Patent ID: 8951232
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: A61J,A61M

Abstract:
1. Gastrostomy feeding apparatus for providing enteral nutrition to a patient via a gastrostomy tract formed in the patient, said apparatus comprising: a tube defining a feeding lumen having an axis, said tube having first and second opposite ends and being adapted to be positioned in said gastrostomy tract for delivering enteral nutrition to the patient; an internal bolster connected to the tube generally adjacent the first end of the tube, said internal bolster being adapted to be positioned inside the stomach of the patient; an external bolster connected to the tube generally adjacent the second end of the tube, said external bolster being adapted to be disposed outside the patient; and a force-generating device having a first end attached to the external bolster and a second end free of connection to the internal bolster and spaced from the internal bolster so that when the internal bolster is positioned against a wall of the stomach the external bolster and force-generating device are located entirely outside of the patient, the second end of the force-generating device being operatively engaged with the exterior of the patient when the internal bolster is positioned against the wall of the stomach to exert a force on the patient and in an axial direction with respect to the tube tending to hold the internal bolster in pressure contact with the stomach wall, said force-generating device having a length in said axial direction which varies bidirectionally and automatically in response to a change in the length of the gastrostomy tract to maintain said pressure contact without manual adjustment of the apparatus; wherein said force-generating device comprises a spring device comprising at least two spring members connected to said external bolster adjacent a periphery of the bolster and generally on opposite sides of said axis, each of said at least two spring members having a first end connected to the external bolster and an opposite second end adapted to react against the patient for exerting said force.