Tracheostomy tube

Claim 2

A tracheostomy tube for insertion into the trachea to support breathing comprising: a cannula having a first end for pLacement within said trachea and a second end for placement outside of said trachea; and inflatable sealing means for forming a seal with the tracheal wall comprising a tubular membrane coaxial with and surrounding said cannula at said first end, said membrane having two ends bonded to said cannula and having annular portions adjacent said ends which normally project radially outward from the surface of the cannula when the membrane is not inflated and which are spaced along the axis of said cannula, the uninflated diameter of said membrane being shorter midway between said projecting portions than at said portions, said membrane being constructed such that it forms a substantially cylindrical shape when inflated to thereby provide a good seal with relatively low pressure.

Claim 3

The tracheostomy tube defined in claim 1 wherein said membrane is collapsible against the outside diameter of said cannula to facilitate insertion of said cannula into the trachea.

Claim 4

The tracheostomy tube defined in claim 2 wherein variations in pneumatic pressure within said membrane are used to collapse and inflate said membrane.

Claim 5

The tracheostomy tube defined in claim 3 wherein said membrane assumes a concave shape when collapsed, and wherein said cannula and said membrane are made of the same polymer material and are integrally bonded to form a continuous material connection insuring a pneumatic seal.

Claim 6

A tracheostomy tube for insertion into the trachea to support breathing comprising a cannula having a first end for placement within the trachea and a second end for placement outside the trachea, and a second cannula, concentric with said cannula, wherein said second end of said cannula and one end of the said second cannula are connected with a pneumatically sealing fitting which is nonremovably attached to said second cannula; and a tubular sealing balloon mounted on said first end of said cannula, said sealing balloon being smaller in diameter at its midportion than near its ends in its collapsed state such that, when inflated, it presents a generally uniform, substantially cylindrical surface for sealing with the inner wall of said trachea.

Claim 7

A tracheostomy tube for insertion into the trachea to support breathing comprising a cannula having a first end for placement within the trachea and a second end for placement outside the trachea, and a second cannula, concentric with said cannula, wherein said second end of said cannula and one end of the said second cannula are connected with a pneumatically sealing fitting which is nonremovably attached to said second cannula; and a tubular sealing balloon mounted on said first end of said cannula, said sealing balloon being smaller in diameter at its midportion than near its ends in its collapsed state such that, when inflated, it presents a generally uniform, substantially cylindrical surface for sealing with the inner wall of said trachea.

Claim 8

A tracheostomy tube as defined in claim 5 further including an inflation tubing connected to said sealing balloon and extending axially along said cannula to said second end of said cannula and outside of the trachea, and further including valve means mounted on the inflation tubing for controlling inflation and deflation of said sealing balloon.

Claim 9

A tracheostomy tube as defined in claim 6 wherein said valve means comprise a hollow cylindrical housing for receiving said inflation tubing and a tapered clamping member mounted for transverse movement across said housing to open and close said inflation tubing.

Claim 10

A tracheostomy tube as defined in claim 7 wherein said housing is tapered internally at one end thereof for receiving an inflation member and the inflation tubing is fixedly attached to the inner bore of the housing intermediate the tapered end and the clamping member.

Claim 11

A tracheostomy tube for insertion into the trachea comprising: an outer cannula, having a first end and a second end; a first connector attached to said second end of said outer cannula; an inner cannula adapted to fit within said outer cannula and having a first end and a second end, said inner cannula comprising a cylindrical tubing of smaller diameter than said outer cannula equal to the length of the outer cannula; a second connector rotatably mounted on said second end of said inner cannula; means on said first and second connectors for drawing said connectors together to form a substantially airtight seal between said second end of said inner cannula and to axially align said inner cannula within said outer cannula so that said first end of said inner cannula is substantially flush with said first end of said outer cannula; sealing means adjacent said first end of said outer cannula for sealing said ouTer cannula within said trachea, said sealing means comprising a tubular membrane coaxial with said outer cannula, having a radius larger than that of the outside of said outer cannula and having two annular end portions, each of which project outwardly from the surface of said outer cannula, said two end portions separated by a finite length along the axis of said outer cannula, the uninflated diameter of the membrane between the annular portions being smaller than that of the annular portions such that the inflated membrane forms a substantially cylindrical shape; a neck flange rotatably mounted on said first connector, said flange adapted to be strapped to the neck of a patient; and a rotatably connected, axially offset, substantially airtight tubular adapter mounted on said second connector for connection of said trachea tube to respiration support equipment from a variety of angular locations.

