MICHAEL W GAUDERER
Medical Practice in Cleveland, OH

5549657, Aug 27, 1996

May 12, 1994

8/241846

David R. Stern - Grayson GA
Michael Gauderer - Shaker Heights OH
Albert N. Solbjor - Waltham MA

C.R. Bard, Inc. - Billerica MA

A61M 3100

604283

A low profile adaptor is disclosed for use with a gastrostomy feeding tube which has been inserted by means of conventional endoscopic procedures or with a replacement feeding tube inserted through the patient's stomach. The tube is cut to the approximate length by the surgeon. The adaptor comprises an anti-reflux valve assembly having a stem which can be plugged into the open end of the feeding tube. The valve assembly contains a seal which functions as a one-way valve to prevent reflux of gastric contents but which permits the introduction of feeding solution into the feeding tube. A clamp is placed around the feeding tube and the valve stem and locked into place to secure the valve assembly to the feeding tube at a location flush with the patient's skin. A silicone cover is placed around the clamp to protect the patient from skin irritation caused by the clamp, and also to protect the clamp and valve assembly from contamination.

4863438, Sep 5, 1989

Nov 29, 1985

6/803386

Michael L. Gauderer - Cleveland OH
George J. Picha - Independence OH
Dennis Siedlak - Willoughby Hills OH

Applied Medical Technology, Inc. - Independence OH

A61M 5005

604247

Device includes a flexible, hollow tube portion having a resiliently deformable mushroom shape tip at the inner end thereof to retain the tube in the stomach or other viscera of a patient and provide an enlarged internal chamber for the mounting of a one-way flapper valve therein and the seating of the flapper valve against the inner end of the tube portion to prevent reflux of gastric contents while permitting the influx of fluids into the stomach or other viscera of the patient through the tube portion. A pair of oppositely extending, relatively short, flat wings are integrally molded on the outer end of the tube portion to make the tube portion self-retaining and flush up against the skin. The wings are relatively narrow in width, whereby the tube portion may be rotated a part turn to bring the wings into contact with different areas of the skin if irritation should occur. A plug is integrally molded on the outer end of one of the wings by a flexible membrane which permits the plug to be inserted into the tube at the outer end thereof and removed therefrom as desired.