Inflatable apparatus for accessing body cavity and methods of making

• US 20050021069A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FemSuite LLC
• Original Assignee: FemSuite LLC
• Inventors: Hogendijk, Michael, Kraus, Jeff, Sanders, Gerald J., Feuer, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/898,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/105 having a balloon suitable for drug delivery, e.g. by using holes for delivery, drug coating or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for accessing a body cavity comprising a tubular member having a deflated insertion configuration and an inflated expanded configuration that facilitates viewing within the body cavity. The apparatus is formed by everting a length of material upon itself to form a tube having a single circumference seam at the distal end, and includes an inflation tube that is sufficiently rigid to assist in inserting the tubular member into a body cavity in the deflated insertion configuration. The tubular member further includes a pattern of staggered contact areas that configured so as to avoid the creation of longitudinal features that preferentially bend when loaded, thereby ensuring that tubular member provides a substantially circular central lumen.

Claims

1. Apparatus for accessing a body cavity, comprising:

a tubular member having proximal and distal ends and an interior, the tubular member formed by everting a length of material upon itself to define a main body portion having a circumferential seam only at distal end, the tubular member having a deflated configuration for insertion into the body cavity and an expanded configuration when inflated; and

an inflation tube disposed in communication with an interior of the tubular member,

wherein the tubular member has a plurality of staggered contact areas arranged so that, in the expanded configuration, the contact areas do not form longitudinal features and the tubular member defines a substantially circular central lumen under load.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises proximal and distal cuffs.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the tubular member is configured to protect a patient'"'"'s cervical area from rubbing or scraping.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the everted material forms an interior wall and an exterior wall and the inflation tube is interposed between the interior wall and the exterior wall.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inflation tube is sufficiently rigid to transmit force when the tubular member is in the deflated configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channel disposed within the central lumen, wherein the channel facilitates securing tools during a procedure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an inflator coupled to the inflation tube.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a one-way valve interposed between the inflator and the tubular member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises a lubricous exterior coating.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a shield to reduce contamination of the inflator.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises a coating for topical application within the body cavity.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coating contains drugs, gene vectors or proteins.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the coating includes a medication for treating yeast infections.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises an exterior layer including a plurality of micro-perforations for the passage of drugs in a liquid or gel form.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly including an intravaginal tongue portion and a gripping portion for holding and manipulating the tongue portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tongue portion includes a lip configured to engage an end of a patient'"'"'s vaginal canal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tongue portion is disposed at an angle relative to the gripping portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the handle assembly has a modular construction that allows the tongue portion to be detached from the gripping portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tongue portion and gripping portion are releasably connected with a luer-type connector.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sheath that surrounds the inflatable body during insertion into the body cavity.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rigid support member that may be inserted within the tubular member to enhance the rigidity of the tubular member.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cylinder having one or more chambers, the cylinder configured to fit within the central lumen.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the handle assembly is releasably attached to the tubular member by one or more fasteners.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the one or more chambers are filled with bioactive substances.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising one or more pumps for dispensing the bioactive substances from the one or more chambers.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one or more chambers contain antihypertensives.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one or more chambers contain antibiotics.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one or more chambers contain a chronically administered drug.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one or more chambers contain oral hypoglycemics.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one or more chambers contain a drug used to treat yeast infections.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein one or more chambers contain a drug used to treat bacterial infections.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for delivering radiation seeds within the body cavity.