Background
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Weighted tips are especially useful
for aiding the movement of manometric assemblies across
the stomach into the duodenum.
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Beyond the distal duodenum, tip weights
are of little if any help in aiding assembly passage.
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Tip weights are most effective when
gravity is used systematically to move the weight into
the distal antrum.
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Approaches to the effective use of
tip weights are outlined in Dentsleeve
Technical Note 5, Version 2 - Strategies for transnasal
or oral passage of manometric assemblies. |
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Categories
of Dentsleeve
manometric assemblies
that require tip weights
Any assembly that needs to be passed across
the pylorus is best made with a tip weight, the only exception
to this being assemblies which are designed for passage over
a guide wire.
In assemblies designed for passage over a guide wire a tip weight
is redundant, and more importantly, the weight can impede advancement
of the tip over the guide wire.
Assemblies that are to be passed some distance along the small
intestine can be supplied with a tip weight and a small balloon.
Once the tip weight has carried the assembly tip into the duodenum,
the balloon can be inflated to stimulate propulsive small intestinal
contraction patterns, thus speeding passage of the assembly
to the desired depth. |
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Dentsleeve tip weights
Dentsleeve
uses specially made cylindrical tungsten pellets as weights.
These pellets are similar to those used to weight the tips
of some feeding tubes.
Currently available pellets are 2 mm in diameter and 5 mm
long.
We recommend that for standard applications in adults a weight
incorporate 6 pellets arranged in 3pairs (see photograph).
The weights are encased in silicone
rubber which has a 2.7 mm diameter.
We believe that tip weights pass most easily if they are flexible,
and so we recommend and supply as standard, weights that have
a flexible articulation at their join to the assembly, and
flexible articulations after each pair of pellets (see photograph).
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Per-nasal or oral intubation with these weights requires a
slightly modified technique - see Dentsleeve
Technical Note 5, Version 2 - Strategies for transnasal
or oral passage of manometric assemblies.
Our tip weights are non-toxic and autoclavable.
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