Corporeal access tube assembly and method

• US 5,860,952 A
• Filed: 10/18/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Quinn, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US08/734,630
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 604/93, 604/174, 604/176, 604/180, 604/332, 128/DIG. 26
• US Class Current: 604/93.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0019 inserted by using a pull-wire
• 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: A61J 15/0038 expandable, e.g. umbrella type
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0042 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0057 fixing a tube end, i.e. tube not protruding the fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0061 fixing at an intermediate position on the tube, i.e. tube protruding the fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0073 Multi-lumen tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow general flow characteristics A61M2206/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A corporeal access tube assembly including a tube segment in which a coil spring is embedded along a portion of the segment. A retention balloon is secured to the tube segment around a portion which does not contain the coil spring. The balloon is inflated when in operation but its walls are not stretched to any noticeable extent. The tube segment extends through a split external bolster which opens to permit positioning of the tube segment and closes to clamp the tube segment in place. A gauging system on the tube segment permits precise positioning of the bolster.

Claims

1. In a corporeal access tube assembly including a tube segment having a retention member mounted thereon and a bolster with a passage of predetermined length extending therethrough, wherein the tube segment extends through the passage, the improvement in a system for precisely gauging the proper position for the bolster on the tube segment, comprising:

a) a first set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series proceeding from adjacent said retention member toward said bolster; and

b) a second set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series corresponding to said first set but spaced from said first set by a distance corresponding to the length of said bolster passage.

2. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 1 further characterized in that:

c) said first and second sets of gauge markings are both positioned on the same side of said tube segment.

3. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 1 further characterized in that:

c) said first set of gauge markings are right-side-up when viewed from the retention member end of the tube segment and said second set of gauge markings are up-side-down when viewed from the retention member end.

4. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 1 further characterized in that:

c) said gauge markings are numbers representative of tube segment length measurements.

5. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 4 further characterized in that:

d) said numbers are representative of tube segment length measurements in centimeters.

6. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 1 further characterized in that:

c) said tube assembly is a gastrostomy tube assembly.

7. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 1 further characterized in that:

c) said tube assembly is a suprapubic catheter assembly.

21. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 1 further characterized in that:

c) said first and second sets of gauge marking are positioned on opposite sides of said tube segment.

8. In a corporeal access tube assembly including a tube segment having a retention member mounted thereon and a bolster with a passage of predetermined length extending therethrough, wherein the tube segment extends through the passage, the improvement in a system for precisely gauging the proper position for the bolster on the tube segment, comprising:

a) a first set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series; and

b) a second set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series independent from said first series.

9. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 8 further characterized in that:

c) at least a portion of each said recognizable series are substantially the same in each series.

10. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 9 further characterized in that:

d) each of said recognizable series of markings comprises a series of tube segment measurements.

11. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 10 further characterized in that:

e) each of said series of tube segment measurements has centimeter gradations.

12. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 8 further characterized in that:

c) said first and second series of gauge markings include corresponding markings spaced longitudinally from each other on said tube segment.

13. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 12 further characterized in that:

d) said first and second series of gauge markings are on opposite sides of said tube segment.

14. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 13 further characterized in that:

e) the gauge markings on opposite sides of said tube segments are highlighted with different colors.

15. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 8 further characterized in that:

c) said tube assembly is a gastrostomy tube assembly.

16. The improvement in a gauging system of claim 8 further characterized in that:

c) said tube assembly is a suprapubic catheter assembly.

17. A method of positioning a bolster at an optimum distance from the retention member in a corporeal access tube assembly wherein the assembly contains a tube segment extending through a passage of predetermined length in the bolster, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series proceeding from adjacent said retention member toward said bolster; and

b) providing a second set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series corresponding to said first set but spaced from said first set by a distance corresponding to the length of said bolster passage;

c) drawing the retention member snugly against the inside lining of a cavity in an organ within the patient with the tube segment protruding from a stoma formed in the organ wall and abdomen wall;

d) reading the gauge marking in the first set which is immediately outside the stoma in the abdomen wall;

e) moving the bolster on the tube segment toward the abdomen wall into a position wherein a corresponding gauge marking in the second set is immediately outside the bolster passage; and

f) securing the bolster to the tube segment in that position.

18. The method of claim 17 further characterized in that:

g) said organ is the stomach.

19. The method of claim 17 further characterized in that:

g) said organ is the bladder.

20. In a replacement gastrostomy tube assembly including a tube segment having a retention member mounted thereon adjacent one end and a bolster with a passage of predetermined length extending therethrough, the tube segment passing through that passage, the improvement of a system for precisely gauging the proper position for the bolster on the tube segment, comprising:

a) a first set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series proceeding from adjacent said retention member toward said bolster; and

b) a second set of gauge markings on said tube segment in a recognizable series corresponding to said first set but spaced from said first set by a distance corresponding to the length of said bolster passage.