Abstract: Feeding tube assembly includes a feeding tube made of a polyurethane, preferably Carbothane, and a feeding tube adaptor including at least an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit. In one aspect, the feeding tube adaptor is made of a substantially rigid material, and the exterior surface of the outlet conduit defines a retention member to engage an interior surface at a first end portion of the feeding tube when the outlet end of the outlet conduit is inserted within a lumen defined in the feeding tube. In accordance with another aspect, the tube adaptor is provided with a removable cap to close selectively the inlet conduit, and both the inlet conduit and the cap are made of polyurethane. The cap has an engagement surface to engage a corresponding surface of the first inlet conduit, wherein the engagement surface of the cap has a surface configuration different than that of the corresponding surface of the first inlet conduit.

Abstract: A feeding tube assembly includes a feeding tube, a polyurethane feeding tube adaptor having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, and a removable cap for selectively closing the inlet conduit. The surface configuration of the cap that causes frictional engagement with the inlet conduit is noncomplementary therewith in a common transverse plane and has a cross-sectional shape substantially different than that of the corresponding surface configuration of the inlet conduit. This difference in surface configurations can be established by providing one or both of the surfaces with a series of protuberances, indentations, or other surface variations.

Abstract: A method for placing a feeding tube placement wire in a patient. The method includes the step of providing a placement wire dispenser. The dispenser includes a rotatable placement wire receptacle that defines a placement wire outlet. The dispenser further includes a tube extending outwardly from the placement wire receptacle. The tube defines a placement wire inlet that is in communication with the placement wire outlet of the receptacle. A placement wire is wound about the receptacle, and is in mechanical engagement with the receptacle, such that rotation of the placement wire receptacle causes a first end of the placement wire to be advanced through the placement wire outlet, through the placement wire inlet of the tube, and through the tube. A first end of the tube is constructed for insertion through a patient's abdominal wall and into a patient's stomach. The method further includes the step of placing the first end of the tube through a patient's abdominal wall and into a patient's stomach.

Abstract: A method for placing an external feeding tube in the gastro intestinal tract of a patient. The device includes a feeding tube and a filling tool for filling a fillable retaining member of a feeding tube. The tool includes a fluid reservoir constructed to contain a fluid therein. The tool further includes a tool body defining a fluid flow path, the tool body constructed to be connected to the fluid reservoir such that the fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the fluid flow path defined by the tool body. The filling tool further includes a cannula constructed to connect fluidly to a filling lumen of a feeding tube. The cannula is fluidly connected to the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A feeding tube having an internal end portion and an external end portion. An external terminal end positioned on said external end portion. The feeding tube defines a feeding lumen therethrough from the external end portion to the internal end portion. A fillable retaining member is mounted on the internal end portion of the feeding tube. The tube further defines a filling lumen that extends from an internal point on an internal end portion side of the retaining member to an external point on an external end portion side of the retaining member. The external point is spaced from the external terminal end. The filling lumen is fluidly sealed at the external point. The filling lumen is in fluid communication with said retaining member.

Abstract: A spring-loaded reciprocable stylet holder assembly includes a cap; a hollow body element partially nested within and reciprocable a major part of its length into the cap; a spring urging the body element outwardly of the cap; and a stylet supported at one end by the cap and extending through and beyond the body element. The remote end of the body element has a small borehole through which the stylet extends. The remote end is also provided with attachment means for a hypodermic needle with slotted tip for T-fastener emplacement, the needle telescopically surrounding the full length of the stylet. In a useful modification of the device an insufflation adapter having a side port for attachment of a hypodermic syringe is placed in line between the body element and the hypodermic needle. The stylet holder assembly with a slotted hypodermic needle attached thereto may be used for emplacing a T-fastener in a hollow organ of a person, such as the stomach.

Abstract: The one-way cross-slit valve of the invention is made of an elastomeric material and has a hollow cylindrical body with first and second ends and an axis and a passageway through the body, the passageway being entirely intercepted by a ridge and valley wall or web structure integrally joined to the cylindrical body. There are just two ridges in the form of lands that extend diametrically and intersect at a right angle at about the axis of the valve body and are slitted at the intersection to provide duckbill valve action. The ridges constitute the apices of mutually intersecting partially folded wall portions that are V-shaped in section, the V's spreading towards the first end where the intersecting walls join and form the valleys and the one-way action of the valve allowing fluid to move only towards the second end. The novel low profile gastrostomy tube combines a conventional dome and tubular shaft with the one-way cross-slit valve of the invention.

Abstract: An improved gastrostomy tube is a flexible tube having on one inner end thereof an improved energy absorbent internal retaining member which provides for less patient trauma during emplacement and subsequent percutaneous removal, while almost entirely avoiding either separation of the internal retaining member, i.e., the bumper, or its acute displacement. The energy absorbing internal retaining member has a hollow body portion with two resiliently reversible physical forms or shapes, toroidal-like, and, goblet-like connected to a foreshortened hollow axial stem portion that is attached to or integrally made with the inward end of the flexible tube. The internal retaining member is made in the toroidal-like form. During intentional removal, when under pressure against the stomach mucosa, the internal retaining member snaps into the unrolled, goblet-like shape and pulls smoothly out through the stoma tract.

Abstract: A T-fastener installation kit includes a packaging device for loading the T-fastener into a slotted needle without requiring the hands of the surgeon to touch the sharp end of the needle. T-fasteners may be commonly used, for example, in surgical procedures in which the T-fasteners are used to secure a patient's stomach or bowel in apposition to the abdominal wall. The packaging device includes a housing having a cylindrical recess into which the "T" head of the T-fastener is loaded. The surgeon can slide the open end of the slotted needle into the cylindrical recess and over the "T" head of the T-fastener, thereby effectively loading the T-fastener into the slotted needle without requiring the surgeon to touch the sharp point of the needle.

Abstract: A gastrostomy device for easier insertion into an established stoma is provided with an apertured dome connected at its bottom wall to a tubular shaft, wherein the dome is particularly characterized by having the sidewall thinned from apex to bottom wall whereby the dome, when elongated with an obturator, stretches smoothly and readily to very close to the diameter of the tubular shaft. The device is ordinarily provided with a one-way valve mounted in the dome as well as with a retention flange at the outer end of the tubular shaft. Preferably the one-way valve is a cross-slit duckbill valve of novel design.

Abstract: A T-fastener installation kit includes a packaging device for loading the T-fastener into a slotted needle without requiring the hands of the surgeon to touch the sharp end of the needle. T-fasteners may be commonly used, for example, in surgical procedures in which the T-fasteners are used to secure a patient's stomach or bowel in apposition to the abdominal wall. The packaging device includes a housing having a cylindrical recess into which the "T" head of the T-fastener is loaded. The surgeon can slide the open end of the slotted needle into the cylindrical recess and over the "T" head of the T-fastener, thereby effectively loading the T-fastener into the slotted needle without requiring the surgeon to touch the sharp point of the needle.

Abstract: An external retaining device may be used for securing an enteral feeding tube in a desired location with respect to a person's skin. The feeding tube passes through a first hole in the retaining device, then is guided through a 90.degree., bend following a radius of curvature such that the feeding tube is not kinked, and then passes through a second hole in the retaining device, with the longitudinal axes of the holes in the retaining device being coplanar and oriented perpendicular to one another.