Device for externally retaining a gastrostomy feeding tube against a patient and method of using said device

A method for externally retaining a medical tube against a patient, said medical tube having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said distal portion being disposed within the patient and terminating in a distal end, said proximal portion extending externally from the patient and terminating in a proximal end, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a retaining device comprising a clip, said clip being constructed to define a bore and a tubing storage cavity, said bore being dimensioned to receive a length of the proximal portion of the medical tube therethrough, with the remainder of the proximal portion being held in a looped back configuration by said tubing storage cavity;
• (b) advancing the proximal portion of the medical tube through said bore in said clip;
• and
• (c) retaining the remainder of the proximal portion of the medical tube in a looped back configuration using said tubing storage cavity.

A method for externally retaining a medical tube against a patient, said medical tube having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said distal portion being disposed within the patient and terminating in a distal end, said proximal portion extending externally from the patient and terminating in a proximal end, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a retaining device, said retaining device comprising a clip, said clip comprising:
• (i) a first end wall, said first end wall having a top surface, a bottom surface and a bore, said bore extending from said top surface to said bottom surface,
• (ii) a second end wall spaced apart from said first end wall,
• (iii) a lower wall interconnecting said first end wall and said second end wall, and
• (iv) an upper wall connected at a first end to said first end wall,
• (v) wherein said first end wall, said second end wall, said lower wall and said upper wall together define a tubing storage cavity;
• (b) advancing the proximal portion of the medical tube through said bore in said clip;
• (c) then, wrapping the proximal portion of the medical tube emergent from said bore around a side of said upper wall to form a pinch point;
• and
• (c) then, inserting the remainder of the proximal portion of the medical tube through said tubing storage cavity in a looped back configuration, said tubing storage cavity being dimensioned to retain said remainder in said looped back configuration.