Patent US3731691A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endotracheal tube and connector unit
Assignee: LORTON LABOR Ltd
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Filing: 1970-09-24
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1990-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for the endotracheal administration of a gaseous anesthetic has a flexible tube for insertion into the trachea, including an inflation cuff integrally joined with and surrounding the tube adjacent the distal portion thereof, and an inflation duct formed in the tube and isolated from the interior thereof, which duct extends from the cuff to proximal portions of the tube and through which inflation air may be supplied to the cuff. The proximal portions of the tube are integrally joined with a rigid connector having a valve member in air communication with the inflation duct for controlling the supply of inflation air to the cuff.
Inventors
- 👤 A Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0434; A61M16/044; A61M16/0463; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
371 words
A device for the endotracheal administration of a gaseous anesthetic comprising, a flexible tube for insertion into the trachea, connector means operably connected at one end to the proximal portion of said tube and adapted to be connected at its other end to a source of anesthetic, an inflatable cuff formed of a flexible material integrally joined with and surrounding the periphery of said tube adjacent the distal portion thereof, said tube having an inflation duct isolated from the interior thereof and extending from said connector means to said cuff for supplying inflation air to said cuff, a valve assembly in said connector means in air communication with said inflation duct for controlling the supply of inflation air to said cuff, said valve assembly including first and second air chambers in fluid communication with each other, said first air chamber being adapted to receive an instrument inserted therein for supplying inflation air to said valve assembly, said second air chamber being in fluid communication with said duct and providing a valve seat in said valve assembly downstream of said first air chamber, a valve closure element adapted to engage said valve seat to prevent air flow downstream thEreof, and resilient means operably engaged with said closure element for urging said element against said valve seat; said connector means including a wall portion having an opening therein providing communication between said valve assembly and the atmosphere; and, inflatable pressure indicator means formed of a manually frangible flexible material comprising a diaphragm secured to said connector means and closing said wall opening, said indicator means being formed of a flexible material stiffer than the material forming said cuff whereby upon the supply of air to said cuff through said valve assembly, said cuff expands prior to inflation of said indicator means, until further inflation of said cuff is prevented by engagement of said cuff with the walls of the trachea, whereupon continued supply of air to said cuff increases the pressure therein causing inflation of said indicator means, which thereby provides an indication that said cuff is fully inflated, said diaphragm having an operator engageable tab for tearing of said diaphragm to exhaust air from said cuff upon completion of the endotracheal procedure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
371 words
A device for the endotracheal administration of a gaseous anesthetic comprising, a flexible tube for insertion into the trachea, connector means operably connected at one end to the proximal portion of said tube and adapted to be connected at its other end to a source of anesthetic, an inflatable cuff formed of a flexible material integrally joined with and surrounding the periphery of said tube adjacent the distal portion thereof, said tube having an inflation duct isolated from the interior thereof and extending from said connector means to said cuff for supplying inflation air to said cuff, a valve assembly in said connector means in air communication with said inflation duct for controlling the supply of inflation air to said cuff, said valve assembly including first and second air chambers in fluid communication with each other, said first air chamber being adapted to receive an instrument inserted therein for supplying inflation air to said valve assembly, said second air chamber being in fluid communication with said duct and providing a valve seat in said valve assembly downstream of said first air chamber, a valve closure element adapted to engage said valve seat to prevent air flow downstream thEreof, and resilient means operably engaged with said closure element for urging said element against said valve seat; said connector means including a wall portion having an opening therein providing communication between said valve assembly and the atmosphere; and, inflatable pressure indicator means formed of a manually frangible flexible material comprising a diaphragm secured to said connector means and closing said wall opening, said indicator means being formed of a flexible material stiffer than the material forming said cuff whereby upon the supply of air to said cuff through said valve assembly, said cuff expands prior to inflation of said indicator means, until further inflation of said cuff is prevented by engagement of said cuff with the walls of the trachea, whereupon continued supply of air to said cuff increases the pressure therein causing inflation of said indicator means, which thereby provides an indication that said cuff is fully inflated, said diaphragm having an operator engageable tab for tearing of said diaphragm to exhaust air from said cuff upon completion of the endotracheal procedure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said connector has a toileting opening therein in generally axial alignment with said tube and means for selectively opening and closing said toileting opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said flexible tube and connector means are separate elements integrally joined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein said connector means has an axially tapered distal portion, and said proximal tube portion axially receives said tapered connector portion to form an integral connection therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A device as in claim 4 wherein said distal portion of said connector means has an annular peripheral groove in communication with said valve assembly and forms a portion of the flow path of said inflation air, said tube having a generally transversely extending bore therein adjacent the proximal portion thereof providing communication between said inflation duct and said groove when said distal connector portion is received in said proximal tube portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said closure element comprises a ball and said resilient member comprises a spring element operably engaged between said ball and a wall portion of said connector means to urge said ball against said valve seat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a resilient wall member forming a portion of said connector means, and said device further includes a control member operably connected to said resilient wall portion and to said closure element whereby said closure element is urged against said valve seat by said wall portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as in claim 7 wherein said control member extends through said resilient wall portion and is adapted to be moved outwardly thereof to move said closure element away from said valve seat for venting said cuff.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said connector means is provided with a wall separating said first and second air chambers and having an aperture therein providing air communication between said chambers, and wherein said valve assembly includes a tubular body slidably received in said first chamber, a valve control member connected to said body at one end thereof and extending through said aperture, said valve closure element being fixed to the other end of said control member within said second air chamber and being adapted to close said aperture to prevent air flow between said chambers, and said resilient means comprising a compression spring in said first chamber operably engaged between said body and said chamber separating wall for urging said closure element into engagement with said wall in said second air chamber to close said aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device as in claim 9 wherein said first connector chamber has a longitudinal groove formed therein and said body has a transverse bore therein adapted to communicate with said groove, whereby said groove and said bore provide an intake path for inflation air to a syringe inserted in said body in a first position thereof, said bore being moved out of communication with said groove in a second position of said body wherein said syringe and said body are moved towards said wall to open said aperture for introduction of inflation air to said cuff.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said valve assembly includes a tubular member rotatably mounted in said connector means and having a transverse bore therein, said connector means having a longitudinal groove therein communicating at one end with said transverse bore and at its opposed end with the atmosphere, whereby a syringe inserted in said first valve air chamber is adapted to receive ambient air for inflating said cuff.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A device as in claim 11 wherein said tubular member and said connector means include cooperating detent members for maintaining said tubular member in a plurality of angular positions within said connector means, whereby in one of said positions said groove and said transverse bore are in air communication and in the remainder of said positions said groove and said transverse bore are out of communication to prevent air flow into and out of said connector means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein said tubular member has a longitudinal groove on the periphery thereof adapted to be positioned in air communication with said groove in said connector means for venting said collar when said tubular member is in another of said angular positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said connector means has an axially tapered anterior portion including an annular shouldered recess axially receiving said posterior tube portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 14 wherein said tube has an annular groove on the periphery of its posterior portion, said groove communicating with said inflation duct and said valve assembly to provide air communication therebetween.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device as in claim 1 wherein said closure element includes a main body portion adapted to engage said valve seat and a stem portion extending through said second air chamber into said first air chamber, said stem being positioned for operative engagement with said instrument, whereby movement of said instrument into said first air chamber moves said main body portion away from said valve seat.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |