# US 2013/0158401 A1 · Ultrasonic percutaneous enteral feeding tube

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- Number: US 2013/0158401 A1
- Document ID: US20130158401A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/685,973
- Filed: 2012-11-27
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15
- Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
- Inventors: Kathryn R. Evert; Kurt J. Tekulve
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158401A1

## CPC

- A61B 8/48: {Diagnostic techniques (A61B8/13 takes precedence)}
- A61B 8/0841: {for locating instruments}
- A61J 15/0015: {Gastrostomy feeding-tubes (insertion tools or methods A61B17/34)}
- A61J 15/0038: {expandable, e.g. umbrella type}
- A61M 39/00: Tubes, tube connectors, tube couplings, valves, access sites or the like, specially adapted for medical use (for respiratory devices, e.g. tracheal tubes, A61M16/00; artificial heart valves A61F2/24)
- A61B 2090/3925: {ultrasonic}
- A61J 15/0042: {inflatable}
- A61J 15/0065: {Fixing means and tube being one part}
- A61J 15/0088: {for sensing parameters related to the device}
- A61M 2039/0255: {for access to the gastric or digestive system}
- A61M 2039/0261: {Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body}
- A61M 2039/0282: {with implanted tubes connected to the port}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Among other things, a gastrostomy tube including a feeding tube that spans between an outer retention device and an inner retention device is disclosed. Embodiments of the inner retention device include an ultrasonic marker positioned within the inner retention device. The inner retention device and the ultrasonic marker have a variety of shapes or embodiments. The ultrasonic marker positioned in the inner retention device eliminates or reduces the use of fluoroscopy or endoscopy to position and later verify the location of the gastrostomy tube in a patient. Beneficially, the health risks associated with fluoroscopy and endoscopy are thereby eliminated or reduced with their associated disuse thereof. Moreover, the use of expensive hospital suites or operating rooms is eliminated or reduced with the use of portable ultrasound equipment that can be transported to a patient's bedside for verification of the location of the ultrasonic marker.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gastrostomy tube assembly, comprising:
an inner retention device;
an outer retention device;
a feeding tube that spans between the inner retention device and the outer retention device, said feeding tube having a lumen with a central longitudinal axis, and
at least one ultrasound marker for visualization under ultrasound imaging, said at least one marker positioned at a lateral distance from said central longitudinal axis and extending around said central longitudinal axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said inner retention device includes a wall portion and said marker is within said wall portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one marker comprises a plurality of dimples positioned in said wall of said inner retention device, said plurality of dimples at least partially defined by an echogenic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The assembly of claim 2, wherein said wall of said inner retention device defines a bowl shape that defines a rim, and wherein said marker comprises a coil that extends at least part way around said rim.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein said coil has windings around a winding axis, said winding axis curving around said central longitudinal axis and being along said rim.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The assembly of claim 4, wherein said wall has a curved outer surface and a curved inner surface, and said coil is a spiral wire positioned in the wall between the curved outer and inner surfaces, said coil having windings around a winding axis, said winding axis being substantially parallel to said central longitudinal axis.

### Claim 7

A gastrostomy tube assembly, comprising:
an inner retention device that includes an expandable component;
an outer retention device;
a feeding tube that spans between the inner retention device and the outer retention device; and
an ultrasound marker attached to the feeding tube wherein the ultrasonic marker is positioned within the expandable component and the ultrasonic marker is viewable under ultrasound imaging.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the marker is a wire coil.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The assembly of claim 8, wherein the marker is made of metal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The assembly of claim 7, wherein the marker is a tube shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The assembly of claim 10, wherein the marker is made of polymer, tungsten, and barium.

### Claim 12

A method of determining the location of a gastrostomy tube in a patient, comprising:
providing a gastrostomy tube, the gastrostomy tube including an inner retention device opposite an outer retention device and a feeding tube that spans between the inner retention device and the outer retention device, the inner retention device being viewable using ultrasound; and
using ultrasound imaging to determine the location of the inner retention device in the patient.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the inner retention device includes an ultrasound marker.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the inner retention device has a bowl shape and the ultrasound marker is a spiral coil.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the inner retention device includes a plurality of dimples positioned therein, the plurality of dimples being viewable with ultrasound imaging.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the inner retention device has a disc shape.