Gastrostomy tube

Claim 2

A gastrostomy tube comprising a tubular portion having first and second ends and a retaining element disposed near the first end of the tubular portion, said retaining element comprising three resilient petaloid flanges which extend radially from the tubular portion with substantially triangular connecting portions interposed between and connecting each pair of next adjacent petaloid flanges, the ends of the petaloid flanges which are distal from the tubular portion being rounded, the petaloid flanges and connecting portions being shaped such that said retaining element has a triangular shape with rounded vertices, and said petaloid flanges being less flexible than said connecting portions, between the retaining element and said second end the tubular portion comprises a material having a durometer in the range of 30 to 40 Shore A and the petaloid flanges of the retaining element comprise a material having a durometer in the range of 50 to 80 Shore A.

Claim 3

A gastrostomy tube according to claim 1 wherein and the entire retaining element comprises the same material, and said connecting portions have a thickness that is less than the thickness of the petaloid flanges.

Claim 4

A gastrostomy tube according to claim 2 wherein the thickness of the petaloid flanges is in the range of two times to six times greater than the thickness of said connecting portions.

Claim 5

A gastrostomy tube according to either one of claims 2 or 3 wherein both the retaining element and tubular portion comprise medical grade silicone rubbers.

Claim 6

A gastrostomy tube according to claim 1 wherein the petaloid flanges of said retaining element comprise a first material and the connecting portions of said retaining element comprise a second material that is different from the first material.

Claim 7

A gastrostomy tube according to claim 5 wherein the thickness of the petaloid flanges and the connecting portions are substantially the same.

Claim 8

A gastrostomy tube according to claim 5 wherein the petaloid flanges are encased in the material which comprises the connecting portions.

Claim 9

A gastrostomy tube according to claim 5 wherein the connecting portions have a thickness that is less than the petaloid flanges.

Claim 10

A gastrostomy tube according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the connecting portions comprise a material having a durometer in the range of 10 to 40 Shore A.

Claim 11

A gastrostomy tube according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the tubular portion and the petaloid flanges comprise medical grade silicone rubbers and the connecting portions comprise a medical grade silicone rubber having a durometer in the range of 10 to 40 Shore A.

Claim 12

An assembly of a gastrostomy tube and a tapered dilator comprising; (a) a gastrostomy tube comprising a tubular portion having first and second ends and a retaining element disposed near the first end of the tubular portion, said retaining element comprising three resilient petaloid flanges which extend radially from the tubular portion with substantially triangular connecting portions interposed between and connecting each pair of next adjacent petaloid flanges, the ends of the petaloid flanges which are distal from the tubular portion being rounded, the petaloid flanges and connecting portions being shaped such that said retaining element has a triangular shape with rounded vertices, and said petaloid flanges being less flexible than said connecting portions, between the retaining element and said second end the tubular portion comprises a material having a durometer in the range of 30 to 40 Shore A and the petaloid flanges of the retaining element comprise a material having a durometer in the range of 50 to 80 Shore A; and, (b) a tapered dilator having first and second ends with a lumen extending between said ends of the dilator, the outside diameter of the dilator being greater at said first end than at said second end, the second end of the gastrostomy tube being connected to the first end of the dilator by means for connecting, the tubular portion of the gastrostomy tube comprising a first material and the dilator comprising a second material.

Claim 13

An assembly of a gastrostomy tube and a tapered dilator comprising; (a) a gastrostomy tube comprising a tubular portion having first and second ends and a retaining element disposed near the first end of the tubular portion, said retaining element comprising three resilient petaloid flanges which extend radially from the tubular portion with substantially triangular connecting portions interposed between and connecting each pair of next adjacent petaloid flanges, the ends of the petaloid flanges which are distal from the tubular portion being rounded, the petaloid flanges and connecting portions being shaped such that said retaining element has a triangular shape with rounded vertices, and said petaloid flanges being less flexible than said connecting portions, between the retaining element and said second end the tubular portion comprises a material having a durometer in the range of 30 to 40 Shore A and the petaloid flanges of the retaining element comprise a material having a durometer in the range of 50 to 80 Shore A; and, (b) a tapered dilator having first and second ends with a lumen extending between said ends of the dilator, the outside diameter of the dilator being greater at said first end than at said second end, the second end of the gastrostomy tube being connected to the first end of the dilator by means for connecting, the tubular portion of the gastrostomy tube comprising a first material and the dilator comprising a second material.

Claim 14

An assembly of a gastrostomy tube and a tapered dilator according to claim 11 wherein said means for connecting is integral to said tapered dilator.

Claim 15

An assembly of a gastrostomy tube and a tapered dilator according to claim 11 wherein said means for connecting is a hollow tubular connector comprising a third material.

Claim 16

An assembly of a gastrostomy tube and a tapered dilator according to claim 11 wherein said first material has a durometer in the range of 30 to 40 Shore A and said second material has a durometer that is the range of 0.90 gm/cm 3 to 0.94 gm/cm 3 .

Claim 17

An assembly of a gastrostomy tube and a tapered dilator according to claim 13 wherein said first material is a medical grade silicone rubber, said second material is a low density polyethylene and said third material is a nylon.