Means to inject a plastic into a cavity to produce a replica thereof

Claim 2

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic material into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; a guard flange fixedly united with the catheter to limit the insertion of the injection nozzle; an absorbent collar embracing the catheter forward of the guard flange for confinement between the guard flange and the patient''s body when the catheter is inserted into the cavity, said collar being made of a soft porous material to serve as a cushion and to absorb and retain fluids released from the cavity after the catheter is inserted and during the injection operation; and means to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced into the catheter by the flow of plastic to the catheter thereby to prevent the displaced air from causing a misleading void in the molded replica.

Claim 3

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; means including a passage means to deliver uncured plastic to the catheter; a hollow cuff embracing the catheter rearward of the tip of the nozzle for inflation to close off the body cavity back of the nozzle during the injection operation; and means to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced from said passage means into the catheter by the advance of the plastic through the supply passage thereby to avoid entrApment of such displaced air in the cavity as would prevent the plastic from filling the cavity.

Claim 4

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; means including a passage means to deliver uncured plastic to the catheter; a hollow cuff embracing the catheter rearward of the tip of the nozzle for inflation to close off the body cavity back of the nozzle during the injection operation; and means to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced from said passage means into the catheter by the advance of the plastic through the supply passage thereby to avoid entrApment of such displaced air in the cavity as would prevent the plastic from filling the cavity.

Claim 5

A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said means to release air has a flow passage of restricted cross section to prevent significant diversion of the uncured plastic into the flow passage.

Claim 6

A combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes a passage means connected to the catheter and a cartridge connected at its front end to the passage means, said cartridge having a plurality of separate compartments to store separate ingredients of the uncured plastic, said cartridge including a dasher operable from the rear end of the cartridge to intermix the ingredients to form the uncured plastic, said cartridge including means to extrude the uncured plastic into the passage means.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said catheter has a guard rearward of the nozzle tip fixedly secured thereto to limit insertion of the catheter into the body cavity; and in which said releasing means extends through the guard to the region rearwardly thereof.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 5 which includes an absorbent collar embracing the catheter forward of the guard for confinement between the guard and a patient''s body when the catheter is inserted into the cavity, said collar being made of a soft porous material to serve as a cushion and to absorb and retain fluid released from the body cavity after the catheter is inserted and during the injection operation.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said catheter, hollow cuff and guard are covered by a layer of plastic material forming a smooth surface that is continuous from the region of the tip of the injection nozzle to the rim of the guard.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes a cartridge connected at its forward end to the catheter to deliver uncured plastic thereto, said cartridge having a plurality of separate compartments to store separate ingredients of the uncured plastic, said cartridge including a dasher manually operable from the rear end of the cartridge to intermix the ingredients to form the uncured plastic, said cartridge including manually operable means to extrude the uncured plastic into the catheter.

Claim 11

Means for intermixing a plurality of ingredients and then promptly dispensing the mixture, comprising: a dispensing container having a forward end and a rearward end with a normally closed dispensing port in the forward end, said container having multiple compartments for multiple ingredients of the mixture; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to bring said ingredients together; dasher means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to intermix the ingredients; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to extrude the ingredients through said dispensing port; and valve means normally closing said dispensing port, said valve means being in the form of a tubular valve member slidingly telescoped into the dispensing port to control flow therethrough, said tubular valve member protruding from the dispensing port to form a dispensing nozzle capable of attachment to a flexible tube by insertion of the valve member into the end of the tube, said tubular valve member being axially retractable from a forward closed position to a rearward open position.

Claim 12

Means for intermixing a plurality of ingredients and then promptly dispensing the mixture, comprising: a dispensing container having a forward end and a rearward end with a normally closed dispensing port in the forward end, said container having multiple compartments for multiple ingredients of the mixture; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to bring said ingredients together; dasher means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to intermix the ingredients; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to extrude the ingredients through said dispensing port; and valve means normally closing said dispensing port, said valve means being in the form of a tubular valve member slidingly telescoped into the dispensing port to control flow therethrough, said tubular valve member protruding from the dispensing port to form a dispensing nozzle capable of attachment to a flexible tube by insertion of the valve member into the end of the tube, said tubular valve member being axially retractable from a forward closed position to a rearward open position.

