US4775370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Middle ear drum ventilation and drainage technique
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-12-18
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2007-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A ventilation and drainage tube for a child's ear drum having a preferably tapered lumen increasing toward the ear canal side of the tube for relieving middle ear pus and other pressure build-up and automatically washing out crusts and other plugging materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Yale J. Berry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/20; A61F11/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A ventilation and drainage tube for a child's middle ear drum having a flange at least at its inner end and an inner hollow cross-section that increases progressively along the tube from the inner end to the outer end of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
A ventilation and drainage tube for a child's middle ear drum having a flange at least at its inner end and an inner hollow cross-section that increases progressively along the tube from the inner end to the outer end of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A ventilation and drainage tube as claimed in claim 1 and in which the tube has flanges at both ends and is formed of non wettable surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ventilation and drainage tube as claimed in claim 2 and in which said cross-section continually tapers divergingly from the inner flange to the outer flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ventilation and drainage tube for a child's ear drum having an interior lumen that diverges progressively from the inner end to the outer end of the tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ventilation and drainage tube for a child's ear drum having an interior lumen that diverges progressively from the inner end to the outer end of the tube.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of improved middle ear ventilation and drainage, that comprises, perforating the ear drum, ventilating along a tubular channel through the perforation from inside the middle ear to the external ear canal, and preventing clogging of the channel by draining pus and related buildups on the inside of the drum through a lumen of said channel that diverges progressively from the middle ear side inside the drum to the ear canal side outside the drum, automatically to wash out the channel by relieving even slight pressure build-up inside the drum at the lesser lumen side of said channel.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of improved middle ear ventilation and drainage, that comprises, perforating the ear drum, ventilating along a tubular channel through the perforation from inside the middle ear to the external ear canal, and preventing clogging of the channel by draining pus and related buildups on the inside of the drum through a lumen of said channel that diverges progressively from the middle ear side inside the drum to the ear canal side outside the drum, automatically to wash out the channel by relieving even slight pressure build-up inside the drum at the lesser lumen side of said channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4695275A
Cited
US4650488A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |