Patent ID: 8568436

Claim:
A dilator for tracheostomies, comprising: a member extending from a proximal end to a distal end with a passageway extending therethrough, said member having a longitudinal axis, the member having a shaft portion extending distally from the proximal end, a short distal tip portion extending proximally from the distal end, said short distal tip portion having a tapered outer diameter, and a distal portion extending from the shaft portion to the short distal tip portion, the distal portion having a tapered outer diameter and a curvature which are coincident with each other along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis, said distal portion having a length, and having a demarcation along said length, said demarcation having a first outer diameter, said distal portion and said short distal tip portion defining a gradual and continuous taper substantially to the distal end of the member, said distal end defining a second outer diameter, wherein said first outer diameter is at least two times said second outer diameter.