Extensible internal bolster for a medical device
First Claim
1. An internal bolster for securing a medical device within a body of a patient, the internal bolster comprising:
- at least two bolster arms, each including a first end hingedly connected to a distal end of a tubular medical device and a free second end, andwebbing disposed between adjacent bolster arms,wherein the at least two bolster arms are selectively deployable between a first position wherein the at least two bolster arms are substantially in-line with an axis of the medical device and a second position wherein the at least two bolster arms are substantially deflected from the axis of the medical device to enable securement of the medical device within the body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An internal bolster for use securing a medical device, such as a feeding tube, within a body of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, a feeding tube includes an internal bolster, comprising one or more bolster arms that each include a first end hingedly connected to a distal end of the medical device and a free second end. The bolster arms are selectively deployable between a first position wherein the bolster arms are substantially in-line with an axis of feeding tube, and a second position wherein the bolster arms are substantially deflected from the axis of the feeding tube to enable securement of the feeding tube within a stoma or other opening defined in the body. Various means for selectively moving the bolster arms between the first and second positions are disclosed. Related methods of use are also disclosed.
770 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An internal bolster for securing a medical device within a body of a patient, the internal bolster comprising:
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at least two bolster arms, each including a first end hingedly connected to a distal end of a tubular medical device and a free second end, and webbing disposed between adjacent bolster arms, wherein the at least two bolster arms are selectively deployable between a first position wherein the at least two bolster arms are substantially in-line with an axis of the medical device and a second position wherein the at least two bolster arms are substantially deflected from the axis of the medical device to enable securement of the medical device within the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21)
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6. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate body; an internal bolster, comprising a plurality of bolster arms each including a first end that is attached to a distal end of the elongate body and a free second end, each bolster arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the bolster arm is substantially parallel with the medical device body and a second deployed position wherein the bolster arm is substantially non-parallel with the medical device body; and a plunger that is slidable with respect to the elongate body, the plunger including a channel and an engagement surface for deploying the bolster arms from the first position to the second position, the engagement surface including a radially extending annular lip proximate a distal end of the plunger, and wherein the plunger is slid proximally such that the bolster arms are pressed between the annular lip and an O-ring disposed about the medical device so as to deploy the bolster arms radially outward to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate body; an internal bolster, comprising a plurality of bolster arms each including a first end that is attached to a distal end of the elongate body and a free second end, each bolster arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the bolster arm is substantially parallel with the elongate body and a second deployed position wherein the bolster arm is substantially non-parallel with the elongate body; a reinforcing collar disposed radially about at least a portion of the distal end of the elongate body; a plurality of spines that each extend into one of the plurality of bolster arms; and means for selectively moving the bolster arms between the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for inserting a medical device into a body of a patient, comprising:
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inserting a distal portion of the medical device into the body through a stoma, the distal portion including an internal bolster, the internal bolster including at least two bolster arms hingedly connected at a first end to the distal portion of the medical device and including a free second end, the at least two bolster arms including webbing between adjacent bolster arms and being in a first position during insertion wherein the at least two bolster arms are substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the medical device; and radially deploying the at least two bolster arms to a second position wherein the at least two bolster arms are positioned substantially non-parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the medical device to secure the distal portion of the medical device within the body, the webbing forming a seal about the stoma when the at least two bolster arms are deployed to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A medical device, comprising
an elongate body defining a cavity and including a distal portion for insertion into a body of a patient; -
a plunger movably disposed within the cavity of the elongate body; and an internal bolster including; at least one foldable flap including a proximal end attached to a distal portion of the plunger; and at least one tether connecting the distal portion of the elongate body with a distal end of the at least one foldable flap, wherein movement of the plunger within the cavity of the elongate body causes folding of the flap from a first unfolded position to a second folded position so as to enable the internal bolster to secure the distal portion of the medical device within the body of the patient.
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22. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate body; an internal bolster, comprising a plurality of bolster arms each including a first end that is attached to a distal end of the elongate body and a free second end, each bolster arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the bolster arm is substantially parallel with the elongate body and a second deployed position wherein the bolster arm is substantially non-parallel with the elongate body; a reinforcing collar disposed radially about at least a portion of the distal end of the elongate body; and means for selectively moving the bolster arms between the first and second positions, including a portion external to the body of the patient for manually deploying the bolster arms from the first position to the second position and for retracting the bolster arms from the second position to the first position in preparation for removal of the medical device from the body of the patient.
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23. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate body; an internal bolster, comprising a plurality of bolster arms each including a first end that is attached to a distal end of the elongate body and a free second end, each bolster arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the bolster arm is substantially parallel with the elongate body and a second deployed position wherein the bolster arm is substantially non-parallel with the elongate body; a reinforcing collar disposed radially about at least a portion of the distal end of the elongate body; and means for selectively moving the bolster arms between the first and second positions, including a plunger that is slidable with respect to the elongate body, the plunger including an engagement surface for deploying the bolster arms from the first position to the second position.
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24. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate body; an internal bolster, comprising a plurality of bolster arms each including a first end that is attached to a distal end of the elongate body and a free second end, each bolster arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the bolster arm is substantially parallel with the elongate body and a second deployed position wherein the bolster arm is substantially non-parallel with the elongate body; a reinforcing collar disposed radially about at least a portion of the distal end of the elongate body; and means for selectively moving the bolster arms between the first and second positions, including at least one elongate wire member interconnecting each of the bolster arms with a movable trigger external to the body of the patient, wherein movement of the trigger causes the wire member to reversibly deploy the bolster arms from the first position to the second position.
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Specification