Gastrostomy feeding ports with positively sealing entrance valves

• US 5,716,347 A
• Filed: 05/15/1995
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gibbs, Rebecca C., Russo, Ronald D., DeLegge, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRING, NOELLE K
• Application Number:
  US08/441,054
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 604/247, 604/96, 604/27, 604/48, 604/277, 604/332, 604/256, 604/175
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0038 expandable, e.g. umbrella type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0065 Fixing means and tube being one part
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0092 Valves on feeding tubes tube valves A61M39/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1053 Stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053

Abstract

Gastrostomy feeding ports are disclosed which remain positively sealed after repeated and extensive use. In one embodiment, a valve housing defines an inner passageway to provide fluid communication into a long term indwelling catheter and includes a rigid compression collar portion which defines a valve member receiving cavity within the inner passageway. The resilient valve member has an outer peripheral edge which generally conforms in shape to the valve member receiving cavity but is larger in dimension than the cavity when uncompressed. The resilient valve member also includes an outer wall portion which extends away from the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm portion and which generally conforms in shape to the cavity. The resilient valve member is compressively fitted within the receiving cavity by the advancing of the outer wall portion into said cavity to thereby cause the outer peripheral edge to be compressed in dimension to fit within the cavity, with the compression collar pressing inwardly against the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm portion to apply laterally compressive forces which bias the slit toward a normally closed position. Additional embodiments are disclosed which provide for the direct conversion of an implanted PEG tube into a low profile feeding port, and which further provide for the direct secure connection to an enteral feeding tube adapter.

Claims

1. A gastrostomy feeding port for direct sealing connection to an enteral feeding tube adapter having a front stem portion and a base stem portion, comprising:

a port head defining a top opening configured to allow the front stem portion of the enteral feeding tube adapter to pass therethrough, said top opening being configured to seal about the base stem portion of the adapter;

a tube opening configured to seal about the front stem portion of the adapter passing through said top opening;

a one-way entrance valve secured within said port head between said top opening and said tube opening and aligned therewith, said valve opening to permit the adapter to pass therethrough, and said valve closing when the adapter is removed.

2. The gastrostomy feeding port of claim 1, further comprising a support base connected to said port head, said support base being configured to support the adapter within said port head and to limit the amount of penetration by the adapter.

3. A gastrostomy feeding port for connection to an enteral feeding tube adapter having a from stem portion and a base stem portion, comprising:

a port head defining a first opening opposing a second opening, said first and second openings being configured to allow the front stem portion of the adapter to pass therethrough;

a one-way entrance valve secured within said port head between said first and second openings and aligned therewith, said valve opening to permit the adapter to pass therethrough, and said valve closing when the adapter is removed to prevent fluid transfer through said port head; and

wherein said first opening provides a first seal about the base stem portion of the adapter and said second opening provides a second seal about the front stem portion of the adapter when the adapter is inserted into said port head to thereby resist fluid leakage from said port head during repeated and long-term engagement by the adapter.

4. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, wherein said port head includes a resilient retaining cap defining said first opening and providing said first seal.

5. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, wherein said port head further includes a resilient o-ring defining said second opening and providing said second seal.

6. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, wherein said first opening is generally circular with a first diameter, said second opening is generally circular with a second diameter, and said first diameter is larger than said second diameter.

7. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, further comprising a tube portion in fluid communication with said second opening.

8. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, further comprising a tube in fluid communication with said second opening and a fastener securing said tube to said port head.

9. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, wherein said port head has a support base to support the adapter within said port head and to limit the amount of penetration by the adapter.

10. The gastrostomy feeding port according to claim 3, wherein said port head includes a rigid compression collar which defines a valve member receiving cavity and said valve includes a resilient valve member with a diaphragm portion defining a slit therethrough, and said valve member is compressively fit within said cavity to bias said slit to a normally closed position.

11. A kit for converting an percutaneous gastrostomy feeding tube to a low profile gastrostomy feeding port, the tube having a distal end implanted in a patient'"'"'s body and a proximal end located outside the patient'"'"'s body, the port being configured to receive a removable enteral feeding port adapter, comprising:

a port head having a top portion defining a top opening and a base portion defining a lower opening, said port head being configured to allow the adapter to pass therethrough and provide a first seal about the adapter to prevent leakage when the adapter is inserted therethrough;

a one-way entrance valve secured within said port head between said top and lower openings and aligned therewith, said valve opening to permit the adapter to pass therethrough, and said valve closing when the adapter is removed to prevent transfer of material therethrough;

a fastener configured to fasten the proximal end of the tube to said base portion of said port head to permit transfer of fluid into the tube from the adapter when the adapter is inserted into said port head.

