Access needle well-suited for percutaneous implantation in a body lumen

Abstract

An access needle well-suited for percutaneous implantation in a body lumen, such as the stomach or the jejunum. In one embodiment, the access needle comprises a cannula, a needle, a retractable stopper and a spreader. The cannula is a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen and a pair of side windows providing access to the lumen. The needle is slidably mounted within the cannula lumen and comprises a needle stem and a needle handle, the needle stem having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen, the needle handle extending outwardly from the needle stem proximate to the proximal end thereof. The stopper is coupled to the needle stem for translational movement, the stopper comprising a pair of outwardly-biasing wings removably insertable through the side windows for engaging an interior surface of a patient. The spreader is mounted within the cannula and spreads the wings outwardly as the wings are inserted out the side windows.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for placing a feeding tube into a patient's stomach or jejunum, comprising:
 using an access needle assembly comprising a needle disposed within a cannula, wherein the cannula has a radially expandable portion in a relaxed configuration;   puncturing the access needle assembly through the wall of the abdomen and stomach or jejunum;   expanding the radially expandable portion of the cannula radially outward to secure the distal end of the cannula inside the stomach or jejunum;   inserting a guidewire or suture through the access needle assembly into the patient's stomach or jejunum; and   using the guidewire or suture to place the distal end of a feeding tube into the patient's stomach or jejunum and the proximal end of the feeding tube external to the patient.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 returning the radially expandable portion of the cannula to its relaxed configuration; and   withdrawing the access needle assembly from the patient's abdomen.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the radially expandable portion of the cannula has longitudinally-extending slots that provide compressibility to the cannula. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein compression of the cannula at the slots causes the radially expandable portion to expand radially outwards. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein passing the feeding tube comprises pulling the feeding tube down the patient's esophagus and out of the abdominal wall from inside the stomach or jejunum. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the feeding tube is placed into the stomach or jejunum by the pull method. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the feeding tube is placed into the stomach or jejunum by the push method.