Method of positioning an enteral feeding tube within a patient's body

Claim 1

A method of endoscopic placement of an enteral feeding tube within a gastrointestinal tract, said enteral feeding tube having a distal and a proximal end, a generally circular cross-section, an attachment comprising a generally rigid stem portion extending from said distal end of said enteral tube, and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of said feeding tube, and an enlarged non-soluble tip at one end of said rigid stem portion, said method comprising the steps of: a. positioning said endoscope within the stomach of a patient; b. grippingly engaging said stem portion of said attachment with endoscopic forceps; c. moving said attachment and said tube through and into position within said gastrointestinal tract, whereby said tip prevents said forceps from slipping off of the leading end of said stem portion during such positioning; and d. releasing said forceps from their gripping engagement with said stem portion.

Claim 2

A method of endoscopic placement of an enteral feeding tube within a gastrointestinal tract, said enteral feeding tube having a distal and a proximal end, a generally circular cross-section, an attachment comprising a generally rigid stem portion extending from said distal end of said enteral tube, and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of said feeding tube, and an enlarged non-soluble tip at one end of said rigid stem portion, said method comprising the steps of: a. positioning said endoscope within the stomach of a patient; b. grippingly engaging said stem portion of said attachment with endoscopic forceps; c. moving said attachment and said tube through and into position within said gastrointestinal tract, whereby said tip prevents said forceps from slipping off of the leading end of said stem portion during such positioning; and d. releasing said forceps from their gripping engagement with said stem portion.

Claim 3

A method of endoscopic placement of an enteral feeding tube within a gastrointestinal tract, said enteral feeding tube having a distal and a proximal end, a generally circular cross-section, an attachment comprising a generally rigid stem portion extending from said distal end of said enteral tube, and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of said feeding tube, and an enlarged non-soluble tip at one end of said rigid stem portion, said method comprising the steps of: a. positioning said endoscope within the stomach of a patient; b. moving an endoscopic snare over said tip; c. grippingly engaging said stem portion of said attachment by decreasing the diameter of said endoscopic snare to a diameter less than that of said tip; d. moving said attachment and said tube through and into position within said gastrointestinal tract, whereby said tip prevents said endoscopic snare from slipping off of the leading end of said stem portion during such positioning; and e. releasing said endoscopic snare from its engagement with said stem portion by increasing the diameter of said snare and moving said snare over said tip and away from said attachment.

Claim 4

A method of endoscopic placement of an enteral feeding tube within a gastrointestinal tract, said enteral feeding tube having a distal and a proximal end, a generally circular cross-section, an attachment comprising a generally rigid stem portion extending from said distal end of said enteral tube, and along an axis generally parallel to the axis of said feeding tube, and an enlarged non-soluble tip at one end of said rigid stem portion, said method comprising the steps of: a. positioning said endoscope within the stomach of a patient; b. moving an endoscopic snare over said tip; c. grippingly engaging said stem portion of said attachment by decreasing the diameter of said endoscopic snare to a diameter less than that of said tip; d. moving said attachment and said tube through and into position within said gastrointestinal tract, whereby said tip prevents said endoscopic snare from slipping off of the leading end of said stem portion during such positioning; and e. releasing said endoscopic snare from its engagement with said stem portion by increasing the diameter of said snare and moving said snare over said tip and away from said attachment.

Claim 5

The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said enteral feeding tube is inserted within the patient's stomach through another tube inserted into the patient's abdomen.