Patent ID: 11904122
Assignee: nan
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 19:
20. A dilator configurable between a closed state for insertion into an anatomical orifice of a patient and an open state to form a passageway for a surgical device through the dilator and the anatomical orifice and into a cavity of the patient, comprising:
a) a tubular member which is flexible; wherein in the closed state, the tubular member has a conical shape with a proximal end which is smaller than a base at a distal end opposite of the proximal end; and wherein in the open state, the tubular member has a cylindrical shape;
b) a channel formed in the tubular member when in the open state and which provides a passageway which extends through the distal end and the proximal end of the tubular member; and wherein in the open state, the surgical device can pass through the passageway to enter into the cavity of the patient;
c) a plurality of wires comprising Nitinol and which form an inner metallic core inside of the tubular member; wherein the plurality of wires are equally distributed across a radius and a length of the tubular member and overlap with one another; wherein in the closed state, the plurality of wires extend inwardly from an interior of the tubular member to a center of the tubular member;
d) a string which comprises a reinforced blunt coil; wherein in the closed state, the string extends through the length of the tubular member and is engaged with and passes through a center of the plurality of wires thus holding them in the closed state such as to prevent recoiling into the open state;
e) a handle attached to the string;
wherein pulling the handle away from the tubular member applies a force to the string;
wherein the force to the string causes the string to disengage and release from the plurality of wires such that the plurality of wires recoil against and exert an outward force on the interior of the tubular member such that the tubular member expands from the closed state to the open state such that the tubular member is configured to provide for dilation of a canal at the anatomical orifice; and
wherein in the open state, the plurality of wires do not obstruct the channel so that the surgical device can pass therethrough.