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US4018230A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cervical dilator

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-02
•
Granted: 1977-04-19
•
Expires: 1995-04-02
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Abstract

Abstract A cervical dilator is formed of a mushroom shaped elastic sack having inelastic members embedded therein configured to maintain the general shape and limit the size of the sack during expansion under internal pressure. The dilator is inserted with the head portion folded and fluid is introduced to unfold it and expand it.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kazuo Ochiai
  • 👤 Masayasu Mizutani

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 11:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/42

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 69 words
A cervical dilator comprising: a sack of elastic material expandable under internal pressure, said sack comprising a shaped head and a stem communicating with the head, said head terminating in flat, generally disc-like surface, and a network of interconnected inelastic members embedded in portions of said material, said inelastic members being configured to define the shape and limit the size of said sack during expansion under said internal pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 69 words
A cervical dilator comprising: a sack of elastic material expandable under internal pressure, said sack comprising a shaped head and a stem communicating with the head, said head terminating in flat, generally disc-like surface, and a network of interconnected inelastic members embedded in portions of said material, said inelastic members being configured to define the shape and limit the size of said sack during expansion under said internal pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The dilator of claim 1 wherein said shaped head maintains its flat, disc-like surface in both its expanded and unexpanded condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The dilator of claim 1, wherein said inelastic members are stringlike and form a first pattern in the stem, a second pattern on the head, said second pattern comprising a plurality of concentric hoop members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The dilator of claim 3, wherein said second pattern comprises a plurality of radially arranged members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
The dilator of claim 4, wherein at least some alternate ones of said radial members meet at the center of said head and at least some intermediate ones of said radial members stop at a hoop member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The dilator of claim 1, further comprising an elastic loop attached to the head, said loop being adapted to encircle said head when folded and to constrict it for cervical insertion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The dilator of claim 1, wherein said stem encloses, at its end remote from said head, a pouring tube and check valve for introducing pressurizing fluid into said sac, an air drain and an air drain stop cock.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The dilator of claim 1 wherein a portion of said stem furthest from said sack has affixed to said elastic material an inelastic material so configured as to substantially preclude expansion of said portion.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 65 words
A method of cervical dilation utilizing a sack of elastic material having a shaped head portion and a tubular stem portion, said method comprising the steps of: folding said head portion lengthwise to reduce its width, inserting said sack into the cervix with said head portion folded lengthwise; and introducing fluid into said sack through said stem portion to expand said sack within the cervix.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 65 words
A method of cervical dilation utilizing a sack of elastic material having a shaped head portion and a tubular stem portion, said method comprising the steps of: folding said head portion lengthwise to reduce its width, inserting said sack into the cervix with said head portion folded lengthwise; and introducing fluid into said sack through said stem portion to expand said sack within the cervix.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said expanding includes unfolding said head portion within the cervix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said folding includes encircling the folded head with an elastic band to maintain the folded condition and unfolding includes releasing the elastic band from encircling said folded head portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 129 words
A cervical dilator which comprises: a series of rhombic nets 3 extending from a stem 6 to a back of a head a embedded in rubber materials of a main body 1 which is made of a thin rubber sack, said rubber sack being maintained in an expanded form by the tension of strings composed of radial nets 4 and 4', and interconnected hoop strings 5 at the head when pressurized; cloths 7 affixed to a bottom section c of said main body 1 so that said rubber materials of the bottom section may not be expanded with pressure; and an elastic band 11 bonded to the head and being adapted to encircle a portion of the head when longitudinally folded to maintain the folded condition of the head.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 129 words
A cervical dilator which comprises: a series of rhombic nets 3 extending from a stem 6 to a back of a head a embedded in rubber materials of a main body 1 which is made of a thin rubber sack, said rubber sack being maintained in an expanded form by the tension of strings composed of radial nets 4 and 4', and interconnected hoop strings 5 at the head when pressurized; cloths 7 affixed to a bottom section c of said main body 1 so that said rubber materials of the bottom section may not be expanded with pressure; and an elastic band 11 bonded to the head and being adapted to encircle a portion of the head when longitudinally folded to maintain the folded condition of the head.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE71570C Cited
US157343A Cited
US899477A Cited
GB493784A Cited
US2701559A Cited
US3626949A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-04-18 1980-10-18 1981-04-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-04-18 1984-10-18 1985-04-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-04-18 1988-10-18 1989-04-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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