Gastrostomy valve
First Claim
1. A gastrostomy valve to provide a supply of liquid nourishment from a source thereof through the abdominal wall of a recipient of said valve, said gastrostomy valve comprising an externally disposed base member and:
- an internally disposed feeding lumen having proximal and distal ends and extending from said base member for delivering liquid nourishment from said source thereof to the abdoment of the recipient;
an expansible membrane surrounding said feeding lumen, a first end of said membrane being attached to a relatively proximal portion of said feeding lumen and an opposite end of said membrane being located adjacent to but detached from a relatively distal portion of said feeding lumen; and
means by which to deliver a supply of fluid to the interior of said membrane to simultaneously inflate said membrane and cause the detached opposite end of said membrane to roll over the attached first end thereof in a direction towards the abdominal wall of the recipient, the inflated membrane preventing a removal of said feeding lumen from the abdomen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved gastrostomy valve by which to deliver liquid nourishment through the abdominal wall of a baby that, due to a congenital, functional, or other disability, is unable to eat normally. The gastrostomy valve is provided with an expansible membrane or balloon and a fluid circuit interconnected therewith. Fluid is provided via the fluid circuit to inflate the balloon which, in turn, causes the membrane to roll towards the abdominal wall of a baby. The inflated membrane assumes a torroidal configuration which forms an efficient seal against the abdominal wall, whereby to minimize leakage and prevent an inadvertent removal of the gastrostomy valve from the abdominal cavity. The improved gastrostomy valve also includes an internally disposed feeding lumen or stem, an externally disposed fluid infusion port, and an anti-reflux check valve located therebetween. A connector is detachably received within the infusion port to enable a supply of liquid nourishment to be delivered from a source thereof, past the check valve, to the feeding lumen for receipt within the abdominal cavity, so as to sustain the baby and enable it to thrive.
90 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A gastrostomy valve to provide a supply of liquid nourishment from a source thereof through the abdominal wall of a recipient of said valve, said gastrostomy valve comprising an externally disposed base member and:
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an internally disposed feeding lumen having proximal and distal ends and extending from said base member for delivering liquid nourishment from said source thereof to the abdoment of the recipient; an expansible membrane surrounding said feeding lumen, a first end of said membrane being attached to a relatively proximal portion of said feeding lumen and an opposite end of said membrane being located adjacent to but detached from a relatively distal portion of said feeding lumen; and means by which to deliver a supply of fluid to the interior of said membrane to simultaneously inflate said membrane and cause the detached opposite end of said membrane to roll over the attached first end thereof in a direction towards the abdominal wall of the recipient, the inflated membrane preventing a removal of said feeding lumen from the abdomen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A gastrostomy valve to provide a supply of nourishment from a source thereof through the abdominal wall of a recipient of said valve, said gastrostomy valve including a base member to be located at the exterior of the abdominal wall and comprising:
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a hollow feeding tube having proximal and distal ends and extending from said base member to be received through the abdominal wall of the recipient for delivering nourishment from the source thereof; an inflatable balloon having first and second ends and positioned so as to surround said feeding tube, said first balloon end fixedly attached about a relatively proximal portion of said feeding tube, and said second balloon end located about a relatively distal portion of said feeding tube; and means communicating with said balloon for inflating said balloon and thereby causing the second end of said inflated balloon to roll over said first end and move in a proximal direction along said feeding tube towards the abdominal wall of the recipient to prevent a removal of said feeding tube from the abdomen. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification