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US 12,558,515 B2Granted
Non-collapsible catheter tube
AssigneeConvatec Technologies Inc.
InventorsMingliang Lawrence Tsai, Pavel Zeliankevich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus according to certain embodiments generally includes an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, and an inflatable balloon surrounding the distal end. The elongated tubular member comprises an outer tube, a non-collapsible inner tube positioned within the outer tube, and a compressible material positioned between the outer tube and the inner tube.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and an opposite distal end;
- an inflatable balloon surrounding the distal end;
- a first chamber formed in one of the elongated tubular member or the balloon;
- a first compressible material received in the first chamber;
- and
- a valve assembly in fluid communication with the first chamber, the valve assembly comprising at least one pressure adjusting check valve;
- wherein the at least one pressure adjusting check valve comprises a first check valve and a second check valve;
- wherein the first check valve is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the first chamber during compression of the first chamber and the first compressible material;
- wherein the second check valve is configured to allow fluid to flow into the first chamber during expansion of the first chamber and the first compressible material;
- and
- wherein the first and second check valves have cracking pressures that maintain a desired pressure within the chamber.
8 more elements
A method, comprising:
- inserting an elongated tubular member into a body cavity comprising soft tissue, wherein the elongated tubular member comprises an outer tube, a non-collapsible inner tube positioned within the outer tube, and a first compressible material positioned between the outer tube and the non-collapsible inner tube;
- and
- during expansion of the first compressible material, selectively flowing fluid into the first compressible material via a check valve in fluid communication with the first compressible material, thereby facilitating expansion of the first compressible material.
An apparatus, comprising:
- an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and an opposite distal end;
- a chamber formed in the elongated tubular member;
- a compressible material received in the chamber;
- and
- a valve assembly in fluid communication with the chamber, the valve assembly comprising at least one pressure adjusting check valve;
- wherein the at least one pressure adjusting check valve comprises a first check valve and a second check valve;
- wherein the first check valve is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the chamber during compression of the chamber and the compressible material;
- wherein the second check valve is configured to allow fluid to flow into the chamber during expansion of the chamber and the compressible material;
- and
- wherein the first and second check valves have cracking pressures that maintain a desired pressure within the chamber.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.