Patent ID: 7862542
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for insertion of a surgical intubation sheath into a body of an animal or human patient comprising: providing a tubular obturator, providing a flaccid membranous tubular sheath comprising flexible polymeric material with a central lumen that is open at its proximal end and has a distal open mouth comprising an end portion of the sheath wherein the mouth is formed from flaccid sheath material surrounding the obturator that is unattached thereto, applying a vacuum to an aperture in the side of the obturator, placing a portion of the flexible sheath over the aperture on the obturator to enable the vacuum to apply a suction force for holding the sheath to the obturator, thereafter inserting the obturator into a body cavity of a patient with the sheath held thereto by the applied vacuum, providing an annular inflation balloon at the mouth of the sheath, inflating the balloon at the distal end of the sheath for opening the distal mouth of the sheath within the body of the patient to thereby form a stiffening ring structure in the flaccid sheath proximate the distal mouth to spread, stiffen and hold open the mouth inside the patient's body when the sheath is in the desired location, such that the spreading and stiffening of the flaccid mouth facilitates the passage of fluids or surgical instruments therethrough into or out of the body of the patient, removing the vacuum such that the suction force holding the sheath to the obturator is released, and withdrawing the obturator from the body while the sheath remains held in place therein by the inflated ring structure that serves to spread and hold open the distal mouth thereof.