Dilator device

Claim 2

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, links extending between and hinged at both ends thereof to said parallel bars at longitudinally spaced pivot points therealong for pivotal movement about pivot axes at right angles to the spacing of the bars, the links extending across the width of the bars and the lengths thereof being shorter than the spacings between the pivot points on each of the bars so the bars can be moved from relatively contiguous positions where the links are sandwiched between the bars without overlap in positions where they extend parallel to the bars, to relatively spaced apart positions where said passageway is dilated, said links when the bars are in their maximum spaced position being spaced apart a distance less than twice the length of the links to form a cage for holding loose tissue outside of the closely confronting surfaces of the bars when the bars are forced into their contiguous positions while in said constricted passageway, and means for moving said bars between said relatively contiguous and spaced apart positions.

Claim 3

The dilator device of claim 1 wherein said links when said bars are in said spaced apart positions are spaced apart a distance not greater than about the order of magnitude of the separation distance of said bars in said spaced apart positions.

Claim 4

The dilator device of claim 1 wherein the device is provided with handle means extending from one of the ends of the bars for grasping the dilator device, and means at the latter ends of the bars and in front of the handle means positioned to be operated by part of the same hand which grasps said handle means, selectively to move said bars between said relatively contiguous and spaced apart positions.

Claim 5

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constructed passageway, links extending between and hinged at both ends thereof to said parallel bars at longitudinally spaced pivot points therealong for pivotal movement about pivot axes at right angles to the spacing of the bars, the lengths of the links being shorter than the spacings between the pivot points on each of the bars so the bars can be moved from relatively contiguous positions where the links are substantially sandwiched between the bars without overlap in positions where they extend parallel to the bars, to relatively spaced apart positions where said passageway is dilated, said bars having parallel confronting surfaces spaced from the longitudinal side margins of the bars by gradually rounded corners wherein the points at which the bars come close together when they are in their relatively contiguous position are located substantially inwardly of the longitudinal side margins of the bars, to minimize the possibility of pinching loose tissue between the bars.

Claim 6

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constructed passageway, links extending between and hinged at both ends thereof to said parallel bars at longitudinally spaced pivot points therealong for pivotal movement about pivot axes at right angles to the spacing of the bars, the lengths of the links being shorter than the spacings between the pivot points on each of the bars so the bars can be moved from relatively contiguous positions where the links are substantially sandwiched between the bars without overlap in positions where they extend parallel to the bars, to relatively spaced apart positions where said passageway is dilated, said bars having parallel confronting surfaces spaced from the longitudinal side margins of the bars by gradually rounded corners wherein the points at which the bars come close together when they are in their relatively contiguous position are located substantially inwardly of the longitudinal side margins of the bars, to minimize the possibility of pinching loose tissue between the bars.

Claim 7

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: only two relatively separable generally parallel bars separable transversely of one another and having confronting dilating portions adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, the dilating portion of each of said bars having a substantially elongated cross-section in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement thereof, so the long dimension thereof is much more than twice the shorter dimension transverse thereto, wherein said bars when in said relatively contiguous positions occupy an overall elongated space whose long axis extends in a direction transverse to the direction of the separation thereof and is at least about twice as long as its short axis, and means for moving said bars to relatively spaced apart positions where said constricted passageways will be expanded in the direction of the separation of the bars.

Claim 8

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: only two relatively separable generally parallel bars separable transversely of one another and having confronting dilating portions adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, the dilating portion of each of said bars having a substantially elongated cross-section in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement thereof, so the long dimension thereof is much more than twice the shorter dimension transverse thereto, wherein said bars when in said relatively contiguous positions occupy an overall elongated space whose long axis extends in a direction transverse to the direction of the separation thereof and is at least about twice as long as its short axis, and means for moving said bars to relatively spaced apart positions where said constricted passageways will be expanded in the direction of the separation of the bars.

Claim 9

The dilator device of claim 5 wherein the opposite non-confronting exterior surfaces of said bars are rounded surfaces which fall approximately along the same circle when said bars are in substantially spaced apart passageway dilating positions.

Claim 10

The dilator device of claim 5 wherein said bars have parallel confronting surfaces spaced from the longitudinal side margins of the bars by gradually rounded corners wherein the points at which the bars come close together when they are in their relatively contiguous position are located substantially inwardly of the longitudinal side margins of the bars.

Claim 11

The dilator device of claim 5 wherein there is a flexible forwardly tapering nose portion in front of said bars for guiding the device into a human male or female urethra, and said bars being sized to enter and dilate a human male and female urethra.

Claim 12

A dilator device for dilating constrictive passage-ways in animal and humans, said device comprising at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, links extending between the confronting surfaces of and hinged to said parallel bars so the bars can be moved by the relative longitudinal shifting thereof from relatively contiguous positions to spaced apart positions, said bars and said links being a single integrally molded synthetic plastic part where the hinges between the links and the bars are thin sections of plastic material, and manually operable means for moving said bars between said relatively contiguous and spaced apart positions.

