into the common bile or pancreatic duct through the catheter. Thereafter, the catheter may be easily removed without disturbing the placement of the guide wire by pulling on knobs attached to tabs at the proximal end of the catheter while the proximal end of the guide wire is held in place. The force applied to the catheter tabs causes the catheter to split longitudinally along two longitudinal grooves cut into the body of the catheter. Thus, the catheter peels-away from the guide wire without displacing the guide wire. Simultaneously, the pulling force on the tabs splits the catheter away from the guide wire while pulling the catheter up the guide wire. Additionally, a biliary stent can be pushed into the duct using a second peel-away catheter which may then be removed in accordance with the method of the present invention.