# US 5,343,874 A · Tract measuring device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,343,874 A - Document ID: US5343874A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/063,118 - Filed: 1993-05-18 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1991-09-27 - Assignees: Applied Medical Technology, Inc. - Inventors: George J. Picha; Dean J. Secrest; Angela P. Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343874A ## CPC - A61B 5/4238: {stomach} - A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)} - A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for} - A61J 15/0015: {Gastrostomy feeding-tubes (insertion tools or methods A61B17/34)} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61B 2090/036: {abutting on tissue or skin} - A61J 15/0007: {inserted by using a guide-wire (guide wires A61M25/09)} - A61J 15/0038: {expandable, e.g. umbrella type} - A61J 15/0065: {Fixing means and tube being one part} - A61M 2025/0008: {having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type} - 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 A measuring device and method for determining the length of an incised tract or passage into which gastrostomy appliance is about to be installed. A trocar needle is used to incise a tract or passage extending from the outside surface of a patient's skin into the stomach through the abdominal and stomach walls. The measuring device is positioned in the patient's stomach via a previously endoscopically installed guidewire extending through the patient's mouth, down the esophagus and through the incision. The device is pushed along the guidewire outwardly through the incision until a distal end of the device containing scale indicia is visible. A stop on the device engages the inner wall of the patient's stomach to limit outward movement of the device through the incision, so as to establish an inner stomach wall reference point for the scale indicia. With the device fully inserted into the incision, the distance between the inner wall of t, he patient's stomach and the outer surface of the skin is measured by observation of the scale indicia. The measuring device is removed from the tract or passage, and then a gastrostomy appliance of proper length dimension determined by the foregoing measurement is installed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for measuring an incised tract or passage extending between an outer surface of a living body and an inner wall of an internal body cavity, said device comprising: an elongated tubular member comprising a relatively reduced diameter portion and an elongated relatively enlarged diameter portion, said enlarged diameter portion being larger than said reduced diameter portion, said portions cooperating to define a lengthwise extending bore, said reduced diameter portion having visible scale indicia along at least a portion of its length, a proximal end of the reduced diameter portion being received by and attached to a distal end of the enlarged diameter portion, a distal end of the reduced diameter portion and a proximal end of the enlarged diameter portion having openings therethrough in communication with the bore; and a stop member, said stop member interconnecting the enlarged and reduced diameter portions and providing a stop surface which defines a reference point for said visible scale indicia, said visible scale indicia being located between a distal end of said reduced diameter portion and said stop member, said stop member being of fixed dimensions to preclude its passage through said incised tract, wherein said device, when located in said body cavity, is adapted to be manipulated so as to insert the distal end of the reduced diameter portion into and through said incised tract to a position wherein said scale indicia is visible from outside said body when the stop surface provided by the stop member engages and is positioned against said inner wall, said scale indicia being readable from outside said body so as to determine the length of said incised tract. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein said lengthwise extending bore is adapted to receive and slide along a guidewire, said guidewire extending completely through said incised tract or passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member is formed of flexible elastomeric material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein said scale indicia is constituted by a series of scale markings indicative of a length of the reduced diameter portion along which the scale indicia extends, said length corresponding to the length of the incised tract or passage extending between the outer surface of the living body and the inner wall of the internal body cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4 wherein said scale markings are in millimeter increments. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein the distal end of the reduced diameter portion is tapered. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1 wherein said tubular member is formed of thermoplastic elastomers (T.E.). ### Claim 8 A device for measuring an incised tract or passage extending between an outer surface of a living body and an inner wall of an internal body cavity, said device comprising: an elongated flexible tubular member, said tubular member defining a longitudinal bore open at proximal and distal ends of the tubular member and adapted to slidably receive a guidewire and comprising proximal and distal members, said distal member having a smaller diameter than the proximal member and including scale indicia, said proximal member being longer than said distal member; means for connecting the proximal member to the distal member; means for limiting the passage of said tubular member through the incised tract or passage, wherein said device, when located in said body cavity, is adapted to be manipulated to insert a terminal end of said distal member into and through said incised tract or passage to a position wherein the scale indicia is visible from outside said body when said limiting means engages and is positioned against said inner wall, said scale indicia being readable from outside said body to determine the length of the incised tract or passage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device according to claim 8 wherein said limiting means comprises an annular surface, said annular surface being generally coaxial with the elongated tubular member. ### Claim 10 A method of measuring the length of an incised tract or passage extending between an outer surface of a living body and an inner wall of an internal body cavity, comprising the steps of: providing a measuring device comprising an elongated member having an elongated relatively enlarged diameter portion with a proximal end; a relatively reduced diameter portion with a distal end; and a stop surface disposed between said portions, said enlarged diameter portion being longer than said reduced diameter portion, said member having visible scale indicia along at least a portion of its length; positioning said device within said body cavity; applying a pushing force on said proximal end and manipulating said distal end into and through said incised tract or passage to a position wherein said stop surface engages the inner wall and the scale indicia is visible from outside said body; and reading said scale indicia from outside the body to determine the length of the incised tract or passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10 including the step of removing said device from said incised tract or passage and installing in its place a gastrostomy appliance or the like of suitable length dimension ad determined by said measurement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage as recited in claim 10, wherein said step of providing a measuring device further comprises said scale indicia being provided between the stop surface and the distal end of the elongated member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage according to claim 10, wherein said elongated member defines a longitudinal bore and said positioning step includes: providing a guidewire which extends through an external orifice, into said internal body cavity, and through said incised tract; sliding the guidewire through the longitudinal bore; and pushing said device along said guidewire, through said external orifice, and into said internal body cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage according to claim 10, wherein the manipulating step includes the step of pushing said device along a guidewire and through the incised tract. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage as recited in claim 14, wherein said step of providing a measuring device further comprises the scale indicia being provided between the distal end and the stop surface, said stop surface defining a reference point for said scale indicia. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage as recited in claim 10, wherein said step of providing a measuring device further comprises the elongated member comprising first and second members which cooperate to define a longitudinal bore, said stop surface being provided by a stop member which interconnects the first and second members. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage as recited in claim 16, wherein said step of providing a measuring device further comprises the first member having a smaller diameter than the second member and provides the distal end, said scale indicia being provided along the first member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method of measuring an incised tract or passage as recited in claim 17, wherein said positioning step includes the steps of: providing a guidewire which extends through an external orifice, into said internal body cavity, and through said incised tract; sliding the guidewire through the longitudinal bore; and pushing said device along said guidewire, through said external orifice, and into said internal body cavity.