Method of positioning an enteral feeding tube within a patient's body

• US 5,037,387 A
• Filed: 01/24/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CORPAK MedSystems, Inc. (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Corpak Inc (Avanos Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Quinn, David G., Andersen, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cermak, Adam J.
• Application Number:
  US07/469,218
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 604/51, 604/93, 604/264, 604/266, 604/267, 604/270, 604/280
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0026 Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved enteral feeding tube (10) having a distal (12) and a proximal end (14). The tube (10) has a generally circular cross-section, and includes an attachment (22) made of flexible polyurethane that is adhered to the distal end (12) of the enteral feeding tube (10). The attachment (22) comprises a generally rigid stem portion (24) extending from the distal end (12) of the enteral tube (10), and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of the feeding tube. The attachment (22) further comprises a spherical tip (28) at one end of the rigid stem portion (24).

Claims

1. A method of endoscopic placement of an enteral feeding tube within a gastrointestinal tract, said enteral feeding tube having a distal and a proximal end, a generally circular cross-section, an attachment comprising a generally rigid stem portion extending from said distal end of said enteral tube, and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of said feeding tube, and an enlarged non-soluble tip at one end of said rigid stem portion, said method comprising the steps of:

a. positioning said endoscope within the stomach of a patient;

b. grippingly engaging said stem portion of said attachment with endoscopic forceps;

c. moving said attachment and said tube through and into position within said gastrointestinal tract, whereby said tip prevents said forceps from slipping off of the leading end of said stem portion during such positioning; and

d. releasing said forceps from their gripping engagement with said stem portion.

3. The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said enteral feeding tube is inserted within the patient'"'"'s stomach through another tube inserted into the patient'"'"'s abdomen.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said endoscope is inserted into the patient'"'"'s stomach through the passageway which leads from the patient'"'"'s mouth to the stomach.

2. A method of endoscopic placement of an enteral feeding tube within a gastrointestinal tract, said enteral feeding tube having a distal and a proximal end, a generally circular cross-section, an attachment comprising a generally rigid stem portion extending from said distal end of said enteral tube, and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of said feeding tube, and an enlarged non-soluble tip at one end of said rigid stem portion, said method comprising the steps of:

a. positioning said endoscope within the stomach of a patient;

b. moving an endoscopic snare over said tip;

c. grippingly engaging said stem portion of said attachment by decreasing the diameter of said endoscopic snare to a diameter less than that of said tip;

d. moving said attachment and said tube through and into position within said gastrointestinal tract, whereby said tip prevents said endoscopic snare from slipping off of the leading end of said stem portion during such positioning; and

e. releasing said endoscopic snare from its engagement with said stem portion by increasing the diameter of said snare and moving said snare over said tip and away from said attachment.