Patent ID: 9554789
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An expandable dilator configured to dilate soft tissue, the expandable dilator comprising: a base defining an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the inner surface at least partially defining a first conduit; a dilation member that extends from the base, the dilation member defining an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the inner surface of the dilation member at least partially defines a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit elongate along a longitudinal axis; and an expansion member coupled to the dilation member at first and second locations spaced from each other along an axis of rotation, and rotatable with respect to the dilation member about the axis of rotation from a first position to an expanded position, wherein as the expansion member moves from the first position to the expanded position, first and second bearing surfaces of the expansion member that are disposed on opposite sides of the axis of rotation are configured to bear against the dilation member so as to urge at least a portion of the dilation member to expand from a first configuration to an expanded configuration along a direction of expansion that is angularly offset with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein rotation of the first bearing surface about the axis or rotation causes the second bearing surface also rotate about the axis of rotation.