Expandable inter vivos tube
OwnerJoseph A. Vilasi, Joseph D'Ambrosioinventors
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Abstract
An expandable inter-vivos tube that allows for the use in medical procedures while limiting known complications arising from conventional inter-vivos tubes is presented, wherein the expandable inter-vivos tube comprises a slit formed longitudinally within a tube and a plurality of nipples extending from an outer surface of the tube that are insertable within a corresponding one of a plurality of slides within an outer slidable element that is slidable within the slit. A position of the nipples within the slots causes a distance between the edges of the to increase; thus, increasing a circumference of the inter-vivos tube as the outer element is slide from a proximal end of the tube element to a distal end of the tube.
Claims18
An inter-vivos tube comprising:
- a tube element comprising:
- a slit extending from a proximal end of said tube element to a distal end of said tube element along a longitudinal axis of said tube element, said slit forming a first edge and an opposing second edge;
- a plurality of nipples distributed along said first edge and along said second edge proximate to said slit, said plurality of nipples extending outwardly from an outer surface of said tube element, and
- an expander element comprising:
- an outer member positioned along said outer surface of said tube element, said outer member comprising:
- a plurality of slots arranged diagonally along a longitudinal axis of said outer member, wherein said plurality of nipples extending from said outer surface of said tube element are positioned within, and at, a distal end of a corresponding one of said plurality of slots;
- and
- an edge covering applied to longitudinal edges of said outer member;
- an inner member positioned along an inner surface of said tube element, and
- a connector positioned between said outer member and said inner member, said connector being positionable within said slit, wherein said expander element is configured to:
- move from an initial position above said proximal end of said tube element toward said distal end of said tube element.
An inter-vivos tube system comprising:
- a tube element comprising:
- a longitudinal slit extending from a proximal end of said slit to a distal end of said tube element, and
- a plurality of nipples extending along an outer surface of said tube element proximate to said slit;
- an expander extending longitudinally along said outer surface of said tube element, an outer element of said expander comprising:
- a plurality of slots, wherein said plurality of nipples are contained with corresponding ones of said plurality of slots;
- and
- an edge covering applied to longitudinal edges of said outer element;
- and
- an expansion control comprising:
- a ledge;
- and
- a diaphragm positioned on a distal end of said expansion control, said diaphragm comprising an opening, wherein said ledge is configured to apply a downward force to a proximal end of said expander to slide said expander downward, wherein said nipples slide within a corresponding one of said plurality of slots from a first position within said corresponding one of said plurality of slots to a second position with said corresponding one of said plurality of slots.
An inter-vivos tube comprising:
- a tube element comprising:
- a longitudinal slit extending from a proximal end of said tube element to a distal end of said tube element, and
- a plurality of nipples extending from said tube element proximate said slit;
- an expander comprising:
- an outer element extending along a surface of said tube element spanning said slit, said outer element extending from said proximal end of said tube element toward said distal end of said tube element, said outer element comprising:
- an edge covering applied to longitudinal edges of said outer element;
- and
- a plurality of slots arranged diagonally with respect to said longitudinal slit, wherein said plurality of nipples are contained within corresponding ones of said plurality of slots, said outer element configured to:
- slide along said surface toward said distal end of said tube element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.