Gastrostomy catheter system

A gastrostomy catheter system comprising:

• (a) outer gastrostomy catheter means adapted for long-term placement through a patient's abdominal and stomach walls into the patient's stomach cavity, said gastrostomy catheter means comprising:
• (1) a gastrostomy tube having at least one lumen running the length of the gastrostomy tube and through which fluids may be introduced into the stomach cavity after the gastrostomy tube is in place;
• and
• (2) means for securing the gastrostomy tube in place relative to the abdominal and stomach walls, said securing means comprising first inflatable means for securing the gastrostomy tube against the stomach wall and slidable retention means for securing the gastrostomy tube against the abdominal wall so as to essentially prevent movement of the gastrostomy robe relative to either wall;
• and
• (b) inner dilatation catheter means for introducing the outer gastrostomy tube and the first inflatable means for securing the tube into the stomach cavity together with the dilatation catheter through an enlarged stoma formed by a second inflatable dilatation means, said dilatation catheter means being temporarily disposed in said lumen when introducing the gastrostomy tube and the first inflatable means for securing the tube in the stomach cavity, and thereafter being removable from said lumen to permit fluids to be introduced through the lumen into the stomach cavity and said dilatation catheter means comprising;
• (1) an elongated catheter shaft having a sufficient length so that when the catheter shalt is disposed in the lumen of the gastrostomy tube, a distal portion of the catheter shaft will extend beyond the lumen of the gastrostomy tube and a proximal portion of the catheter shaft will be accessible at the opposite end of the lumen of the gastrostomy tube so as to permit removal of the catheter shaft after introducing the gastrostomy tube and first means for securing the tube in the stomach cavity;
• and
• (2) a second inflatable dilatation means at said distal portion of the elongated catheter shaft and having an inflatable diameter larger than the first inflatable securing means, for radially expanding a passageway formed through the abdominal and stomach walls as the second inflatable dilatation means is inflated so that the passageway will thereafter accommodate introduction therethrough of the gastrostomy tube and first inflatable means for securing the tube, said dilatation means being located at the distal portion of the catheter shaft and being in fluid communication therewith so as to be inflatable by fluid communicated through the catheter shaft to the dilatation means.