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Configurable percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube

  • US 9,211,234 B2
  • Filed: 09/26/2011
  • Issued: 12/15/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A configurable percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube comprising:

  • a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining a lumen therethrough for passage of a feeding solution or medicine, the shaft further comprising an outer tube and an inner tube slidably positioned in the outer tube, the inner tube movable within the outer tube, the outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;

    an expandable retainer secured to the shaft, the expandable retainer having a deployed position and an insertion position, the expandable retainer defining a first end, a second end, and a midpoint, the second end movable with respect to the first end;

    a releasable lock for maintaining the expandable retainer in its deployed position, the releasable lock comprising an annular clamp securable to the inner tube of the shaft proximal to the expandable retainer, wherein when the annular clamp is secured to the inner tube, the annular clamp encircles the inner tube and the proximal end of the outer tube butts up against the annular clamp to prevent the outer tube from returning to a position in which the expandable retainer is in the insertion position; and

    a flexible sheath surrounding the expandable retainer, the sheath being generally loose around the retainer when the retainer is in the insertion position and the sheath being generally snug against an exterior surface of the retainer when the retainer is in the deployed position,wherein the expandable retainer is a flexible material that folds back on itself to form a double layer of material when the second end is drawn past the midpoint toward the first end.

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