Claim 13

A combination as set forth in claim 9 which includes manually releasable means to retain the valve member normally at its forward closed position.

Claim 14

A combination as set forth in claim 10 in which said manually releasable means is a removable locking member in engagement both with the dispensing container and with the valve member to hold the valve member in closed position.

Claim 15

A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said valve member has a peripheral rearwardly facing shoulder and said container forms a forwardly facing shoulder; AND in which said locking member is a U-shaped member to releasably embrace the valve member with opposite sides of the U-shaped member in abutment with said two shoulders respectively.

Claim 16

Means for intermixing a plurality of ingredients and then promptly dispensing the mixture, comprising: a dispensing container having a forward end and a rearward end with a normally closed dispensing port in the forward end; a dispensing piston in said dispensing container defining therewith a first ingredient-containing compartment in communication with the dispensing port; a dasher in said first compartment; a manually operable rod extending from the dasher through the piston to the rear end of the dispensing container to actuate the dasher independently of the piston, said rod being hollow to form a second ingredient-containing compartment; means operable from the rear end of the operating rod to extrude the content of said second compartment into the first compartment; and manual means to operatively connect the piston to the rod member for actuation of the piston by the rod member to extrude the mixed ingredients from the first compartment through the dispensing port.

Claim 17

Means for intermixing a plurality of ingredients and then promptly dispensing the mixture, comprising: a dispensing container having a forward end and a rearward end with a normally closed dispensing port in the forward end; a dispensing piston in said dispensing container defining therewith a first ingredient-containing compartment in communication with the dispensing port; a dasher in said first compartment; a manually operable rod extending from the dasher through the piston to the rear end of the dispensing container to actuate the dasher independently of the piston, said rod being hollow to form a second ingredient-containing compartment; means operable from the rear end of the operating rod to extrude the content of said second compartment into the first compartment; and manual means to operatively connect the piston to the rod member for actuation of the piston by the rod member to extrude the mixed ingredients from the first compartment through the dispensing port.

Claim 18

A combination as set forth in claim 13 which includes: a normally closed valve at the inner end of the hollow rod, said valve being responsive to pressure in the hollow rod to open in response to rise in the pressure; and a second piston normally closing the outer end of the hollow rod, whereby said second piston may be manually advanced towards said pressure-responsive valve to create pressure within the hollow rod member to open the pressure-responsive valve and then to displace the content of the second compartment into the first compartment.

Claim 19

Means for intermixing at least two ingredients and then dispensing the mixture, comprising: a container having compartments to store the ingredients separately, said container having a forward dispensing port and having a rearward piston serving as a rear wall for one of the compartments; means to place the compartments in communication with each other to bring the ingredients into mutual contact; a dasher to intermix the mutually contacting ingredients; a manually operable rod slidingly extending through the rearward piston to reciprocate said dasher; and manually operable means to connect the piston to the rod for actuation of the piston by the rod to extrude the mixed ingredients from the container through the dispensing port, said means to operatively connect the rod to the piston comprising: shoulder means on the periphery of the rod; and a cooperative retainer element outside of the container slidingly mounted on the rod and normally spaced from said shoulder means, said retainer element being manually movable into engagement both with said shoulder means and with the piston for the purpose of operatively connecting the piston to the rod.

Claim 20

Means for intermixing at least two ingredients and then dispensing the mixture, comprising: a container having compartments to store the ingredients separately, said container having a forward dispensing port and having a rearward piston serving as a rear wall for one of the compartments; means to place the compartments in communication with each other to bring the ingredients into mutual contact; a dasher to intermix the mutually contacting ingredients; a manually operable rod slidingly extending through the rearward piston to reciprocate said dasher; and manually operable means to connect the piston to the rod for actuation of the piston by the rod to extrude the mixed ingredients from the container through the dispensing port, said means to operatively connect the rod to the piston comprising: shoulder means on the periphery of the rod; and a cooperative retainer element outside of the container slidingly mounted on the rod and normally spaced from said shoulder means, said retainer element being manually movable into engagement both with said shoulder means and with the piston for the purpose of operatively connecting the piston to the rod.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 15 in which said retainer element is slidingly mounted on the rod and which includes a sleeve slidingly embracing the rod to serve as manual means for pushing the retainer element from its normal position to a position in engagement with said shoulder means.

