Stoma creator gastrostomy device and method for placement of a feeding tube

Abstract

A stoma creator is provided comprising a flexible tube having a first opening, a tapered dilator portion, having a second opening, the diameter of the first opening being greater than the diameter of the second opening, and a connecting portion. The stoma creator has a tapered dilator having a side wall which gently tapers from approximately 5 French to 14 French. The method for using the device of this invention comprises the step of securing the stomach to the abdominal wall through the use of T-fasteners, inserting a needle percutaneously into the gastric lumen, passing a guidewire through the needle, grasping the guidewire with the endoscope and bringing it out through the mouth, threading the tapered dilator over the guidewire and passing the stoma creator down the throat into the stomach then out through the abdominal wall the stoma creator cutting of the tapered dilator and connecting portion, passing a gastrostomy tube through the flexible tube, with the gastrotomy tube having a balloon adjacent its tip, removing the flexible tube while leaving the guidewire in place, filling the balloon, and withdrawing the guidewire. A similar alternative method is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.