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:
Mar. 27, 2012
Filed:
Dec. 23, 2010
John A. Rotella, Roswell, GA (US);
Adrienne A. Hershey, Cumming, GA (US);
Donald J. Mcmichael, Roswell, GA (US);
John A. Rotella, Roswell, GA (US);
Adrienne A. Hershey, Cumming, GA (US);
Donald J. McMichael, Roswell, GA (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
A balloon catheter device, for example an enteral feeding catheter, includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and catheter walls defining a catheter lumen. A base is located at the proximal end of the catheter and has an opening to the catheter lumen. An inflatable balloon is located at a distal end of the catheter and is inflated through an inflation valve located on the base. An internal cavity is defined in the base and is in fluid communication with the inflatable balloon such that fluid used to inflate the balloon to an operational fill volume fills the internal cavity as well. A translucent window is disposed over the internal cavity such that an interior volume of the cavity is externally viewable. Introduction of a colored fluid through the inflation valve to inflate the balloon results in the colored fluid also being present in the internal cavity, thereby providing an externally visual indication of the inflation state of the balloon.