Claim 22

A combination as set forth in claim 15 in which said shoulder means comprises a circumferential groove on the periphery of the rod and said retainer element is a snap ring slidingly embracing the rod.

Claim 23

A combination as set forth in claim 17 which includes a sleeve slidingly embracing the rod, said sleeve being manually operable to push said snap ring into said circumferential groove.

Claim 24

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic material into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; a dispensing container having a forward dispensing port connected to said catheter; said container having multiple compartments for multiple ingredients of the mixture; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to bring said ingredients together; a dasher operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to intermix the ingredients; manual means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to extrude the ingredients manually through said dispensing port; and means to prevent extrusion from the dispensing container while the dispensing container is connected to the catheter when the dasher is in operation.

Claim 25

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic material into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; a dispensing container having a forward dispensing port connected to said catheter; said container having multiple compartments for multiple ingredients of the mixture; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to bring said ingredients together; a dasher operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to intermix the ingredients; manual means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to extrude the ingredients manually through said dispensing port; and means to prevent extrusion from the dispensing container while the dispensing container is connected to the catheter when the dasher is in operation.

Claim 26

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic material into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; a dispensing container having a forward end with a dispensing port for connection with the catheter; a dispensing piston in said dispensing container defining therewith a first ingredient-containing compartment in communication with the dispensing port; a dasher in said first compartment; a manually operable rod extending from the dasher through the piston to the rear end of the dispensing container to actuate the dasher independently of the piston, said rod being hollow to form a second ingredient-containing compartment; means operable from the rear end of the operating rod to extrude the content of said second compartment into the first compartment; and manual means to operatively connect the piston to the rod member for actuation of the piston by the rod member to extrude the mixed ingredients from the first compartment through the dispensing port.

Claim 27

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic material into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity, said catheter including an injection nozzle for introduction of the uncured plastic; a dispensing container having a forward end with a dispensing port for connection with the catheter; a dispensing piston in said dispensing container defining therewith a first ingredient-containing compartment in communication with the dispensing port; a dasher in said first compartment; a manually operable rod extending from the dasher through the piston to the rear end of the dispensing container to actuate the dasher independently of the piston, said rod being hollow to form a second ingredient-containing compartment; means operable from the rear end of the operating rod to extrude the content of said second compartment into the first compartment; and manual means to operatively connect the piston to the rod member for actuation of the piston by the rod member to extrude the mixed ingredients from the first compartment through the dispensing port.

Claim 28

In a device for injecting an uncured plastic into a cavity to form therein a replica of the cavity that is sufficiently resiliently deformable to permit withdrawal of the replica without destroying the configuration of the replica, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity; a dispensing container having a forward end and a rearward end with a dispensing port in the forward end; said container having multiple compartments for multiple ingredients of the plastic; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to bring said ingredients together; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to intermix the ingredients; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to extrude the ingredients through said dispensing port; a hollow valve member slidingly mounted in the dispensing port and protruding axially from the dispensing port to serve as a dispensing nozzle; and a flexible tube having one end telescoped over said hollow valve member and having its other end connected to the catheter to place the dispensing container in flow communication with the catheter, said hollow valve member being axially retractable from a forward closed position to a rearward open position, whereby manually telescoping the end of the tube over the hollow valve member involves applying axial force to the valve member to retract the valve member to its open position.

Claim 29

In a device for injecting an uncured plastic into a cavity to form therein a replica of the cavity that is sufficiently resiliently deformable to permit withdrawal of the replica without destroying the configuration of the replica, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity; a dispensing container having a forward end and a rearward end with a dispensing port in the forward end; said container having multiple compartments for multiple ingredients of the plastic; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to bring said ingredients together; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to intermix the ingredients; means operable from the rear end of the dispensing container to extrude the ingredients through said dispensing port; a hollow valve member slidingly mounted in the dispensing port and protruding axially from the dispensing port to serve as a dispensing nozzle; and a flexible tube having one end telescoped over said hollow valve member and having its other end connected to the catheter to place the dispensing container in flow communication with the catheter, said hollow valve member being axially retractable from a forward closed position to a rearward open position, whereby manually telescoping the end of the tube over the hollow valve member involves applying axial force to the valve member to retract the valve member to its open position.

