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. 16, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1992
Kenneth H Mollenauer, Santa Clara, CA (US);
George D Hermann, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Thomas A Howell, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Michelle Y Monfort, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Thomas J. Fogarty, M.D., Portola Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
An adjustable surgical valve has a sealing body with an axial passage extending through it, a toroidal body axially aligned with the sealing body, and a device that selectively changes the relative axial positions of the sealing body and the toroidal body. The sealing body and the toroidal body have mating surfaces which radially compress the axial passage of the sealing body when the relative axial positions of the sealing body and the toroidal body are changed. This causes the axial passage to seal with an instrument inserted into it, or to seal with itself if no instrument is inserted. Alternatively, or additionally, the sealing body may include a braided sleeve coaxial with the axial passage and extending from the sealing body, and a device that selectively changes the relative axial positions of the sealing body and the extended part of the braided sleeve to elongate the braided sleeve. This causes the braided sleeve to contract radially, which compresses the axial passage of the sealing body radially. The sealing body is made of an elastomeric foam or an encapsulated gel.