Patent ID: 8002758

Claim:
An apparatus for providing and preventing access to a fluid pathway of a gastrostomy tube that passes through a patient's abdominal wall into the patient's stomach, the apparatus comprising: a first connector having a valve assembly disposed inside a flange, the valve assembly has a first platform having a first thru-hole that passes therethrough and a second platform having a second thru-hole that passes therethrough, wherein the first platform is adapted for placement adjacent to the patient's skin and the fluid pathway of the gastrostomy tube is adjacent the first thru-hole, and wherein a retainer retains the first platform in proximity to the second platform such that the second platform can be rotated with respect to the first platform between a first position and a second position so that in the first position the first and second thru-holes align to provide access to the fluid pathway and so that in the second position the first and second thru-holes offset to provide a fluid tight seal to a proximal end of the gastrostomy tube and to prevent access to the fluid pathway, wherein the first platform further comprises a spout surrounding at least a portion of the first thru-hole, the spout is sized to enter the lumen at the proximal end of the gastrostomy tube and wherein the flange defines a flange thru-hole having a funnel shape and the spout and the funnel shape interact to compress at least a portion of the gastrostomy tube therebetween.