MIC-KEY G Low Profile Gastrostomy Feeding Tube

By Avanos Medical / MIC-KEY  |  Item# Format: 0120-[FR]-[Stoma Length]  |  FSA/HSA Eligible  |  Sold Each

Skin-Level Low-Profile Design  |  Medical-Grade Silicone  |  DEHP-Free  |  Inflatable Silicone Retention Balloon  |  Proximal Anti-Reflux Valve  |  SECUR-LOK Extension Connector  |  Radiopaque Stripe  |  Tapered Distal Tip  |  12FR–24FR  |  0.8–5.0cm Stoma Lengths  |  3mL or 5mL Balloon

The Avanos MIC-KEY G Low Profile Gastrostomy Feeding Tube is the most widely prescribed low-profile G-tube in the world — a skin-level enteral access device for long-term delivery of enteral nutrition and medications, and for gastric decompression. Where traditional PEG tubes extend from the body surface on a shaft, the MIC-KEY G sits flush at skin level, hidden beneath a layer of clothing and nearly undetectable to the observer. This makes it the preferred G-tube for active patients, children, and anyone for whom the visibility and encumbrance of a conventional gastrostomy tube is a quality-of-life concern. The high-clarity medical-grade silicone construction is DEHP-free, flexible, and biocompatible for long-term implantation. Five design features work together to ensure secure, leak-free, position-stable feeding: a tapered distal tip that reduces accidental dislodgement risk; an inflatable silicone retention balloon (recessed at 3mL or 5mL) that holds the tube inside the stomach; a proximal anti-reflux valve that prevents backflow of stomach contents through the port when the extension set is disconnected; the patented SECUR-LOK extension set connector that locks to MIC-KEY extension sets to prevent unintentional disconnects during feeding; and a radiopaque stripe that allows the tube position to be confirmed under X-ray. Available in six French sizes (12FR–24FR) and 14 stoma lengths (0.8cm–5.0cm) to match patient anatomy precisely. Gamma-sterilized and ethylene oxide sterilized. FSA/HSA eligible. By Avanos Medical. Sold each. Prescription or professional license required.

Item Number System — How to Order

MIC-KEY G tubes use the format 0120-[French size]-[stoma length in cm]

Examples: 0120-18-3.0 = 18FR, 3.0cm stoma  |  0120-14-1.5 = 14FR, 1.5cm stoma  |  0120-20-2.7 = 20FR, 2.7cm stoma

Available Configurations

Not sure which configuration you need? Call us at 1-866-218-0902 — our team can confirm the correct FR size and stoma length based on your prescriber's order or prior tube specifications.

Key Design Features

Key Features

• Low-profile skin-level design — the defining advantage — the MIC-KEY G sits at the abdominal skin surface, held in position by the internal balloon against the gastric mucosa and the external bolster against the skin surface; no shaft, no external tube assembly protrudes from the body; the tube is capped between feedings and can be completely hidden beneath a layer of clothing; for children in school, for adults in active occupations, and for any patient for whom the psychosocial visibility of an enteral tube is a quality-of-life factor, the low-profile design is a meaningful clinical advantage over conventional PEG tubes
• DEHP-free medical-grade silicone — DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) is a plasticizer used in some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical devices that is classified as a reproductive toxicant and endocrine disruptor; MIC-KEY tubes are silicone, not PVC, and do not contain DEHP; this is particularly relevant for pediatric patients — infants, children, and neonates — who are at higher risk from DEHP exposure due to their lower body weight, longer proportional exposure duration, and greater sensitivity during developmental periods
• Inflatable internal retention balloon — after the tube is inserted through the gastrostomy tract, the retention balloon is inflated with sterile water (3mL or 5mL depending on the configuration) via the balloon port; the inflated balloon presses against the gastric mucosa inside the stomach, holding the tube securely in position and preventing accidental pullout; the balloon is checked and typically replaced with fresh sterile water monthly as part of tube maintenance; the balloon volume is checked with a syringe before each tube change to confirm adequate retention
• Proximal anti-reflux valve — the anti-reflux valve at the proximal end of the tube (the skin-level opening) prevents gastric fluid, acid, and enteral formula from leaking out of the tube when the feeding extension is disconnected; patients who are between feedings are not capped in an unsealed port — the valve closes and maintains a closed system; reduces the risk of skin maceration, peristomal skin irritation, and the unpleasant experience of gastric contents leaking onto clothing
• SECUR-LOK extension set connector — the patented connector mechanism on the MIC-KEY G tube accepts MIC-KEY extension sets through a lock-and-key twist-and-lock engagement; the connection is secure enough that normal patient movement and mild tugging do not disconnect the extension set during feeding; the SECUR-LOK mechanism is the reason MIC-KEY extension sets must be used with MIC-KEY tubes — generic or non-locking extension sets do not engage the SECUR-LOK mechanism and are not secure with this tube
• Radiopaque stripe — a stripe of radiopaque material runs the length of the tube; if there is a clinical question about tube position (after suspected dislodgement, after a difficult tube change, or in a patient who cannot report symptoms), an abdominal X-ray can visualize the tube to confirm correct gastric placement before feeding is resumed
• Pioneer product — Avanos was first — Avanos Medical (formerly Kimberly-Clark Halyard) was the pioneer in developing the first balloon-retained low-profile gastrostomy tube for enteral feeding; the MIC-KEY is the product of decades of refinement in this category and is the tube that defines the clinical standard for low-profile gastrostomy access
• Gamma-sterilized and ethylene oxide sterilized | FSA/HSA eligible | Prescription or professional license required | By Avanos Medical

