Low profile gastrostomy device with one-way cross-slit valve

• Main Authors: GOLDHARDT; DONALD J, HIRSCH; WILLIAM H
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.05.1995
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BABY COMFORTERS; CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICALPURPOSES; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGINGPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL ORADMINISTERING FORMS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE

The one-way cross-slit valve of the invention is made of an elastomeric material and has a hollow cylindrical body with first and second ends and an axis and a passageway through the body, the passageway being entirely intercepted by a ridge and valley wall or web structure integrally joined to the cylindrical body. There are just two ridges in the form of lands that extend diametrically and intersect at a right angle at about the axis of the valve body and are slitted at the intersection to provide duckbill valve action. The ridges constitute the apices of mutually intersecting partially folded wall portions that are V-shaped in section, the V's spreading towards the first end where the intersecting walls join and form the valleys and the one-way action of the valve allowing fluid to move only towards the second end. The novel low profile gastrostomy tube combines a conventional dome and tubular shaft with the one-way cross-slit valve of the invention.