Securing device for a low profile gastrostomy tube having an inflatable balloon

1. A device for securing a connection member to a gastrostomy tube, said device comprising:

a unitary solid body having a back portion defining an aperture and opposing portions, one of said opposing portions being slidably engageable with the connection member, while another of said opposing portions being slidably engageable with an external retention member, said opposing portions including a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a locking tab defining a beveled forward part extending towards the back portion, a flat middle part and a straight back part, said bottom portion having a pair of opposing arms said arms having free ends and adapted to engage a pair grooves on the external retention member attached to the gastrostomy tube, wherein said connection member becomes captured in an area formed between the locking tab and the back portion, and further wherein the connection member cannot be disengaged from the external retention member without first disengaging at least one of the opposing top and bottom portions from the connection member and the external retention member.

2. The device according to claim 1 said locking tab is adapted to securely engage said connection member to said device.

3. A feeding system comprising:

a feeding set, said feeding set including a hollow elongated tube having one end attached to a source of fluid and another attached to a connection member;

a gastrostomy tube including a tubular portion formed between an external retention member and an inflatable balloon, said connection member being attachable to said external retention member for establishing fluid flow communication; and

a securing member having a back portion defining an aperture, said elongated tube being slidable through said aperture and having opposing portions and being slidably engaged along said elongated tube, one of said opposing portions being slidably engageable with the connection member, while another of said opposing portions being slidably engageable with the external retention member, said opposing portions including a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a locking tab defining a beveled forward part, flat middle part and straight back part, said bottom portion having a pair of opposing arms adapted to engage a pair grooves on an external retention member attached to the gastrostomy tube, wherein said connection member becomes captured in an area formed between the locking tab and the back portion, wherein said connection member cannot be disengaged from said external retention member without first detaching one of said opposing portions of said securing device from either of said connection member or said external retention member.

4. The feeding system according to claim 3 , wherein said external retention member includes a body, said body forming a passage therethrough and two opposing legs, said two opposing legs forming respective grooves between each of said legs and said passage.

5. The feeding system according to claim 4 , wherein said two opposing arms of said securing member are adapted to securely engage said respective grooves of said external retention member when said securing member simultaneously engages said connection member and said external retention member.

6. The feeding system according to claim 3 , wherein said one of said opposing portions of said securing member includes a retention area, said retention area adapted to be slidably engaged to said connection member when the other of said opposing portions is slidably engaged to said external retention member.

7. The feeding system according to claim 3 , wherein a fluid pathway is established between said source of fluid and said tubular member.

8. The feeding system according to claim 3 , wherein said elongated tube attaches to said connection member at a perpendicular relationship with respect to said tubular member.

9. A method for securing a connection member attached to a gastrostomy tube, the gastrostomy tube including an external retention member seated outside a patient and a tubular member insertable through an opening formed through a visceral organ of a patient, a lumen defining a fluid pathway through the gastrostomy tube for providing fluid to the interior of the visceral organ, the connection member being attachable to the external retention member at one end and an elongated tube at the other end thereof, and a securing member having a back portion defining an aperture, said elongated tube being slidable through said aperture and being slidably engaged along the elongated tube, the securing member including opposing portions for simultaneously retaining the connection member and the external retention member together and one of said opposing portions being slidably engageable with the connection member, while another of said opposing portions being slidably engageable with the external retention member, said opposing portions including a top portion and a bottom portion, said top portion having a locking tab defining a beveled forward part, flat middle part and straight back part, said bottom portion having a pair of opposing arms adapted to engage a pair grooves on the external retention member attached to the gastrostomy tube, wherein said connection member becomes captured in an area formed between the locking tab and the back portion, the steps of the method comprising:

a) engaging the connection member to the external retention member;

b) establishing fluid flow communication between the source of fluid and the gastrostomy tube;

c) grasping the securing member and sliding the securing member along the elongated tube until one of said opposing portions engages the connection member while the other of said opposed portions engages the external retention member; and

d) securing one of said opposing portions to the connection member while securing the other of said opposing portions to the external retention member such that the connection member cannot be disengaged from the external retention member without first disengaging at least one of said opposing portions.