Combined dilator-urethrotome

摘要

A combined mechanical dilator-urethrotome comprising a radially-expandable probe (12) consisting of two rods (16 and 18) of a semicircular cross-section which form a complete circle in a closed state of the probe. One of the rods (16) has a core (32) rigidly attached thereto at the proximal end of this rod and arranged at an angle to the direction of the probe. The second rod (18) has a post portion (52) at the proximal end. The post portion (52) has a central opening (51), and the aforementioned core (32) is slidingly inserted into the central opening (51). The end of the core that projects beyond the limits of the post is connected to a handle (14) that can rotate with respect to the core (32) and has a thread engageable with the mating thread on the post. As a result, rotation of the handle causes screwing or unscrewing of the thread of the handle onto or from the thread of the post. Displacement of the handle (14) with respect to the core (32) causes expansion or contraction of the probe. Longitudinal slots are cut in both rods for insertion of a knife (42) that allows incision of constructions that may occur in the urethra. The same slots can be used for attachment of diameter-expanding pads (84) that increase the total outside diameter of the probe and make it suitable for use in a very wide rage of dilation diameters. The instrument can be used as a universal mechanical dilator and a urethrotome.