Non-Balloon Low Profile Feed Device With Insertion/Removal Tool

Abstract

A device for inserting a non-balloon gastrostomic device through an opening in the wall of the abdomen and stomach or other viscera of a patient is provided. The insertion device comprises a body, a stylus, and a trigger device being adapted to selectively maintain a selected position of the stylus relative to the body without the use of an external force. A method of inserting the gastrostomic device utilizing the insertion tool is also provided. In addition or alternatively, a gastrostomic device is provided including a hollow tube member and an enlarged resiliently deformable tip at one end of the tube member. The deformable tip is deformable between a first configuration and a second configuration, each configuration having a cross-sectional area. In addition or alternatively, a method is provided for forming the gastrostomic device using a disposable core.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-balloon gastrostomic device for insertion through an opening in the wall of the abdomen and stomach or other viscera of a patient, the device comprising:
 a hollow tube member having an inner end, an outer end, and a longitudinal passage extending completely through the tube member from one end to the other;   an enlarged resiliently deformable tip at the inner end of the tube member, the deformable tip being hollow and including an end wall surrounding the inner end of the tube member, the end wall having a first thickness, and an outer cap portion attached to the end wall, the deformable tip being deformable between a first configuration wherein the end wall has a first cross-sectional area and a second configuration wherein the end wall has a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being less than the first cross-sectional area;   an aperture formed through the outer cap portion, the aperture permitting the passage of fluid entering the deformable tip from the tube member; and   a strap disposed within the aperture and connected between the outer cap portion and a portion of the end wall, the associated portion of the end wall attached to the strap having a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of apertures formed through the outer cap portion, each aperture including a strap connected between the outer cap portion and a portion of the end wall. 
     
     
         3 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the end wall having a second thickness includes a generally triangular geometry. 
     
     
         4 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cap portion includes an apex, the application of an external force to a portion of the apex causing the deformable tip to be deformed between the first configuration and the second configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 4 , wherein each strap is attached to the outer cap portion adjacent the apex, the application of an external force to a portion of the apex causing each strap to deform an associated portion of the end wall having a second thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flange member integrally molded on the outer end of the tube member, the axial distance between the opposed surfaces of the deformable tip and the flange member generally corresponding to a distance between the inside wall of a patient's stomach and the outer abdominal wall of a patient, whereby when the gastrostomic device is inserted through an opening in the abdomen and stomach of a patient and the deformable tip has expanded against the inside wall of the stomach, the flange member rests generally flush with the outside abdominal wall to make the gastrostomic device self-retaining. 
     
     
         7 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 6 , wherein the flange member comprises a pair of diameterically spaced, oppositely extending, substantially flat wings integrally molded on the outer end of the tube member. 
     
     
         8 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 7 , further comprising a plug integrally connected to the radial outer end of one of the wings by a flexible membrane to permit the plug to be inserted into the outer end of the longitudinal passage to completely close off the passage at the outer end of the tube member, and to be removed therefrom as desired. 
     
     
         9 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve disposed within the hollow tube member for preventing reflux of fluids out of the outer end of the tube member from the deformable tip, while permitting the influx of fluids through the tube member and past the one-way valve into the deformable tip. 
     
     
         10 . The gastrostomic device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock apparatus attached to the outer end of the tube member, the lock apparatus being adapted to secure the gastrostomic device to an insertion tool.