Clinical FAQs

What is a low-profile G-tube and how does it differ from a traditional PEG tube?

A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is an enteral access device — a tube that passes through the abdominal wall directly into the stomach to allow delivery of nutrition, medication, and fluids to patients who cannot eat by mouth adequately or at all. A traditional PEG tube (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube) consists of a long shaft that passes from outside the body, through the abdominal wall and stomach wall, into the gastric lumen — the external shaft is typically 10 to 30 centimeters long, hanging from the abdominal surface and requiring a holder, dressing, or tucking under clothing to manage. A low-profile G-tube, also called a skin-level G-tube or "button," has no external shaft: the tube body sits entirely at skin level, with only a low, flat disc or button profile visible externally between feedings. The MIC-KEY G is a low-profile button G-tube — it is held in place by the internal retention balloon against the inside of the stomach, with the external bolster resting flush against the skin surface; nothing protrudes from the body when the feeding extension set is disconnected. For feeding, a MIC-KEY extension set is attached to the low-profile connector, formula or medications are delivered, and the extension set is then disconnected and the tube is capped with the anti-reflux valve. The primary indications for a low-profile G-tube over a traditional PEG tube are patient activity level, age (the majority of pediatric G-tube users use low-profile tubes), patient preference for concealment, and reduction of the tube management burden associated with external shaft tubes.

How do I select the correct French size and stoma length for a patient?

The French size (12FR through 24FR for the MIC-KEY G) represents the outer diameter of the tube — it determines how much formula or medication can be delivered per unit time and whether the tube will fit through the established gastrostomy tract. The French size is determined by the prescribing physician or gastroenterologist at the time of initial tube placement and is maintained through subsequent tube replacements unless the clinical team specifies a size change. Do not attempt to change French size without clinical guidance — a tube that is too large for the tract will not pass; a tube that is too small may not provide adequate retention and may allow gastric fluid to leak around the tube. The stoma length (0.8cm through 5.0cm) represents the length of the tube shaft between the internal retention balloon and the external bolster — it must match the measured depth of the gastrostomy tract. If the stoma length is too short, the external bolster will pull tightly against the skin surface, causing pressure injury and embedding; if it is too long, the tube will move in and out of the tract, causing tissue irritation, granulation tissue formation, and increased risk of accidental dislodgement. Stoma length is typically measured by the clinical team using a stoma-measuring device at each tube change; the stoma depth can change over time with weight gain, weight loss, or tissue changes. Always confirm the stoma length from the most recent clinical measurement before ordering. Call us at 1-866-218-0902 with questions about confirming the correct tube specifications before placing an order.

What is the SECUR-LOK connector and does it require specific MIC-KEY extension sets?

The SECUR-LOK connector is the patented connection mechanism on the MIC-KEY G tube that engages with MIC-KEY extension sets through a twist-and-lock system — the extension set is inserted into the tube connector and rotated to engage the locking mechanism, creating a secure connection that resists accidental disconnection during feeding without requiring the user to hold the connection manually. This is a clinically meaningful feature: enteral feeding extension sets that can disconnect during a gravity or pump feed allow formula to spill onto the patient, the bed, and the feeding equipment; they also interrupt the feed and require staff or caregiver time to reconnect and restart. The SECUR-LOK mechanism reduces this occurrence. The SECUR-LOK connector does require MIC-KEY-compatible extension sets — generic universal extension sets that use a simple friction-fit or slip connection do not engage the SECUR-LOK locking mechanism and will not provide the secure locking connection the tube is designed for. MIC-KEY extension sets in feeding-only (straight), with right-angle connectors, and in decompression configurations are available from Medical Department Store and are designed to be the counterpart to the MIC-KEY G tube's locking connector. Call us at 1-866-218-0902 to order MIC-KEY extension sets or to confirm which extension set type is appropriate for the patient's feeding regimen.

Questions about the MIC-KEY G tube, selecting the correct French size and stoma length, or compatible extension sets? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST