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:
Jan. 21, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 12, 2010
Scott A. Woodruff, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gary W. Knight, West Chester, OH (US);
Andrew T. Beckman, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Michael J. Vendely, Lebanon, OH (US);
Edward G. Chekan, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Craig D. Stover, Williamston, MI (US);
Scott A. Woodruff, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gary W. Knight, West Chester, OH (US);
Andrew T. Beckman, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Michael J. Vendely, Lebanon, OH (US);
Edward G. Chekan, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Craig D. Stover, Williamston, MI (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a strap and an inflatable bladder secured to the strap. The apparatus is sized and configured to wrap along a first plane to encompass an anatomical feature such as an esophagus or stomach. The bladder may have a cross-sectional profile that is asymmetric about the first plane, such as a tapered profile or a contoured profile. The wall thickness of the bladder may be substantially uniform or may vary about the perimeter of the bladder. The bladder may include an expansion section that allows the bladder to transition from having a substantially flat cross-sectional configuration in a non-inflated state to having a substantially tapered cross-sectional configuration an inflated state. The expansion section may include folds, pleats, gussets, or the like. The strap may have a cross-sectional profile that is asymmetric about the first plane. Such a strap may include annular ribs of varying sizes.