Gastrostomy feeding device

Claim 1

A gastrostomy catherter device for feeding into a patient's stomach, comprising: a. an elongate feeding tube having a feeding inlet end and a perforated outlet end for discharging food, the feeding tube extending outwardly from the patient's stomach to support external components of the device; b. an expandable structure mounted on the tube near the outlet end; c. means to expand the expandable structure; d. a closure plug for the feeding inlet and secured to the feeding tube by an integral band; e. an adjustable ring slidably mounted along the feeding tube, and medially thereof, and sized to frictionally engage the tube; whereby: i. when the expandable structure is deflated, the feeding tube may be inserted through a stoma and into the patient's stomach; ii. when the expandable structure is inflated, it is adapted to form a seal within the patient's stomach and adjacent the stoma; iii. securement of the ring to the tube being provided solely by frictional engagement therebetween, the ring and tube both being made of silicone material, to secure the device within the patient's body and to prevent undesirable movement of the ring along the tube, whether in the dry state or when lubricated by body fluids, the locking ring being manually adjustable along the tube to accommodate to the size of the patient, and the expandable structure and ring both functioning to maintain the device in place in the patient; iv. retraction of the ring along the feeding tube away from the patient's body being entirely against frictional engagement forces between the ring and tube to enable the stoma and adjacent areas to be cleaned; and, v. when the expandable structure is deflated, retraction of the feeding tube enables the device to be removed from the patient.

Claim 11

A method for gastrostomy feeding, comprising inserting a gastrostomy tube through a stoma and into a patient's stomach; and, supplying food through the tube to the patient's stomach, the said tube comprising: a. an elongate feeding tube having a feeding inlet end and a perforated outlet end for discharging food, the feeding tube extending outwardly from the patient's stomach to support external components of the device; b. an expandable structure mounted on the tube near the outlet end; c. means to expand the expandable structure; d. a closure plug for the feeding inlet and secured to the feeding tube by an integral band; e. an adjustable ring slidably mounted along the feeding tube, and medially thereof, and sized to frictionally engage the tube; whereby: i. when the expandable structure is deflated, the feeding tube may be inserted through a stoma and into the patient's stomach; ii. when the expandable structure is inflated, it is adapted to form a seal within the patient's stomach and adjacent the stoma; iii. securement of the ring to the tube being provided solely by frictional engagement therebetween, the ring and tube both being made of silicone material, to secure the device within the patient's body and to prevent undesirable movement of the ring along the tube, whether in the dry state or when lubricated by body fluids, the locking ring being manually adjustable along the tube to accommodate to the size of the patient, and the expandable structure and ring both functioning to maintain the device in place in the patient. iv. retraction of the feeding tube away from the patient's body being entirely against frictional engagement forces between the ring and tube to enable the stoma and adjacent areas to be cleaned; and, v. when the expandable structure is deflated, retraction of the ring along the feeding tube enables the device to be removed from the patient.

Claim 12

A method for gastrostomy feeding, comprising inserting a gastrostomy tube through a stoma and into a patient's stomach; and, supplying food through the tube to the patient's stomach, the said tube comprising: a. an elongate feeding tube having a feeding inlet end and a perforated outlet end for discharging food, the feeding tube extending outwardly from the patient's stomach to support external components of the device; b. an expandable structure mounted on the tube near the outlet end; c. means to expand the expandable structure; d. a closure plug for the feeding inlet and secured to the feeding tube by an integral band; e. an adjustable ring slidably mounted along the feeding tube, and medially thereof, and sized to frictionally engage the tube; whereby: i. when the expandable structure is deflated, the feeding tube may be inserted through a stoma and into the patient's stomach; ii. when the expandable structure is inflated, it is adapted to form a seal within the patient's stomach and adjacent the stoma; iii. securement of the ring to the tube being provided solely by frictional engagement therebetween, the ring and tube both being made of silicone material, to secure the device within the patient's body and to prevent undesirable movement of the ring along the tube, whether in the dry state or when lubricated by body fluids, the locking ring being manually adjustable along the tube to accommodate to the size of the patient, and the expandable structure and ring both functioning to maintain the device in place in the patient. iv. retraction of the feeding tube away from the patient's body being entirely against frictional engagement forces between the ring and tube to enable the stoma and adjacent areas to be cleaned; and, v. when the expandable structure is deflated, retraction of the ring along the feeding tube enables the device to be removed from the patient.