Gastrostomy tube reinsertion device

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is a method for progressive dilation of living tissue with a gastrostomy tube reinsertion device. In one aspect, the gastrostomy tube reinsertion device has multiple dilators to open collapsed soft tissue within the gastrostomy tube tract. Such device is useful for reinserting a gastrostomy tube into the previously defined tract in a human body, even after partial closure of the tract and gastrostomy tube insertion site. In another aspect, the present invention provides the method or steps for reinserting a gastrostomy tube into a patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for progressive dilation of a gastrostomy tube tract in living tissue of a mammalian body, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first dilator into a collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract until a flange on the first dilator prevents further advancement of the first dilator;   removing the first dilator from the collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract and immediately inserting a second dilator into the collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract until a flange on the second dilator prevents further advancement of the second dilator;   removing the second dilator from the collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract and immediately inserting a third dilator into the collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract until a flange on the third dilator prevents further advancement of the third dilator, wherein the third dilator has a hollow interior;   inserting a gastrostomy tube into and through the hollow interior of the third dilator and into a stomach of the mammalian body; and   lifting, separating and removing the third dilator from the collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inflating a gastrostomy tube balloon before lifting, separating, and removing the third dilator from the collapsed soft tissue gastrostomy tube tract; and   verifying placement of the gastrostomy tube balloon in the living tissue of the mammalian body.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of visualizing placement of the gastrostomy tube by radiography. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the second dilator has a periphery that is greater than a periphery of the first dilator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein an exterior surface of the third dilator has a periphery that is greater than the periphery of the second dilator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first dilator and the second dilator has a closed distal end with a rounded blunt tip. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third dilator has an open distal end with a rounded blunt tip with an opening sufficient to allow the gastrostomy tube to pass through the rounded blunt tip. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the third dilator has serrated edges on two sides, the serrated edges extending from an open distal end of the flange to facilitate separating and removing.