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. 17, 1993
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1992
Thomas W Mix, Wellesley, MA (US);
Ernesto E Blanco, Belmont, MA (US);
Norman Rosskothen, Canton, MA (US);
Maria L Hernandez, Lake Zurich, IL (US);
Gordon C Vineyard, Chestnut Hill, MA (US);
Liem T Vu, Waltham, MA (US);
EndoMed Corporation, Wellesley, MA (US);
Abstract
One aspect is a method for inserting an instrument into the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, by emplacing at least a portion of a flexible liner to form within the intestine an inner tube within an outer tube, the inner tube defining a lumen lying within the intestine and having a distal end accessible via the anal opening from outside the body of the mammal, and thereafter passing the instrument into the lumen via its distal end. Another aspect is the combination of an elongate evertible liner, a liner support chamber having a proximal port and a distal port, the liner having its two ends attached respectively at the ports, and a pressurizer for increasing the pressure within the chamber to cause the liner to be everted, the liner comprising a material characterized by having a wall thickness to diameter ratio and a zero strain elasticity modulus whose product is less than 4.0 lb/inch.sup.2, preferably less than 1.0 lb/inch.sup.2, and a wall thickness to diameter ratio and a 100% strain modulus of elasticity whose product is greater than 0.5 lb/inch.sup.2, preferably greater than 2.0 lb/inch.sup.2. In another aspect, a layer of lubricous material, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), is directly bonded to a surface of a layer of elastomeric material (such as polyurethane) without the use of adhesive materials between the layers. The resultant PVP-coated sheet is formed into the flexible liner. Yet another aspect is several devices for emplacing the liner in the intestine.