Tracheostomy device

Claim 2

A tracheostomy device comprising: a receptacle having a rim surrounding the open end of the receptacle which is maintained in an extended position and restrained against collapsing; and mounting means for mounting the receptacle adjacent to a tracheal opening for movement between a normal position in which the open end of the receptacle is disposed to receive drainage from the tracheal opening and a tilted position in which the open end of the receptacle is disposed to receive any material forcibly expelled from the tracheal opening.

Claim 3

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 1 further including at least one connector on the rim of the receptacle adapted to pivotally attach said rim to a tracheostomy tube assembly.

Claim 4

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a flange on said receptacle extending on the opposite side of the rim from the receptacle and flexibly connected therewith, said flange being formed with a slot for engagement with a tracheostomy tube.

Claim 5

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receptacle comprises a bag of flexible material, and further including a hoop of resilient material secured to said rim to maintain the rim in the extended position and restrained against collapsing.

Claim 6

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said hoop has a pair of exposed ends and further including a connector formed on each of said exposed ends for pivotally attaching the hoop to a tracheostomy tube assembly.

Claim 7

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said connectors each comprise a hook formed on the associated end of the hoop.

Claim 8

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said connectors each comprise a pair of prongs extending from the associated end of the hoop, said prongs being resiliently biased to a spread position, and means defining a projection on the outer surface of the outer end of each prong.

Claim 9

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said flexible bag includes a back portion extending from the closed end of the bag, and said ends of the hoop project toward said back portion and further including a mounting flange projecting from said back portion and extending on the opposite side of said rim from the closed end of the bag, and a slot formed in said flange for receiving a tracheal tubE.

Claim 10

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 8 further including a backing of absorbent material on the outer surface of said flange.

Claim 11

A tracheostomy device including a receptacle adapted to be mounted on tracheal apparatus for selective movement between a normal position for collecting drainage from a tracheal opening and a tilted position for intercepting any material forcibly expelled from the tracheal opening, said receptacle comprising: a flexible bag having a closed end and an open end, a strip of resilient material secured to at least a portion of the periphery of the open end of the bag, and a connector on each end of said strip for securing the ends of said strip against outward movement relative to each other with the ends of said strip spaced apart from each other a distance less than the distance between the ends in the unstressed condition of said strip, said strip maintaining the open end of the bag extended and restrained against collapsing to prevent obstruction of the tracheal opening by the material of the bag.

Claim 12

A tracheostomy device including a receptacle adapted to be mounted on tracheal apparatus for selective movement between a normal position for collecting drainage from a tracheal opening and a tilted position for intercepting any material forcibly expelled from the tracheal opening, said receptacle comprising: a flexible bag having a closed end and an open end, a strip of resilient material secured to at least a portion of the periphery of the open end of the bag, and a connector on each end of said strip for securing the ends of said strip against outward movement relative to each other with the ends of said strip spaced apart from each other a distance less than the distance between the ends in the unstressed condition of said strip, said strip maintaining the open end of the bag extended and restrained against collapsing to prevent obstruction of the tracheal opening by the material of the bag.

Claim 13

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said connectors comprises a slot engaging hook.

Claim 14

A tracheostomy device as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said connectors comprises a pair of slot engaging prongs extending from the end of said strip and biased to spread apart from their junction with the end of the strip, and a projection formed on each of said prongs.