Hinged tracheostomy tube obturator

Claim 1

In combination, a tracheostomy tube including a curved cannula lying substantially within a given plane and formed with a non-constant radius, and an obturator means insertable into said cannula for guiding intubation of said tracheostomy tube into said cannula, said obturator means comprising: a single piece member formed of a resilient and flexible material and curvable upon insertion within said cannula with a non-constant radius lying within said given plane, said member having proximal and distal ends and shaft means extending therebetween, said shaft means being of substantially rectangular cross-section having a width and thickness, said width as measured perpendicular to said given plane substantially exceeding its thickness; said member also having a plurality of protuberances disposed at spaced locations along the length of said shaft means and extending perpendicularly to its width dimension, said shaft means being easily flexible along its length in said given plane of its curvature between said protuberances but being substantially stiff in a direction perpendicular to said given plane because of the greater width of its cross-section; and wherein the insertion and removal of said obturator into said from said tracheostomy tube is easily effected by reason of its easy flexibility in the plane of its curvature while said spaced protuberances aid in maintaining the shape of the tube by preventing collapse, distortion, and occlusion of the tube.