Inflatable packing for surgical use having auxiliary intestinal supporting member

Claim 1

In an inflatable surgical packing for use in supporting the intestines of a patient following a hysterectomy or exenteration procedure, said packing having an inflatable element having an inner end surface, said inflatable element adapted to conform and substantially fill a surgical cavity formed by said procedure, said inflatable element having a principal axis and drainage means substantially aligned with said axis and projecting therethrough, the improvement comprising: an arcuate cupped support element lying generally transversely with respect to said axis and secured at a central area thereof to said inner end surface to surround said drainage means; said support element including a generally planar circular centrally disposed portion having a centrally positioned opening, said opening having an edge surrounding an open end of said drainage means, said portion being supported directly by said inflatable element, and a frusto-conical peripheral portion flaring in a direction away from said open end of said drainage means and having a free edge, said edge, when unstressed, extending outwardly of the maximum lateral excursion of said inflatable element, said open end of said drainage means being located within said frusto-conical peripheral portion whereby upon the filling of said cavity by said inflatable element and the forming of an arcuate interstice at an inner peripheral end thereof with said cavity, said support element may overlie said interstice to be spread thereover by contact with otherwise unsupported intestinal tissue to overlie said interstice and prevent the pinching of such tissue.