Body cavity probe with everting tube

• US 5,045,070 A
• Filed: 12/22/1988
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: R. Laborie Surgical, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pentotech Limited
• Inventors: Grodecki, Richard, Laborie, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daley, Kathleen A.
• Application Number:
  US07/288,136
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 604/271, 604/43, 604/264, 604/268, 604/96, 604/104, 604/164, 604/165
• US Class Current: 604/271
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0119 Eversible catheters

Abstract

The present invention relates to a body cavity probe with an everting tube designed to ease insertion of the probe into the body cavity. The device includes the provision of a flexible introduction device mounted on the exterior of the tube and designed to be used to ease insertion of the probe into a body cavity. In a further aspect, the inventive probe may include a barrier designed to isolate the exterior of the body cavity from interior portions thereof. In a further aspect, a flexible accessory channel may be provided on the exterior of the device to permit entry into the body cavity from a different location. One preferred application of the teachings of the present invention is in the field of Urodynamics.

Claims

1. In an everting tube having an inner wall and an outer wall which together form a continuous elongated annular cross-section, said inner wall and outer wall defining therebetween a chamber, said inner wall surrounding an elongated open space, the improvement comprising a flexible introduction device having a rear portion and a forward portion, said rear portion having an inner surface affixed to said tube outer wall, said forward portion having a truncated conical section with an inner surface unconnected to said outer wall, said section being continuous and expansible, said device section being insertable into a body cavity orifice whereupon said tube may be everted into said body cavity through said device with said section expanding to allow said tube to evert therethrough.

2. The invention of claim 1, further including an accessory channel having an inlet and outlet and mounted on said outer wall, said accessory channel allowing access to said body cavity around said tube.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said flexible introduction device includes an outwardly extending gripping projection.

4. In an everting tube having an inner wall and an outer wall which together form a continuous elongated annular cross-section, said inner wall and outer wall defining therebetween a chamber, said inner wall surrounding an elongated open space, the improvement comprising a clear barrier device sealingly connected to said inner wall in said open space, whereby when said tube is everted into a body cavity through insertion of a viewing instrument into said open space and advancement thereof in frictional engagement with said inner wall, said viewing instrument may be used to view said body cavity through said clear barrier device while isolating said instrument from said body cavity.

5. The invention of claim 4, further including an accessory channel having an inlet and outlet and mounted on said outer wall, said accessory channel allowing access to said body cavity around said tube.