Patent ID: 6460541
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
An inflatable structure comprising:a sheath body; an inflation compartment attached thereto, wherein said inflation compartment defines an enclosed interior volume; and an anti-reflux valve having an outlet end positioned in the interior volume, said anti-reflux valve comprising an elongate inflation passage including opposedly facing film layers that are bonded to one another at their edges to form an interior gas flow channel, wherein said elongate inflation passage of said anti-reflux valve is bonded to the inflatable compartment to form an opening for introduction of gas into the passage, and arranged so that introduced gas flows through the interior gas flow channel, for discharge from the passage into the interior volume of the inflation compartment, with the elongate passage extending into the interior volume of the inflatable compartment to a sufficient extent so that upon termination of gas flow into the interior volume, after pressure in the interior volume has been raised above exterior pressure on the inflatable compartment, gas pressure in said interior volume will collapse the opposedly facing film layers against one another to form a seal against the interior volume gas pressure and maintain the inflation compartment in an inflated state, and wherein said inflation compartment and said elongate inflation passage of the anti-reflux valve extend circumferentially over at least a portion of said sheath body and are attached thereon to form a unitary laminated structure therewith.