Helix Medical, Inc.

Richard E Houts

Edmund V Seder

A hollow, T-shaped body is connected to an extroducer rod by a flexible drain tube. The extroducer rod is longer than a human female vagina, sufficiently stiff to be passed therethrough when the vagina is in a collapsed state, and has a smooth rounded end to facilitate insertion through the vaginal cuff and passage through the vagina during an abdominal hysterectomy. The extroducer rod is also larger in diameter than a Foley catheter which is used to drain the bladder, and formed with external flutes which make it easily distinguishable from the catheter by feel. The T-shaped body has a leg which is connected to the drain tube, and two perpendicular arms. Drain holes are formed through the arms which open in a direction away from the leg. The innermost drain hole of each arm is cut away to a sufficient depth that the arms can collapse to positions parallel to the leg and drain tube to facilitate withdrawal of the body through the vagina. Notches having smooth, rounded walls are formed at desired spacings in the arms to facilitate trimming the arms to fit the patient's anatomy. The rounded walls of the notches and the location of the drain holes which face inwardly toward each other in the collapsed position of the arms prevents irritation of the vaginal wall by sharp edges during withdrawal.

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Santa Ynez, CA, United States of America

Richard E Houts