GASTROINTESTINAL CATHETER

• US 3,794,041 A
• Filed: 11/30/1971
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ephraim H. Frei, Shmuel Yerushalmi
• Original Assignee: Ephraim H. Frei, Shmuel Yerushalmi
• Inventors: Frei, Ephraim H., Yerushalmi, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/203,138
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2M,25R,1.3,1.4,4-6,7,8,33R,348,349R,35R,356 335/302,303,306
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0127 Magnetic means; Magnetic markers

Abstract

A gastrointestinal catheter of elongated shape, flexible and including ferromagnetic material enabling it, when inserted into the cavity of a body part, to be attracted by a magnet external of the body in order to manipulate the body part with the catheter. In the described embodiments, the ferromagnetic material is in the form of beads enclosed within a tube of inert resilient material, or strung on a string and coated with inert material.

Claims

1. Magnetic apparatus insertable into a body cavity, for displacement of internal body organs from a region of applied radiation by means of a magnet disposed externally of the body, characterized in that it is of elongated shape, flexible and includes an elongated flexible tubular member of substantially inert resilient biologically acceptable material;

a plurality of ellipsoidal beads of soft iron having major and minor axes substantially in a 2;

1 ratio respectively, axially disposed with their major axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular membEr and in closely adjacent spaced relationship therein over a substantial length thereof, said soft iron ellipsoidal beads being fixed in said spaced relationship by said resiliency of said flexible tubular member;

said magnetic apparatus being adapted when inserted into the cavity of a body part, to be uniformly and unidirectionally attracted by a magnet external of the body for desired displacement of said body part as aforesaid substantially without the application of torque to said beads.

2. Magnetic apparatus insertable into a body cavity, for displacement of internal body organs as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible tubular member also includes plastic beads alternating with and spaced from said soft iron beads and similarly fixed in said spaced relationship by said resiliency of said flexible tubular member.