Claim 13

A dilator device for dilating constrictive passage-ways in animal and humans, said device comprising at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, links extending between the confronting surfaces of and hinged to said parallel bars so the bars can be moved by the relative longitudinal shifting thereof from relatively contiguous positions to spaced apart positions, said bars and said links being a single integrally molded synthetic plastic part where the hinges between the links and the bars are thin sections of plastic material, and manually operable means for moving said bars between said relatively contiguous and spaced apart positions.

Claim 14

The dilator device of claim 9 wherein said links extending between the bars are spaced so close together that they form a cage for holding loose tissue outside of the closely confronting surfaces of the bars when the bars are returned to their relatively contiguous positions while in said constricted passageway, said links having a length permitting separation of said bars to dilate said constricted passageway, and, when said bars are in said relatively contiguous positions, said links being sandwiched between the confronting surfaces of said bars and being in separated but closely contiguous relation.

Claim 15

The dilator device of claim 9 wherein said separable bars and links are molded in their spaced apart positions so the resiliency thereof urges the bars to their spaced apart positions, said manually operable means being mounted for normal unhindered movement so the operator can feel the opposition to the separation of the bars of the movement of said manually operable means, and means for holding said manually operable means in the position which adjust said bars to said contiguous positions so the device can be inserted into a constricted passageway without applying any force to said manually operable means.

Claim 16

The dilator device of claim 9 wherein there are only two relatively separable generally parallel bars where each bar has a substantially elongated cross-section in a direction transverse to the direction of relative movement thereof, so the long dimension thereof is much more than twice the shorter dimension transverse thereto, said bars when in said relatively contiguous positions occupying an overall elongated space having a long axis at least about one and a half times as long as the short axis thereof, and said links being of such a length that when the bars are in said relatively maximum spaced apart positions the bars are separated an order of magnitude similar to the longest cross-sectional dimension of each of the bars, so the constricted passageway will then be expanded in the direction of separation of the bars.

Claim 17

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, said bars being separable to bring the same to maximum spaced apart positions where the passageway is dilated to a maximum degree thereby, said device having a forwardly tapering nose portion in the front of said relatively separable bars for guiding the device into and through said constricted passageway, and the front of said nose portion terminating in a longitudinally extending screw-threaded portion of less diameter than the contiguous end of the nose portion of the device and having rounded corners viewed in section to provide an imperfect screw thread so the screw-threaded portion will not cut or injure said constricted passageway when pushed therethrough said screw thread being adapted to receive a tapered attachment of smaller size than said nose portion for forming a tapered extension of the nose portion.

Claim 18

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a constricted passageway, said bars being separable to bring the same to maximum spaced apart positions where the passageway is dilated to a maximum degree thereby, said device having a forwardly tapering nose portion in the front of said relatively separable bars for guiding the device into and through said constricted passageway, and the front of said nose portion terminating in a longitudinally extending screw-threaded portion of less diameter than the contiguous end of the nose portion of the device and having rounded corners viewed in section to provide an imperfect screw thread so the screw-threaded portion will not cut or injure said constricted passageway when pushed therethrough said screw thread being adapted to receive a tapered attachment of smaller size than said nose portion for forming a tapered extension of the nose portion.

Claim 19

The dilator device of claim 13 in combination with said tapered attachment, said attachment having a threaded socket of somewhat smaller size than said screw-threaded portion of said dilator device and being of a material which will form relatively sharp corners on said screw-threaded portion when threaded thereover, to form a secure interconnection between the nose portion of the dilator device and the attachment.

Claim 20

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: a first elongated member having a dilating portion adapted to enter the constricted passageway to be dilated and a handle-forming portion forming a rigid longitudinal extension of the rear end of said dilating portion, said handle-forming portion of said first elongated member adapted to be firmly held in the palm of one hand of the user with the thumb thereof pointing forwardly along the length of the member and free to manipulate the device, a second elongated member having a dilating portion also adapted to enter said constricted passageway to be dilated and confronting and extending generally parallel to said dilating portion of said first member on the side thereof on which said thumb will extend, links interconnecting said second elongated member and the passageway dilating portion of said first member and pivoted thereto along lateral transverse axes so the longitudinal shifting of said second elongated member will move the second member from a position immediately contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member to a position where it is spaced a relatively large distance therefrom, and operating means connected to the rear end of said second member which means is engageable by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle-forming portion of said first member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member and is forwardly pushable thereby to shift said second member longitudinally forwardly to bring the same into said position where said second member is substantially spaced therefrom.

Claim 21

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: a first elongated member having a dilating portion adapted to enter the constricted passageway to be dilated and a handle-forming portion forming a rigid longitudinal extension of the rear end of said dilating portion, said handle-forming portion of said first elongated member adapted to be firmly held in the palm of one hand of the user with the thumb thereof pointing forwardly along the length of the member and free to manipulate the device, a second elongated member having a dilating portion also adapted to enter said constricted passageway to be dilated and confronting and extending generally parallel to said dilating portion of said first member on the side thereof on which said thumb will extend, links interconnecting said second elongated member and the passageway dilating portion of said first member and pivoted thereto along lateral transverse axes so the longitudinal shifting of said second elongated member will move the second member from a position immediately contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member to a position where it is spaced a relatively large distance therefrom, and operating means connected to the rear end of said second member which means is engageable by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle-forming portion of said first member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member and is forwardly pushable thereby to shift said second member longitudinally forwardly to bring the same into said position where said second member is substantially spaced therefrom.