12. The kit according to claim 11, wherein said base portion includes a stem with an annular barb configured to engage the tube.

13. The kit according to claim 11, wherein said base portion includes a stem with an annular barb configured to engage the tube and said fastener includes a pull tie configured to clamp the tube to said stem.

14. The kit according to claim 13, further comprising a bolster defining an aperture, said bolster being configured to slide over the tube before fastening the tube to said port head and slide over said base portion after fastening the tube to said port head, said bolster defining a chamber configured to house said pull tie when clamped to the tube.

15. The kit according to claim 14, wherein said bolster includes a resilient sealing ring formed about said aperture, said sealing ring is configured to stretch over said annular barb after said pull tie clamps the tube to said stem and is further configured to clamp the tube to said stem after stretching over said annular barb.

16. The kit according to claim 11, wherein said port head includes a rigid compression collar which defines a valve member receiving cavity and said valve includes a resilient valve member with a diaphragm portion defining a slit therethrough, and said valve member is compressively fit within said cavity to bias said slit to a normally closed position.

17. The kit according to claim 11, wherein said fastener includes a pull tie.

18. A gastrostomy feeding assembly for repeated long term use, comprising:

an enteral feeding tube adapter, said adapter having a front stem portion with a first diameter and a base stem portion with a second diameter larger than said first diameter;

a port head defining a first opening opposing a second opening, said first opening receiving said front and base stem portions therethrough and said second opening receiving said front stem portion therethrough;

a one-way entrance valve secured within said port head between said first and second openings and aligned therewith, said valve opening to permit the adapter to pass therethrough, and said valve closing when the adapter is removed to prevent fluid transfer through said port head; and

wherein said port head has a support base positioned between said valve and said second opening to engage said base stem portion and prevent passage of said base stem portion through said second opening.

19. The gastrostomy feeding assembly according to claim 18, wherein said support base includes an annular seating portion configured for engagement by said base stem portion.

20. The gastrostomy feeding assembly according to claim 18, wherein said first opening provides a first resilient seal about said base stem portion and said second opening provides a second resilient seal about said front stem portion.

21. The gastrostomy feeding assembly according to claim 20, wherein said support base and said adapter are formed from a polymeric resin compound and have greater rigidity than said said first seal and said second seal.

22. The gastrostomy feeding assembly according to claim 18, wherein said port head includes a rigid compression collar which defines a valve member receiving cavity and said valve includes a resilient valve member with a diaphragm portion defining a slit therethrough, and said valve member is compressively fit within said cavity to bias said slit to a normally closed position.

23. The gastrostomy feeding assembly according to claim 18, further comprising a tube in fluid communication with said second opening and a fastener securing said tube to said port head.

24. A method of converting an percutaneous gastrostomy tube implanted in a patient'"'"'s body to a low profile gastrostomy feeding port, the tube having a inner portion positioned within the patient'"'"'s body and a outer portion positioned outside the patient'"'"'s body to define a fluid passageway therebetween, and the port being configured to receive a removable enteral feeding port adapter, the method comprising:

severing the outer portion of the tube to provide a shorter length of the tube outside the patient'"'"'s body;

providing a port head defining a top opening opposing a bottom opening and including a valve positioned between the top and bottom openings, the valve being configured to open when the adapter is inserted into the port head and close when the adapter is removed from the port head; and

coupling the port head to the outer portion of the tube with a fastener to establish fluid communication between the bottom opening of the port head and the passageway to selectively provide fluid through the tube when the adapter is inserted into the port head.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the length of the tube outside the patient'"'"'s body after said severing is in a range of about 1 to 5 centimeters.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising clamping the outer portion of the tube and measuring the outer portion of the tube before said severing.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the port head includes a stem with an annular barb defining the bottom opening and said coupling includes inserting the stem into the passageway of the tube through an opening defined by the outer portion.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a bolster defining an aperture and inserting the tube through the aperture.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising clamping the outer portion of the tube before said severing, measuring the outer portion of the tube to provide a length of the tube outside the patient'"'"'s body in a range of about 1 to 5 centimeters after said severing, providing a bolster defining an aperture, and passing the tube through the aperture;

and

wherein the port head includes a stem with an annular barb defining the bottom opening and said coupling includes inserting the stem into the passageway of the tube after said passing and securing a pull tie about the tube and the stem, the pull tie being located between the valve and the barb, and the aperture of the bolster being located between the pull tie and the barb.