The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 1984
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1982
Larry W Blake, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Innovative Surgical Products, Inc., Santa Ana, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention comprises both a single piece wound drain catheter and the die from which such a catheter is extruded. The wound drain catheter of the present invention comprises a single, continuous flexible elongate member having a drain segment, a transition tube segment, and an extrusion tube segment. The drain segment comprises a fluted body having one or more longitudinal lumens in fluid communication with the wound in which the drain segment is located. The transition tube segment has internal cavities opening at one end into the lumens of the drain segment and at the other end into the central longitudinal cavity of the tubular extension tube segment. At least a portion of the drain segment is formed of a radiopaque material. The extension tube segment is formed of a translucent material, as is the outer portion of the transition segment. The entire flexible member is preferably made from a silicone elastomer having sufficient elasticity to permit the cross-sectional area of the member to decrease by at least 30% when a pulling force is applied to it. The die of the present invention, which is used to make the catheter of the present invention, comprises a die nozzle with a die cavity, within which are one or more die forms or die mandrels. These die forms and die mandrels are movable within the die cavity while the drain catheter of the present invention is being extruded to change the cross section of the extruded parison, so the single piece drain catheter of the present invention can be formed in a single continuous extrusion process. Consideration of the various aspects of the drain and die of the present invention will reveal that the apparatus of the present invention may be used in a variety of settings other than the draining of bodily wounds.