Claim 30

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic into a cavity of a pateient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity which includes a catheter for insertion into the cavity and means to extrude the fluent plastic into the cavity through the catheter, the improvement comprising: means to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced from the Interior of the catheter by initial advance of the extruded plastic thereby to avoid forcing the displaced air into the cavity and consequent failure of the plastic to substantially completely fill the cavity.

Claim 31

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic into a cavity of a pateient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity which includes a catheter for insertion into the cavity and means to extrude the fluent plastic into the cavity through the catheter, the improvement comprising: means to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced from the Interior of the catheter by initial advance of the extruded plastic thereby to avoid forcing the displaced air into the cavity and consequent failure of the plastic to substantially completely fill the cavity.

Claim 32

In a method of diagnosing the condition of a cavity of a living person wherein a catheter with a passage therethrough is inserted into the cavity and uncured plastic material is extruded through said passage into the cavity to result in a soft resilient flexible replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, and wherein escape of the plastic material from the cavity along the outer surface of the catheter is blocked, the improvement comprising: venting air from said passage of the catheter to the atmosphere as the plastic material progressively occupies the passage thereby to prevent the air from being forced into the cavity with consequent failure of the plastic material to substantially completely fill the cavity.

Claim 33

In a method of diagnosing the condition of a cavity of a living person wherein a catheter with a passage therethrough is inserted into the cavity and uncured plastic material is extruded through said passage into the cavity to result in a soft resilient flexible replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, and wherein escape of the plastic material from the cavity along the outer surface of the catheter is blocked, the improvement comprising: venting air from said passage of the catheter to the atmosphere as the plastic material progressively occupies the passage thereby to prevent the air from being forced into the cavity with consequent failure of the plastic material to substantially completely fill the cavity.

Claim 34

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity for injection the uncured plastic into the cavity through the catheter; a hollow cuff embracing the catheter rearward of the leading end of the catheter for inflation to close off the body cavity back of the leading end of the catheter during the injection operation; a cartridge containing a supply body of the uncured plastic, said cartridge having a dispensing port; a tubular valve member in the dispensing port protruding therefrom to serve as a nozzle for the cartridge; a flexible tube connecting the tubular valve member to the catheter, the upstream end of the tube being telescoped over the tubular valve member, the tubular valve member being retractable from a forward closed position to a rearward open position whereby manually telescoping the upstream end of the tube over the protruding end of the tubular valve member involves applying axial force to the valve member to retract the valve member to its open position; means to extrude the uncured plastic from the container to the catheter through said dispensing port, said tubular valve member and through the flexible tube; and a vent tube placing the interior of the catheter near its leading end in communication with the atmosphere to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced from said flexible tube by the advance of the plastic through the flexible tube thereby to avoid such entrapment of displacement air in the cavity as would keep the plastic from substantially filling the cavity.

Claim 35

In a medical device of the character described for injecting an uncured fluent plastic into a cavity of a patient''s body to be cured therein to form a soft resiliently flexible molded replica of the configuration of the interior of the cavity, the combination of: a catheter for insertion into the cavity for injection the uncured plastic into the cavity through the catheter; a hollow cuff embracing the catheter rearward of the leading end of the catheter for inflation to close off the body cavity back of the leading end of the catheter during the injection operation; a cartridge containing a supply body of the uncured plastic, said cartridge having a dispensing port; a tubular valve member in the dispensing port protruding therefrom to serve as a nozzle for the cartridge; a flexible tube connecting the tubular valve member to the catheter, the upstream end of the tube being telescoped over the tubular valve member, the tubular valve member being retractable from a forward closed position to a rearward open position whereby manually telescoping the upstream end of the tube over the protruding end of the tubular valve member involves applying axial force to the valve member to retract the valve member to its open position; means to extrude the uncured plastic from the container to the catheter through said dispensing port, said tubular valve member and through the flexible tube; and a vent tube placing the interior of the catheter near its leading end in communication with the atmosphere to release to the atmosphere air that is displaced from said flexible tube by the advance of the plastic through the flexible tube thereby to avoid such entrapment of displacement air in the cavity as would keep the plastic from substantially filling the cavity.