Apparatus for the fixation of a percutaneous flexible line

• US 6,482,183 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medi-Globe GmbH
• Original Assignee: Medi-Globe GmbH
• Inventors: Jaeckel, Ralf, Pausch, Gudrun
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESLIE, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/567,601
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/175, 604/177, 604/178, 604/910
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0034 Retainers adjacent to a body opening to prevent that the tube slips through, e.g. bolsters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0061 fixing at an intermediate position on the tube, i.e. tube protruding the fixing means
• 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 2025/024 having a clip or clamp system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0246 fixed on the skin having a cover for covering the holding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

A fixation mechanism used for attaching a flexible line or any other catheter extending through the abdominal wall or percutaneously applied in any other location during a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The fixation mechanism utilizes a cover plate fitted with a support base through which the flexible line (10) is placed. In order to attach the flexible line, a barrel vault-shaped body is folded and clicked into a closed position. The flexible line extending outside the abdominal wall (14) is then folded at an angle of 90° without appreciably changing its cross-sectional pre-insertion dimensions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the fixation of a percutaneous flexible line having a diameter to a patient, said apparatus comprising:

a cover plate having an aperture to allow the flexible line to pass through, said cover plate comprising as soft, flexible material;

an attached support base that comprises a support channel which holds a part of the flexible line'"'"'s diameter and bends the flexible line approximately parallel to the cover plate;

a barrel vault-shaped body having side flanks, and wherein said barrel vault-shaped body is for holding the flexible line down, said barrel vault-shaped body comprising a material that is substantially less flexible that the material of said cover plate, wherein the barrel vault-shaped body pivots around a pivotal axis at a substantially right angle to the support base, and wherein the aperture is located between the pivotal axis of the barrel vault-shaped body and the support base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrel vault-shaped body combined with the support channel and the support base comprise a tubular-shaped channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the barrel vault-shaped body further comprises a locking element such when in a locked state, the locking element of the barrel vault-shaped body is fastened to the cover plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support base further comprises a pair of locking grooves that helps fasten the side flanks of the barrel vault-shaped body to the support base.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover plate is essentially triangular shaped with triangular wings at the sides of the support.

6. A gastrostomy set for percutaneous endoscopic-controlled gastrostomy including a tube having a retaining element and a fixation apparatus for the fixation of the percutaneous placed tube at the skin, said set comprising:

a cover plate having an aperture to allow the tube to pass through and a support wall following thereto having a groove which receives a part of the circumference of said tube and bends the tube approximately parallel to the cover plate, and a holding-down device holding the tube in the groove,

wherein the holding-down device is formed by a swing clamp which is pivotable about an axis extending in a traverse direction in respect to the support wall and wherein the aperture is disposed between the axis of the swing clamp and the support wall,

wherein the swing clamp and the tube are adjusted to each other such that the cross section of the tube will not be changed when the swing clamp is in its closed position.