Claim 12

A tracheostomy tube for insertion into the trachea comprising: an outer cannula, having a first end and a second end; a first connector attached to said second end of said outer cannula; an inner cannula adapted to fit within said outer cannula and having a first end and a second end, said inner cannula comprising a cylindrical tubing of smaller diameter than said outer cannula equal to the length of the outer cannula; a second connector rotatably mounted on said second end of said inner cannula; means on said first and second connectors for drawing said connectors together to form a substantially airtight seal between said second end of said inner cannula and to axially align said inner cannula within said outer cannula so that said first end of said inner cannula is substantially flush with said first end of said outer cannula; sealing means adjacent said first end of said outer cannula for sealing said ouTer cannula within said trachea, said sealing means comprising a tubular membrane coaxial with said outer cannula, having a radius larger than that of the outside of said outer cannula and having two annular end portions, each of which project outwardly from the surface of said outer cannula, said two end portions separated by a finite length along the axis of said outer cannula, the uninflated diameter of the membrane between the annular portions being smaller than that of the annular portions such that the inflated membrane forms a substantially cylindrical shape; a neck flange rotatably mounted on said first connector, said flange adapted to be strapped to the neck of a patient; and a rotatably connected, axially offset, substantially airtight tubular adapter mounted on said second connector for connection of said trachea tube to respiration support equipment from a variety of angular locations.

Claim 13

A tracheal tube for insertion in the trachea to support breathing including a cannula having a first end for placement within the trachea and a second end for placement outside of the trachea, and an improved sealing means for forming a seal to the trachea wall comprising a tubular membrane surrounding a portion of the cannula and having two ends snugly mounted on the cannula so that the membrane when inflated forms a seal with the tracheal wall, the membrane the membrane length between its ends as mounted on the cannula being greater than the distance along the cannula between the mounted ends and the membrane having a portion folded over on itself adjacent each of its mounted ends so that when inflated it enables some significant axial movement of the cannula in either direction with respect to the trachea without sliding axial movement of the sealing means.

Claim 14

A tracheal tube for insertion in the trachea to support breathing including a cannula having a first end for placement within the trachea and a second end for placement outside of the trachea, and an improved sealing means for forming a seal to the trachea wall comprising a tubular membrane surrounding a portion of the cannula and having two ends snugly mounted on the cannula so that the membrane when inflated forms a seal with the tracheal wall, the membrane the membrane length between its ends as mounted on the cannula being greater than the distance along the cannula between the mounted ends and the membrane having a portion folded over on itself adjacent each of its mounted ends so that when inflated it enables some significant axial movement of the cannula in either direction with respect to the trachea without sliding axial movement of the sealing means.

Claim 15

The tube of claim 10 wherein the cannula is curved between its ends and the membrane between the folded portions has a substantially cylindrical exterior when inflated and unconfined.

Claim 16

The tube of claim 10 wherein said folded membrane portions extends over each of said mounted ends.

Claim 17

The tube of claim 12 wherein said folded over portions have somewhat of an S-shaped cross-section.

Claim 18

The tube of claim 10 wherein the cannula is curved between its ends and the membrane between the folded portions has a substantially cylindrical exterior when inflated and unconfined.

Claim 19

The tube of claim 10 wherein the portions of the membrane between its mounted ends has a diameter sufficiently larger than that of the cannula such that it is loosely surrounding the cannula when in an uninflated condition.