Dilator to facilitate endoscope insertion into the body

• US 4,449,532 A
• Filed: 06/30/1981
• Issued: 05/22/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz
• Inventors: Storz, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Application Number:
  US06/280,057
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 128/20, 128/341, 128/342, 128/343, 128/4, 128/6
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• 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 2025/0175 having telescopic features, interengaging nestable members movable in relations to one another
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

A dilator for surgical use having a ball on the end of a thin stiff stem. A plurality of telescoping tubes are adapted to be slid along the stem and atop one another so as successively to enlarge the path opened by the dilator. An endoscope shaft can be slid over the set of tubes so as to occupy the region they have enlarged, and to permit them and the probe to be withdrawn so an endoscopic procedure can be performed.

Claims

1. A dilator for opening a path in the human body for the subsequent introduction of an endoscope shaft, said dilator having a distal end to enter the body, and a proximal end, comprising:

a probe comprising a stiff rod and a ball on the end of said rod; and

a plurality of expansion tubes adapted sequentially to enlarge a path formed by the introduction of the probe, ball first, into the body, each said tube having an inside and an outside diameter, the outside diameter of one tube being substantially equal to the inside diameter of the next larger tube, whereby to permit a close sliding axial telescopic fit, said rod being within and extending beyond said expansion tubes whereby the path opened by the ball can be incrementally opened by pressing next sequential tubes toward said ball.

2. A dilator according to claim 1 wherein each of said tubes, except for the smallest diameter tube, is provided at its proximal end with a closure plate having a bore for the passage of the probe therethrough, and for abutment by the closure plate of the next large tube.

3. A dilator according to claim 1, wherein in the vicinity of their proximal end, the tubes have grooves for grasping.

4. A dilator according to claim 1 wherein said probe is at last twice as long as any said tube.

5. A dilator according to claim 1, wherein a screw cap with a closure plate and a central bore is adapted to be fixed to the proximal end of an endoscope shaft, said closure plate having an opening to pass said rod.

6. A dilator according to claim 5, wherein said cap is provided with a conical surface bounding part of said opening to guide said rod.

7. A method of forming and enlarging a path through the human body for subsequent introduction of an endoscopy shaft, said dilator having a distal end to enter the body, and a proximal end, comprising:

pressing a probe comprising a thin stem with a ball on its distal end into the body; and

sequentially pressing, one after another, a sequence of concentric tubes, each having a sequentially larger inner and outer diameter, along said stem and over the next smaller tube, the smallest tube first, whereby to enlarge the path, without withdrawal of any tube prior to introduction of the next tube, said rod being within and extending beyond said tubes.

8. A method according to claim 7 in which an endoscope shaft is passed over said telescoped tubes, and the probe and tubes are thereafter withdrawn through said shaft, leaving the shaft in place in the enlarged path.