Abbott Laboratories Corporation

White's Electronics, Inc.

Ronald M Isaac

Robert D Clegg

William H Hirsch

James L Tiefenthal

James P Karbowski

Richard Edward Hirschi

Kent E Iversen

Roger G Danis

Harry A Puryear, Jr

A system for detecting the position of an object within a body of biological tissue includes a resonant circuit attached to the object and a probe including a receiver/transmitter that operates at the resonant frequency of the object. The resonant circuit rings in response to pulses transmitted from the probe thereby activating receiver circuits which control a visual display indicating the direction the probe should be moved to center it over the object. When the object is centered a second visual display provides confirmation.

Tube placement verifier system

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.

Stoma creator gastrostomy device and method for placement of a feeding

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 gastrostomy 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.

A stoma measuring device is provided comprising a valve housing containing a valve, a lumen with a port located near its distal end, with the lumen having its proximal end secured to the valve housing, and an inflatable component member, with this member located near the distal end of the lumen, the member having a first end secured to the lumen intermediary the port and the valve housing. The lumen is relatively flexible and may be fabricated with a radiopaque filler. The method for using the device of this invention permits the measuring of the depth of a stoma by inserting the distal end of a lumen through the opening in the stomach, the lumen having a port near the distal end, the lumen also secured to the first end of an inflatable component member, the port being intermediary the first end and the distal end, the lumen also having indicia thereon, inflating the member and ascertaining the relative distance between the first end in the stomach and the outer layer of skin through the use of the indicia. Additional steps in the method may include keeping the member inflated by use of a valve until the distance is ascertained and deflating the member following ascertaining their distance so as to permit the lumen to be withdrawn through the stoma.

Stoma measuring device

An improved system for initially positioning and for continuous or intermittent monitoring of the location of the distal end of a feeding tube in a patient's gastrointestinal tract and for selectively controlling a feeding device associated therewith by detecting and processing myoelectric signals unique to different areas of the gastrointestinal tract, such signals being detected by electrodes carried by the distal end of the feeding tube and transmitted by leads extending through the feeding tube to a monitor.

Growing community of inventors

Libertyville, IL, United States of America

Ronald M Isaac