Movable Balloon anchor for medical devices
OwnerSteven Walker, Pamela Howard +1inventors
InventorsSteven Walker, Pamela Howard, Eben Howard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates to inflatable anchor members for securing devices in an orifice. Anchor member comprises a fluid tight material having an inflatable interior. The anchor is configured to include an opening for receiving a device. The anchor may be inflated to secure the device within its opening. The anchor includes a fill line for receiving and removing fill material from the anchor. The anchor may be disposed inside the chest of a patient and inflated to secure a chest tube in position without the need for sutures. A second inflatable anchor may be used and positioned on an opposite side of an orifice from the first anchor to hinder movement of a device passing therethrough.
Claims20
A chest tube comprising:
- an elongated tubular member having an insertion end and a non-insertion end disposed on opposite ends;
- said insertion end defining a plurality of holes providing communication with an interior passageway through said tubular member;
- said non-insertion end being adapted for facilitating the evacuating material from said insertion end through said passageway and out said non-insertion end;
- an inflatable anchor disposed around an outer circumference of said tubular member;
- means for inflating said anchor;
- whereby inflating said anchor grips said tubular member.
The chest tube of claim 7 wherein at least one of said inflatable anchors is attached to and moveable along an exterior surface of said tubular member.
A method of securing a chest tube in a desired position comprising:
- inserting a chest tube in a desired position within a patient chest;
- positioning an inflatable anchor defining an orifice disposed around a circumference of said chest tube adjacent and parallel to an interior side of a chest wall of said patient;
- and
- inflating said anchor to a size suitable to restrict movement of said chest tube within said orifice.
An anchor for securing a device comprising:
- a first inflatable body and a second inflatable body, each of said bodies having an interior space adapted for holding a fill material and having a donut-shaped configuration;
- wherein an exterior surface of each of said bodies defines an orifice centrally therethrough;
- and
- a first fill line in communication with the interior space of said first inflatable body and a second fill line in communication with the interior space of said second inflatable body;
- whereby inflating said bodies constricts a diameter of said orifice for preventing movement of a device passing therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.