Methods And Systems For Providing Fluid Communication With A Gastrostomy Tube

• US 20070276356A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Court, Ronald, Downing, Anthony, Wilkie, James, Gauderer, Michael, Jacques, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,858,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/535
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0053 Means for fixing the tube outside of the body, e.g. by a special shape, by fixing it to the skin holding devices, e.g. on the body A61M25/02, mouthpieces for tracheal tubes A61M16/0488; transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0092 Valves on feeding tubes tube valves A61M39/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/242 designed to open when a predetermined pressure or flow rate has been reached, e.g. check valve actuated by fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/2426 Slit valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/24 Check- or non-return valves

Abstract

A low profile adaptor is disclosed to reduce the length of a gastrostomy tube that has been inserted by means of conventional endoscopic procedures or with a replacement feeding tube inserted into the patient'"'"'s stomach. The gastrostomy tube is cut to the appropriate length by the physician. The adaptor comprises a stem which is inserted into the open end of the gastrostomy tube. The valve assembly contains a seal that functions as a one-way valve to prevent reflux of gastric contents but permits the introduction of feeding solution into the feeding tube. A lock and key mechanism is incorporated into the hub of the gastrostomy tube to prevent disconnection of the feeding tube. A cover is placed over the opening of the adapter to prevent contamination of the lumen of the gastrostomy tube.

Claims

1. A system for providing fluid communication with a gastrostomy tube comprising:

a connector including a stem upon which an end region of a gastrostomy tube is positionable, the stem defining a bore for communicating with a lumen defined by the gastrostomy tube; and

a locking region extending from the connector and proximate to at least a portion of the stem, the locking region configured to be radially inwardly biased to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a compression device configured to radially inwardly bias the locking region, the compression device comprising a compression sleeve configured to be positionable about the locking region of the connector and to bias the locking region radially inwardly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking region comprises a plurality of tines positioned generally about a circumference of the stem.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking region further comprises at least one inwardly radially extending protrusion.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the stem includes at least one barb and the at least one inwardly radially extending protrusion is positioned adjacent to the at least one barb of the stem.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one barb comprises a single barb and the at least one inwardly radially extending protrusion is longitudinally positioned farther from a distal end of the stem than a longitudinal position of a maximum radial extent of the single barb.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a one-way valve configured to prevent fluid flow through the one-way valve from the lumen of the gastrostomy tube through the bore of the stem.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one-way valve further comprises a protruding region including concave sidewalls.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the one-way valve is configured to allow fluid flow in response to contact with a syringe.

10. A system for providing fluid communication with a gastrostomy tube comprising:

a stem upon which an end region of a gastrostomy tube is positionable, the stem defining a bore for communicating with a lumen defined by the gastrostomy tube; and

a compression structure comprising a plurality of tines adjacent to at least a portion of the stem and configured to be radially inwardly biased to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein an exterior surface of each of the tines is threaded and configured to threadedly engage a compression sleeve configured to radially inwardly bias the plurality of tines.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the stem extends from a base element and the compression structure comprises a plurality of tines extending from the base element.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a one-way valve configured to prevent fluid flow through the valve from the lumen of the gastrostomy tube through the bore of the stem.

14. A system for providing fluid communication with a gastrostomy tube comprising:

a connector comprising a body including a stem upon which an end region of a gastrostomy tube is positionable, the stem defining a bore for communicating with a lumen of a gastrostomy tube, the body further including at least one recess configured to allow access to at least a portion of the stem; and

at least one clip configured to be positioned within the recess, the at least one clip comprising at least two movable legs, the at least two movable legs being configured to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one clip comprises:

a first clip including two pairs of legs configured to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem; and

a second clip including one pair of legs configured to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube postionable upon the stem.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the pair of legs of the second clip is configured to fit longitudinally between the two pairs of legs of the first clip.

17. A system for providing fluid communication with a gastrostomy tube comprising:

a stem upon which an end region of a gastrostomy tube is positionable, the stem defining a bore for communicating with a lumen of the gastrostomy tube; and

a plurality of physically separate components configured, when assembled to one another, to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the separate components comprise:

a compression ring and a locking hub;

wherein the compression ring is configured to radially inwardly compress, by assembly with the locking hub, at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the separate components comprise:

a base element including the stem and a recess formed proximate to the stem; and

a compression ring comprising a pliant material configured to fit within the recess formed in the base and to compress the at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube postitionable upon the stem.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the separate components comprise:

a first half including a substantially semicylindrical surface; and

a second half including a substantially semicylindrical surface;

wherein the first half and second half include complementary locking features configured to engage one another to couple the first half to the second half; and

wherein the first half and the second half are configured, when coupled to one another, to compress at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube positionable upon the stem with the substantially semicylindrical surface of the first half and the substantially semicylindrical surface of the second half.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a one-way valve configured to prevent fluid flow through the valve from the lumen of the gastrostomy tube through the bore of the stem.

22. A gastrostomy tube and feeding tube assembly comprising:

a gastrostomy tube in fluid communication with an adaptor; and

a feeding tube assembly capable of selective coupling to the adaptor and rotatable, when coupled to the adaptor, about a longitudinal axis of the adaptor.

23. A method of coupling a stem to a gastrostomy tube comprising:

providing a stem positioned within an end region of a gastrostomy tube;

positioning a plurality of separate components about the end region of the gastrostomy tube; and

assembling the plurality of separate components to cause radial inward compression of at least a portion of the end region of the gastrostomy tube.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein assembling the separate components comprises moving at least two of the plurality of separate components longitudinally with respect to one another.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein assembling the separate components comprises coupling two halves, each including a substantially cylindrical surface, to one another.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein assembling the separate components comprises positioning a pliant compression ring within a recess of a hub.

27. A method of coupling a stem to a gastrostomy tube comprising:

providing a stem positioned within an end region of a gastrostomy tube;

positioning a plurality of tines generally about the circumference of the end region of the gastrostomy tube; and

radially inwardly biasing the plurality of tines.