# US 9,750,665 B2 · Feeding tube aperture

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- Number: US 9,750,665 B2
- Document ID: US9750665B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/053,386
- Filed: 2016-02-25
- Published: 2016-07-14
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-10-05
- Applicants: Henry Kiefer
- Inventors: Henry Kiefer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750665B2

## CPC

- A61J 15/0061: {fixing at an intermediate position on the tube, i.e. tube protruding the fixing means}
- A61J 15/0015: {Gastrostomy feeding-tubes (insertion tools or methods A61B17/34)}
- A61J 15/0034: {Retainers adjacent to a body opening to prevent that the tube slips through, e.g. bolsters}
- A61J 15/0096: {Provisions for venting}
- A61M 39/0247: {Transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body}
- A61M 39/105: {Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes (multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56)}
- A61M 39/12: for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
- A61M 2025/0233: {specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall}
- 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 2039/0264: {with multiple inlets or multiple outlets}
- A61M 2039/0276: {for introducing or removing fluids into or out of the body}
- A61M 2039/0282: {with implanted tubes connected to the port}
- A61M 2039/0285: {with sterilisation means, e.g. antibacterial coatings, disinfecting pads, UV radiation LEDs or heating means in the port}
- A61M 2039/0288: {protectors, caps or covers therefor}
- A61M 2039/1066: {having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath}
- 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 feeding tube aperture supported and aligned with a feeding tube opening in an abdominal wall of a patient, including a base having a first end surface transverse to an axis of the base and a feeding tube, a second opposed end surface, a central feeding tube passage extending between the first and second end surfaces, a plurality of vent passages around the feeding tube passage and extending between the first and second end surfaces, a hollow, cylindrical feeding tube support extension centered on and extending outwardly from the feeding tube passage to support and align the feeding tube aperture, and a plurality of spaced apart resilient spacers extending outwards from the second end surface. The plurality of spaced apart resilient spacers resiliently space the second end surface from the abdominal wall and form a plurality of air passages to allow a flow of air around the abdominal wall and the feeding tube opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A feeding tube aperture positionable at an external abdominal wall of a patient and along a feeding tube extending through the abdominal wall of the patient to support and align the feeding tube with a feeding tube opening through the abdominal wall of the patient, comprising:
a base having
a circumferential surface symmetric about an axis,
a first end surface transverse to the axis,
a second end surface transverse to the axis and facing in an axially opposite direction from the first end surface,
a centrally located feeding tube passage extending along the axis and through the base from the first end surface to the second end surface and having an interior diameter accommodating the feeding tube in a slidable frictional engagement between the feeding tube and an interior surface of the feeding tube passage,
a plurality of large axial vent passages occupying a region between the centrally located feeding tube passage and the circumferential surface and extending through the base from the first end surface to the second end surface with the plurality of large axial vent passages being disposed symmetrically around the centrally located feeding tube passage,
a hollow, cylindrical feeding tube support extension extending outwardly from the first end surface and axially centered on the axis with an interior diameter accommodating the feeding tube in a slidable frictional engagement between the feeding tube and an interior surface of the feeding tube support extension, and
a plurality of resilient spacers attached to a circumference of the second end surface and extending outward from the second end surface, the plurality of resilient spacers being spaced circumferentially apart around the circumference of the second end surface with a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of resilient spacers extending generally along the circumference of the second end surface, so that
when the feeding tube aperture is mounted onto the feeding tube with the second end surface oriented toward and directly adjacent the abdominal wall with the plurality of resilient spacers in contact with the abdominal wall,
the feeding tube aperture is resiliently spaced from the abdominal wall by the plurality of resilient spacers, and
the plurality of resilient spacers form a common air space located between the second end surface and the abdominal wall, the air space extending from the centrally located feeding tube passage to the circumference of the second end surface and communicating with each of the plurality of large axial vent passages and with each of a plurality of circumferential vent passages formed between adjacent pairs of the plurality of resilient spacers, so that the plurality of large axial vent passages through the base, the air space between the second end surface and the abdominal wall and the plurality of circumferential vent passages allow a flow of air around the abdominal wall and the feeding tube opening in the abdominal wall during use.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The feeding tube aperture of claim 1, further comprising:
a circumferential flange located on the circumference of the second end surface and extending outwards from the second end surface, wherein
each of the plurality of resilient spacers comprises a generally cylindrical hollow tube of resilient foam with a longitudinal opening in a wall of the generally cylindrical hollow tube extending lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of resilient spacers, and
each of the plurality of resilient spacers is attached to the feeding tube aperture by mounting each of the resilient spacers at a selected location on a circumference of the circumferential flange with a first side of the longitudinal opening bearing against the base in a region of the circumferential surface of the base and an adjoining surface of the circumferential flange and a second side of the longitudinal opening bearing against the second end surface of the base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The feeding tube aperture of claim 1, further comprising:
a circumferential flange located on the circumference of the second end surface and extending outwards from the second end surface, wherein
each of the plurality of resilient spacers comprises a generally cylindrical hollow tube of resilient foam having a longitudinal opening formed in a wall of the generally cylindrical hollow tube, and
each of the plurality of resilient spacers is attached to the feeding tube aperture via engagement of the longitudinal opening with the circumference of the second end surface.