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US4589868A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Expandable dilator-catheter

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-12
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2004-03-12
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Abstract

Abstract A device capable of being used as both a dilator and catheter is presented. The dilator-catheter is comprised of an expandable housing having an interior wall and exterior wall with a space therebetween. A longitudinal cavity is provided through the housing, the cavity being defined by the interior wall. A preferably disc-shape retaining means is provided as an integral portion of the housing. The disc retainer is capable of greater relative expansion than the rest of the housing. Access means are also provided whereby any fluid, including air or liquid, may be delivered to the housing whereupon the entire housing will expand accordingly.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen P. Dretler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 14:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1052

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
A dilator-catheter comprising an elongated expandable tube for insertion into a body cavity, said tube having distal and proximal ends wherein the length of said tube is such that said distal end is disposed within a body cavity and the proximal end is disposed outside said body, said tube having an exterior wall and an interior wall in spaced relationship to one another thereby forming an annular space therebetween, expandable retaining means disposed near said distal end of said tube, said retaining means being defined by a portion of said exterior wall having substantially opposing side walls connected by an annular ring, said retaining means being formed by the expansion of said portion of said exterior wall of said tube, and means for providing fluid to said annular space for expanding said tube and said retaining means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 137 words
A dilator-catheter comprising an elongated expandable tube for insertion into a body cavity, said tube having distal and proximal ends wherein the length of said tube is such that said distal end is disposed within a body cavity and the proximal end is disposed outside said body, said tube having an exterior wall and an interior wall in spaced relationship to one another thereby forming an annular space therebetween, expandable retaining means disposed near said distal end of said tube, said retaining means being defined by a portion of said exterior wall having substantially opposing side walls connected by an annular ring, said retaining means being formed by the expansion of said portion of said exterior wall of said tube, and means for providing fluid to said annular space for expanding said tube and said retaining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said opposing sidewall portions of said exterior wall have a thickness less than the thickness of the remaining exterior wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The device of claim 1 including: a portion of said interior wall having opposing side walls connected by an annular ring; said portion of said interior wall disposed across from said portion of said exterior wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 3 wherein: said opposing sidewall portions of said exterior wall have a thickness less than the thickness of the remaining exterior wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The device of claim 4 wherein: said opposing sidewall portions of said interior wall have a thickness less than the thickness of the remaining interior wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said retaining means has a disk shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 1 including: a longitudinal cavity defined by the interior wall of said expandable tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 1 including: at least one aperture between said longitudinal cavity and said exterior wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said expandable tube is comprised of polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said fluid is a gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 10 words
The device of claim 10 wherein: said gas is air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said fluid is a liquid.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3394705A Cited
US3701351A Cited
US4024873A Cited
US4024873B1 Cited
US4489722A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-19 1989-11-18 1990-05-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-19 1993-11-18 1994-05-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-19 1997-11-18 1998-05-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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