Expandable sealing devices and methods

Abstract

An orifice insertion device includes a stent and a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent. Two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within the orifice and to exert a pressure on an orifice wall sufficient to seal the orifice without appreciable deformation of the orifice wall. The two sealing elements are formed from different materials and a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the orifice. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An orifice insertion device configured to be inserted into an orifice and connecting conduit, the orifice insertion device comprising:
 a stent; and   a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent, wherein two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within the orifice and to exert a pressure on an orifice wall and surrounding conduit sufficient to seal the conduit wall without appreciable deformation of the conduit wall,   wherein the two sealing elements are formed from different materials, and   wherein a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The orifice insertion device of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice and connecting conduit is one of a nose, a throat, a vein, a anal canal, or an ear canal. 
     
     
         3 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 1 , where the expandable section of at least one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane that expands to press against a portion of the orifice or conduit wall. 
     
     
         4 . (The orifice insertion device according to  claim 3 , where the membrane is a bladder and contains a fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 4 , where the fluid is a gas. 
     
     
         6 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 3 , where the membrane expands in a first direction in response to an applied pressure in a second direction. 
     
     
         7 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 6 , further including a pneumatic fluid piston system coupled to the membrane and configured to provide the applied pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 6 , further including a mechanical element coupled to the membrane and configured to provide the applied pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 8 , where the mechanical element is locked when the expandable section is expanded. 
     
     
         10 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the orifice and connecting conduit is a portion of a upper aero digestive system, a lower aero digestive system, a vascular system, a cardiovascular system, or a respiratory system. 
     
     
         11 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 1 , where the pressure is between about 1 atmosphere at sea level and about 3 atmospheres at sea level. 
     
     
         12 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 1 , where the pressure is greater than about 1 atmosphere at sea level and less than about 1.75 atmospheres at sea level. 
     
     
         13 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 1 , where:
 a first expandable section of one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane containing a fluid, the membrane configured to expand to press against a portion of the orifice or conduit wall, and   a second expandable section of a remaining one of the two sealing elements includes a foam material that is elastically deformed to press against a further portion of the orifice or conduit wall.   
     
     
         14 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 1 , where:
 a first expandable section of one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane containing a fluid, the membrane configured to expand to press against a portion of the ear canal wall, and   a second expandable section of a remaining one of the two sealing elements includes a foam material that is elastically deformed to press against a further portion of the ear canal wall.   
     
     
         15 . An orifice insertion device comprising:
 a stent; and   a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent, wherein two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within a canal and to exert a pressure on a canal wall sufficient to seal the canal,   wherein the two sealing elements are formed from different materials, and   wherein a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the canal.   
     
     
         16 . The orifice insertion device of  claim 15 , wherein expandable section exerts the pressure on the canal wall sufficient to seal the canal without appreciable deformation of the canal wall. 
     
     
         17 . The orifice insertion device according to  claim 15 , where the expandable section of at least one of the two sealing elements includes a membrane that is a bladder containing fluid where the membrane expands to press against a portion of the canal wall. 
     
     
         18 . The orifice insertion device of  claim 17 , wherein the fluid is one of silicone-based polymers, gels, vinyl elastomers, H 2 , O 2 , air, or water. 
     
     
         19 . The orifice insertion device of  claim 15 , wherein the orifice is one of a nose, a throat, a vein, a anal canal, or an ear canal. 
     
     
         20 . An orifice insertion device comprising:
 a stent; and   a plurality of sealing elements where each sealing element is operatively attached to the stent, wherein two sealing elements of the plurality of sealing elements include an expandable section configured to be disposed within an volume that traverses from an orifice to another orifice and exerts a pressure on a wall within the area sufficient to seal the volume,   wherein the two sealing elements are formed from different materials, and   wherein a further one of the plurality of sealing elements is configured to seal an opening of the volume.