Claim 22

A Dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: a first elongated member having a dilating portion adapted to enter the constricted passageway to be dilated and a handle-forming portion forming a rigid extension of the rear end of said dilating portion, said handle-forming portion of said first elongated member adapted to be firmly held in the palm of one hand of the user with the thumb thereof pointing forwardly along the length of the member and free to manipulate the device, a second elongated member having a dilating portion also adapted to enter said constricted passageway to be dilated and confronting and extending generally parallel to said dilating portion of said first member on the side thereof on which said thumb will extend, links interconnecting said second elongated member and the passageway dilating portion of said first member and pivoted thereto along lateral transverse axes so the longitudinal shifting of said second elongated member will move the second member from a position immediately contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member to a position where it is spaced a relatively large distance therefrom, and operating means connected to the rear end of said second member which means is engageable by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle-forming portion of said first member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member and is forwardly pushable thereby to shift said second member longitudinally forwardly to bring the same into said position where said second member is substantially spaced therefrom, said operating means being a control member pivotally mounted on said first member for movement about a lateral transverse axis parallel to the hinge axes of said links, said second member being connected to said rotatable control member at a point spaced rearwardly of the axis of rotation of said rotatable control member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member so the bars are separated by pushing on the control member.

Claim 23

A Dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in animals and humans, said device comprising: a first elongated member having a dilating portion adapted to enter the constricted passageway to be dilated and a handle-forming portion forming a rigid extension of the rear end of said dilating portion, said handle-forming portion of said first elongated member adapted to be firmly held in the palm of one hand of the user with the thumb thereof pointing forwardly along the length of the member and free to manipulate the device, a second elongated member having a dilating portion also adapted to enter said constricted passageway to be dilated and confronting and extending generally parallel to said dilating portion of said first member on the side thereof on which said thumb will extend, links interconnecting said second elongated member and the passageway dilating portion of said first member and pivoted thereto along lateral transverse axes so the longitudinal shifting of said second elongated member will move the second member from a position immediately contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member to a position where it is spaced a relatively large distance therefrom, and operating means connected to the rear end of said second member which means is engageable by the thumb of the hand grasping the handle-forming portion of said first member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member and is forwardly pushable thereby to shift said second member longitudinally forwardly to bring the same into said position where said second member is substantially spaced therefrom, said operating means being a control member pivotally mounted on said first member for movement about a lateral transverse axis parallel to the hinge axes of said links, said second member being connected to said rotatable control member at a point spaced rearwardly of the axis of rotation of said rotatable control member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member so the bars are separated by pushing on the control member.

Claim 24

The dilator device of claim 16 wherein the point of connection of said second member to said rotatable control member when said second member is contiguous to said passageway dilating portion of said first member is on or adjacent to a line extending through the axis of rotation of said rotatable control member and generally parallel to the length of the dilator device, whereby the variation in the spacing of said second member from the passageway dilating portion of said first member forms a roughly linear function with the angle of rotation of said rotatable control member.

Claim 25

The dilator device of claim 16 wherein said first member includes a forward extension in front of the forwardmost portion of said second member, which extension is forwardly tapered and is relatively flexible for aiding in guiding the dilator device into and through a constricted passageway.

Claim 26

The dilator device of claim 16 wherein said rotatable control member has calibrated index marks thereon which passes opposite a portion of said first member and indicates the degree of separation of said second member relative to the passageway dilating portion of said first member.

Claim 27

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in a male urethra, said device comprising at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a male urethra, handle means at the rear end of the bars for holding the device, said bars being separable to bring the same to a maximum spaced apart position where the urethra is dilated thereby, said device having a forwardly tapering and laterally curving flexible nose portion in the front of said relatively separable bars for guiding the device into said male urethra, said flexible nose portion being a longitudinal extension on the front end of one of the bars and at the inner end thereOf projects laterally beyond the side of the latter bar confronting the other bar so the periphery of the tapering nose portion smoothly merges with the periphery of both of the bars when the bars are brought into contiguous relation.

Claim 28

A dilator device for dilating constricted passageways in a male urethra, said device comprising at least two relatively separable generally parallel bars adapted when brought into contiguous relation to be passed into a male urethra, handle means at the rear end of the bars for holding the device, said bars being separable to bring the same to a maximum spaced apart position where the urethra is dilated thereby, said device having a forwardly tapering and laterally curving flexible nose portion in the front of said relatively separable bars for guiding the device into said male urethra, said flexible nose portion being a longitudinal extension on the front end of one of the bars and at the inner end thereOf projects laterally beyond the side of the latter bar confronting the other bar so the periphery of the tapering nose portion smoothly merges with the periphery of both of the bars when the bars are brought into contiguous relation.

Claim 29

The dilator device of claim 15 wherein there is a forwardly tapering nose portion in front of one of said members for guiding the device into a human male or female urethra, and said members are sized to enter and dilate a human male and female urethra.