Minimally invasive rectal balloon apparatus

Abstract

A rectal balloon apparatus has a shaft with a fluid passageway extending therethrough, a balloon affixed over an end of the shaft such that the fluid passageway communicates with an interior of the balloon, and a sleeve slidably affixed over the shaft. This sleeve is movable between a first position overlying the balloon and a second position away from the balloon. The sleeve has an aperture at an end thereof such that the balloon extends outwardly of this aperture.

1 . A rectal balloon apparatus comprising:
 a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough;   a balloon affixed over an end of said shaft such that said fluid passageway communicates with an interior of said balloon; and   a sleeve slidably affixed over said shaft and movable between a first position overlying said balloon and a second position away from said balloon.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle affixed to said shaft at an end opposite said balloon.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said handle having a tube connecting thereto, said tube communicating with said fluid passageway of said shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , said tube having a valve means connected thereto, said valve means for selectively allowing a fluid to pass through said tube and said shaft to said balloon. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said shaft extending through said balloon so as to have an end of said shaft contacting an end of said balloon. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said end of said shaft being rounded. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said balloon being formed of a silicone material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sleeve having a first portion overlying said balloon in said first position, said sleeve having a second portion overlying said shaft in said first position. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , said sleeve having a flange at an end of said second portion opposite said first portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , said first portion having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said second portion, said second portion residing in sliding contact with said shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , said first portion having an aperture at an end opposite said second portion, said balloon having an end extending outwardly of said aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said balloon being folded compactly over said shaft and interposed between an interior of said sleeve and said shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said shaft having indicia formed on an exterior surface thereof relative to a position of said balloon. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said sleeve having a perforation formed longitudinally therealong such that said sleeve can be split apart when moved to said second position. 
     
     
         15 . A rectal balloon apparatus comprising:
 a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough;   a balloon affixed over an end of said shaft such that said fluid passageway communicates with an interior of said balloon; and   a sleeve positioned over said balloon, said sleeve having an aperture at an end thereof, said balloon having an end extending outwardly through said aperture, said balloon being interposed between said shaft and an inner surface of said sleeve.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said sleeve slidably affixed over said shaft and movable between a first position overlying said balloon and a second position away from said balloon. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said sleeve having a first portion overlying said balloon and a second portion overlying said shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , said sleeve having a flange at an end of said second portion opposite said first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said shaft having indicia formed on an exterior surface thereof relative to a position of said balloon. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said sleeve having a perforation formed longitudinally therealong such that said sleeve can be split apart.