Importance

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus for anchoring percutaneous devices, e.g., tubes or catheters or leads, extending percutaneously through a percutaneous passageway from the skin of a patient to a subcutaneous location or body cavity or tract or lumen from movement further into the body or retraction out of the body. An implantable anchor comprising an anchor body and a tensioning filament is inserted through the percutaneous passageway and deployed subcutaneously with the anchor body in engagement with body tissue in a manner that inhibits it from being retracted through the passageway. The tensioning filament extends from the anchor body and alongside the percutaneous device body through the percutaneous passageway and tension is applied to it to draw the deployed anchor against subcutaneous body tissue and toward the patients skin. The tensioning filament is coupled with an attachment mechanism secured against the percutaneous device body outside the patient's skin at a location adjacent to the patient's skin. The assembly of the deployed anchor within the patient's body with the external attachment mechanism inhibits advancement or retraction of the percutaneous device body through the percutaneous passageway. When use of the percutaneous device is to be discontinued, the tensioning filament can be severed outside the skin, to release and retract the percutaneous device and attachment mechanism as a unit from the percutaneous passageway, releasing tension on the anchor body. The retraction filament is then retracted, causing the anchor body of the anchor to pivot into axial alignment with the percutaneous passageway, and the anchor body can then simply be pulled out through the percutaneous passageway. The percutaneous device is preferably a gastrostomy or jejunostomy or gastro-jejunal catheter having a catheter body lumen and a disposable inner liner fitted therein and engaging the anchor body during insertion through the percutaneous passageway and retractable to release the anchor within the patient's stomach or small intestine.

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First Claim