US3901246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Balloon tracheal catheter with inflation valve and indicator
Assignee: Intertech Resources Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-24
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A disposable balloon type catheter or endotracheal tube is provided in which an improved valve is utilized and which is operable by the insertion of a syringe to the valve inlet passage to open the valve and allow gas to be forced from the syringe into the main and pilot balloons for inflation thereof. The valve itself is of a resilient plastic material having a main passageway with a plug normally blocking the flow of gas through the passageway. At least one radially inwardly directed projection is formed on the interior surface of the passageway and which is engaged by the inserted syringe to distend the passageway internal surface outwardly to allow gas from the syringe to bypass around the periphery of the plug. The disposable catheter also includes a novel design of pilot balloon having a molded plastic tubular extension extending throughout the length of the pilot balloon. The thin balloon material surrounds the tubular extension and is pre-stretched along the extension so that the pilot balloon configuration takes on a shriveled appearance in its non-inflated state.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean R Wallace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0434; A61M16/044; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient for introducing and removing gas, said tube having an inflatable chamber surrounding the distal end thereof, a gas passageway having one end communicating with the interior of said inflatable chamber and having its other end adapted to receive gas for inflation of said chamber, said gas passageway including a valve means, said valve means comprising a molded flexible housing having a gas passage therethrough, a plug means positioned in an interference fit within said gas passage whereby said plug normally prevents the flow of gas through said gas passage, said housing including at least one inwardly directed projection facing into said gas passage, said projection being moveable outwardly to distort said housing from said plug means to break the interference fit to allow gas to bypass said plug means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient for introducing and removing gas, said tube having an inflatable chamber surrounding the distal end thereof, a gas passageway having one end communicating with the interior of said inflatable chamber and having its other end adapted to receive gas for inflation of said chamber, said gas passageway including a valve means, said valve means comprising a molded flexible housing having a gas passage therethrough, a plug means positioned in an interference fit within said gas passage whereby said plug normally prevents the flow of gas through said gas passage, said housing including at least one inwardly directed projection facing into said gas passage, said projection being moveable outwardly to distort said housing from said plug means to break the interference fit to allow gas to bypass said plug means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
A tracheal tube adapted for insertion into the trachea of a patient for introducing and removing gas, said tube having a main inflatable chamber surrounding the distal end thereof, a gas passageway having one end communicating with the interior of said main inflatable chamber and having the other end adapted to receive an inflating means for delivering gas to inflate Said main inflatable chamber, said gas passageway including a valve means for selectively introducing gas through said passageway to said inflatable chamber and a pilot balloon means comprising a tubular extension, a flexible oval-shaped balloon having its outer open ends secured to said tubular extension, thereby forming an enclosed pilot chamber, said pilot chamber being in gas communication with said main inflatable chamber, said flexible balloon secured to said tubular extension in a prestretched condition along its length whereby said balloon appears shriveled in the non-inflated conditions; and said valve means, tubular extension and pilot balloon means forming substantially a unitary structure at the inflating means-receiving end of said gas passageway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
A tracheal tube adapted for insertion into the trachea of a patient for introducing and removing gas, said tube having a main inflatable chamber surrounding the distal end thereof, a gas passageway having one end communicating with the interior of said main inflatable chamber and having the other end adapted to receive an inflating means for delivering gas to inflate Said main inflatable chamber, said gas passageway including a valve means for selectively introducing gas through said passageway to said inflatable chamber and a pilot balloon means comprising a tubular extension, a flexible oval-shaped balloon having its outer open ends secured to said tubular extension, thereby forming an enclosed pilot chamber, said pilot chamber being in gas communication with said main inflatable chamber, said flexible balloon secured to said tubular extension in a prestretched condition along its length whereby said balloon appears shriveled in the non-inflated conditions; and said valve means, tubular extension and pilot balloon means forming substantially a unitary structure at the inflating means-receiving end of said gas passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tracheal tube as defined in claim 2 wherein said flexible oval-shaped balloon has outer open ends of different diameters secured to said tubular extension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
