Patent ID: 8128601

Claim:
A portal device for maintaining an opening in a patient, comprising: a sheath having an opening extending from a first end of the sheath to a second end of the sheath; a plurality of flexible tabs, the flexible tabs having a proximal end integral with the first end of the sheath and a distal end foldable about the proximal end, the flexible tabs being rotatable from a neutral position in which the distal end of the flexible tabs extend generally radially outward from the first end of the sheath to an insertion position in which the distal end of the flexible tabs extend toward the second end of the sheath, and the tabs being rotatable from the neutral position to a retraction position in which the distal end of the tabs extend away from the second end of the sheath; a middle portion of the sheath disposed between the first end of the sheath and the second end of the sheath, wherein the middle portion of the sheath comprises an area of reduced outside dimension that is sized to allow a longitudinal axis of the tabs to lie generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the sheath when the tabs are disposed in the insertion position.