Gastrostomy feeding ports

Abstract

Gastrostomy ports are disclosed for reliably providing enteral feeding to a patient over long periods of time. Gastrostomy ports shown herein provide one-way valves which include a resilient valve member which is compressively fitted within a receiving cavity defined by a rigid compression collar. The valve member has a diaphragm portion defining a slit. The compression collar presses inwardly against the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm portion to apply laterally compressive forces which bias the slit toward a normally closed position. Gastrostomy ports are further shown for accessing the interior of a body cavity or organ which are self retaining and resist inadvertent pull-out but can be atraumatically implanted and removed. The devices include a retaining element which is resiliently deformable between a normally enlarged state for retention and a collapsed state for insertion and removal through a stoma and are provided with means for controllably biasing the element toward a longitudinal axis for collapsing the element. Still additional embodiments are disclosed which provide for the direct conversion of an implanted PEG tube into a low profile feeding port, and which further provide for the direct secure connection to an enteral feeding tube adapter.