175 words
A tracheal tube adapted for insertion into the trachea of a patient for introducing gas to the patient, said tube having a main inflatable chamber surrounding the distal end thereof, a gas passageway for inflating said main chamber, said gas passageway including a valve means for receiving an inflating means for introducing gas into said passageway, said valve means comprising a molded flexible housing having a gas passage therethrough, said housing having one end adapted to receive said inflating means and the other end having an integrally molded tubular extension, a plug means within said flexible housing normally blocking the flow of gas through said passage, said housing adapted to be distorted outwardly from said plug means by said inflating means to allow gas to bypass around said plug means, and an oval inflatable pilot balloon having open ends secured to said tubular extension and having its interior communicating with said gas passage, said pilot balloon being secured to said flexible extension in a pre-stretched condition whereby said balloon appears shriveled in its noninflated state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
A tracheal tube adapted for insertion into the trachea of a patient for introducing gas to the patient, said tube having a main inflatable chamber surrounding the distal end thereof, a gas passageway for inflating said main chamber, said gas passageway including a valve means for receiving an inflating means for introducing gas into said passageway, said valve means comprising a molded flexible housing having a gas passage therethrough, said housing having one end adapted to receive said inflating means and the other end having an integrally molded tubular extension, a plug means within said flexible housing normally blocking the flow of gas through said passage, said housing adapted to be distorted outwardly from said plug means by said inflating means to allow gas to bypass around said plug means, and an oval inflatable pilot balloon having open ends secured to said tubular extension and having its interior communicating with said gas passage, said pilot balloon being secured to said flexible extension in a pre-stretched condition whereby said balloon appears shriveled in its noninflated state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tracheal tube as defined in claim 4 wherein said plug means is cylindrical and its periphery is in an interference fit within said passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tracheal tube as defined in claim 4 wherein said housing further includes at least one inwardly directed projection and said inflating means contacts said projection to force said projection radially outward, thereby distorting said housing to allow gas to bypass said plug means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tracheal tube as defined in claim 6 wherein said pilot balloon is a plastic material having a thickness of about .002 to .010 inches, and said open ends secured to said extension are of dissimilar diameters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient having an inflatable cuff surrounding the distal end thereof for inflation by an inflating syringe, a gas passageway having one end communicating with the interior of said cuff for inflating said cuff and a valve means for controlling the introduction of gas to the passageway by the inflating syringe, the improvement wherein said valve means comprises a flexible housing having an opening at one end thereof for receiving said inflating syringe and having the other end thereof communicating with said gas passageway, said housing having a passage therethrough, a plug means within said passage normally preventing the passage of gas through said passage, said housing including at least one inwardly directed projection adapted to be engaged by the insertion of the inflating syringe into said opening to distort said housing to allow gas to bypass said plug means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient having an inflatable cuff surrounding the distal end thereof for inflation by an inflating syringe, a gas passageway having one end communicating with the interior of said cuff for inflating said cuff and a valve means for controlling the introduction of gas to the passageway by the inflating syringe, the improvement wherein said valve means comprises a flexible housing having an opening at one end thereof for receiving said inflating syringe and having the other end thereof communicating with said gas passageway, said housing having a passage therethrough, a plug means within said passage normally preventing the passage of gas through said passage, said housing including at least one inwardly directed projection adapted to be engaged by the insertion of the inflating syringe into said opening to distort said housing to allow gas to bypass said plug means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a tracheal tube as defined in claim 8 the improvement wherein said housing includes an annular inner bead adapted to retain said plug means within said passage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a tracheal tube as defined in claim 9, the improvement wherein said housing, said at least one inwardly directed projection and said annular inner bead are of one piece molded plastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a tracheaL tube as defined in claim 10 the improvement wherein said housing has a molded plastic extension, an expandable pilot balloon secured to said extension and an opening formed in said extension to allow gas communication between said passage and said expandable pilot balloon.
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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) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |