Gastric tubes and methods of use
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsHenry Holsten, Thomas Wenchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gastric tube for use in a bariatric surgical procedure includes an elongate tube and a movable component supported on an outer surface of the elongate tube. The elongate tube has a non-circular cross section along at least a portion of a length of the elongate tube. The movable component is movable between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. In the unexpanded configuration, the movable component is disposed in abutting engagement with the outer surface of the elongate tube. In the expanded configuration, the movable component bows outwardly from the outer surface of the elongate tube.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A gastric tube for use in a bariatric surgical procedure, comprising:
- an elongate tube defining a longitudinally-extending channel, the elongate tube having an outer surface defining a groove in the outer surface, the groove extending along a length of the elongate tube and separated from the longitudinally-extending channel by a wall of the elongate tube;
- and
- a movable component supported in the groove of the elongate tube and movable between an unexpanded configuration in which the movable component is disposed within the groove and an expanded configuration in which at least a portion of the movable component extends outwardly from the outer surface of the elongate tube.
A method of performing bariatric surgery, comprising:
- activating a distal end portion of an elongate tube of a gastric tube to illuminate at least the distal end portion of the elongate tube;
- inserting the gastric tube into an oral cavity of a patient;
- guiding the gastric tube along an enteral pathway using the illuminated distal end portion of the elongate tube as a guide;
- repositioning the gastric tube to a selected position within a stomach of the patient;
- and
- moving a movable component of the gastric tube relative to the elongate tube from an unexpanded configuration toward an expanded configuration in which a distal portion of the movable component extends outwardly from an outer surface of the elongate tube into engagement with a portion of the stomach.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.