Abstract To accurately dilate tissue preparatory to introducing medical instruments therein, an elongated, flexible probe of uniform diameter having a rounded insertion tip is employed to sound the tissue. An elongated, hollow, flexible dilator is then slidably passed over the probe to coaxially abut the probe insertion tip. The probe is withdrawn through the dilator. A second, hollow, flexible dilator is coaxially inserted over the first dilator and the first dilator is withdrawn from the second dilator. Thereafter the procedure is repeated with dilators of successively larger internal diameter such that a final dilator is implanted which stretches the tissue to a desired degree. A medical instrument may thereafter be passed through the final dilator in proper alignment for treating purposes. The final dilator is thereafter withdrawn leaving the medical instrument to be utilized as needed. The apparatus provides for accurate insertion of subsequent dilators and the desired medical instrument with reduced patient trauma.
Inventors
👤 L Gravlee
👤 H Barringer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-23 18:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of facilitating entrance through a body orifice and dilation of the orifice thereafter to a desired degree comprising: inserting an elongated flexible plastic probe of uniform diameter throughout its length and having distal and proximal ends into the body orifice to the desired extent; shifting at least one elongated hollow flexible plaStic dilator member of uniform inner and outer diameter and open at both ends and having a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the probe axially with respect to the probe from the proximal end to the distal end thereof into a concentric position therewith after the probe has been inserted into the orifice so as to dilate the orifice; facilitating dilation by providing a probe and each dilator member which are conformable in configuration to the orifice; and removing the probe from within the dilator member by shifting the probe from the concentric relationship with the dilator member in the orifice so as to remove the probe while retaining the dilator member in the dilated orifice with the dilator member independently retaining the orifice in the dilated condition, providing an access passageway through the hollow dilator member to facilitate insertion and removal of instruments to and from the interior of the body, and providing a support for insertion of a further dilator member when one is to be employed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of facilitating entrance through a body orifice and dilation of the orifice thereafter to a desired degree comprising: inserting an elongated flexible plastic probe of uniform diameter throughout its length and having distal and proximal ends into the body orifice to the desired extent; shifting at least one elongated hollow flexible plaStic dilator member of uniform inner and outer diameter and open at both ends and having a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the probe axially with respect to the probe from the proximal end to the distal end thereof into a concentric position therewith after the probe has been inserted into the orifice so as to dilate the orifice; facilitating dilation by providing a probe and each dilator member which are conformable in configuration to the orifice; and removing the probe from within the dilator member by shifting the probe from the concentric relationship with the dilator member in the orifice so as to remove the probe while retaining the dilator member in the dilated orifice with the dilator member independently retaining the orifice in the dilated condition, providing an access passageway through the hollow dilator member to facilitate insertion and removal of instruments to and from the interior of the body, and providing a support for insertion of a further dilator member when one is to be employed.