JEJUNAL FEEDING TUBE AND DELIVERY SYSTEM

摘要

A delivery apparatus and related method for delivering a gastrointestinal device includes a gastrointestinal device (e.g., a delivery or feeding tube) having a lumen to provide a conduit into the digestive tract, from a location external to the digestive tract. The apparatus includes an inner shaft slidably disposed within the lumen of the gastrointestinal device. The shaft is configured to pass through a length of the intestines and to deliver the gastrointestinal device. An atraumatic element (e.g., a ball or balloon) is distal to and coupled to a distal tip of the inner shaft. The atraumatic element can be releasably coupled to the distal tip of the inner shaft. For example, the delivery apparatus can include a release mechanism that releasably engages the atraumatic element to retain the atraumatic element on the distal tip of the shaft. The gastrointestinal device can be configured to extend through and couple to a port, such as a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube.