Surgical dilator

Claim 2

In a medical dilator for stretching an incision in muscle or tissue including a rod having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a smooth convex tip being located at the distal end continuous with a portion of the rod of progressively increasing girth leading to an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having the largest girth along the rod, the cross sectional area of the intermediate of the rod being oval and having a major and a minor axis at right angles with the central axis and with each other to induce more stretching in the direction of the major axis than in the direction of the minor axis and the dimensions of the minor axis and the major axis being constant measured along the length of the intermediate portion.

Claim 3

In a dilator for stretching an incision in intercostal muscle and surrounding tissue including a rod having a central axis, a distal end, a proximal end and a smooth convex tip at the distal end continuous with a portion of the rod of progressively increasing girth leading to an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having the largest girth along the rod, the cross section of the rod normal to the central axis at all points along the intermediate portion of the rod being oval and having a major axis and a minor axis normal to the central axis to induce more stretching in the direction of the major axis than in the direction of the minor axis, and the dimensions of the minor axis and the major axis being constant measured along the length of the intermediate portion.

Claim 4

In a dilator for stretching an incision in intercostal muscle and surrounding tissue including a rod having a central axis, a distal end, a proximal end and a smooth convex tip at the distal end continuous with a portion of the rod of progressively increasing girth leading to an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having the largest girth along the rod, the cross section of the rod normal to the central axis at all points along the intermediate portion of the rod being oval and having a major axis and a minor axis normal to the central axis to induce more stretching in the direction of the major axis than in the direction of the minor axis, and the dimensions of the minor axis and the major axis being constant measured along the length of the intermediate portion.

Claim 5

A thoracic dilator for stretching intercostal muscle and surrounding tissue between ribs comprising: a rod having a central axis, a distal end, a distal end, a proximal end, an intermediate portion between ends; a smooth convex tip of the distal end continuous with a portion of the rod of progressively increasing girth leading to the intermediate portion; a gripping portion at the proximal end; a continuous open passageway extending from the convex tip through the gripping portion; and the intermediate portion of the rod having an oval cross section having a major axis and a minor axis at right angles to the central axis to induce more stretching of the intercostal muscle along the major axis than in a direction along the minor axis, and the dimensions of the minor axis and the major axis being constant measured along the length of the intermediate portion.

Claim 6

A thoracic dilator for stretching intercostal muscle and surrounding tissue between ribs comprising: a rod having a central axis, a distal end, a distal end, a proximal end, an intermediate portion between ends; a smooth convex tip of the distal end continuous with a portion of the rod of progressively increasing girth leading to the intermediate portion; a gripping portion at the proximal end; a continuous open passageway extending from the convex tip through the gripping portion; and the intermediate portion of the rod having an oval cross section having a major axis and a minor axis at right angles to the central axis to induce more stretching of the intercostal muscle along the major axis than in a direction along the minor axis, and the dimensions of the minor axis and the major axis being constant measured along the length of the intermediate portion.

Claim 7

A dilator according to claim 1 wherein the rod is hollow from end to end.

Claim 8

A dilator according to claim 2 wherein the rod is hollow from end to end.

Claim 9

A dilator according to claim 3 wherein the rod is hollow from end to end.

Claim 10

A dilator according to claim 1 wherein the rod is solid with a central passageway extending from end to end.

Claim 11

A dilator according to claim 2 wherein the rod is solid with a central passageway extending from end to end.

Claim 12

A dilator according to claim 3 wherein the rod is solid and with the continuous open passageway passing through it.

Claim 13

A dilator according to claim 1 wherein the rod is hollow from end to end, a hole is formed through the center of the convex tip, a second hole being formed through the center of the proximal end and a conical guide is located within the rod at the proximal end leading to the second hole.

Claim 14

A dilator according to claim 2 wherein the rod is hollow from end to end, a hole is formed through the center of the convex tip, a second hole being formed through the center of the proximal end and a conical guide is located within the rod at the proximal end leading to the second hole.

Claim 15

A dilator according to claim 3 wherein the rod is hollow from end to end, a hole is formed through the center of the convex tip, a second hole being formed through the center of the proximal end and a conical guide is located within the rod at the proximal end through the gripping portion leading to the second hole.

Claim 16

A dilator according to claim 1 wherein the rod is hollow and a tube is located within the rod forming a continuous open passageway from end to end.

Claim 17

A dilator according to claim 2 wherein the rod is hollow and a tube is located within the rod forming a continuous open passageway from end to end.

Claim 18

A dilator according to claim 3 wherein the rod is hollow and a tube is located within the rod forming a continuous open passageway from end to end.