Multi-layered transtracheal caatheter

Claim 2

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body comprising: an inner layer and means to resist kinking of said inner layer and including constructing said inner layer of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time; and an outer layer fused to the inner layer and comprising a material that is sufficiently hydrophobic and that has a sufficiently low coefficient of friction such that said outer layer is resistant to mucous buildup when placed in the trachea, said outer layer essentially completely covering said inner layer to prevent contact of mucous by the inner layer, and in combination with said inner layer provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to hold said catheter body firmly against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body; a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being bent away from said catheter body at an angle such that when said catheter body is inserted into the patient's trachea and placed against the posterior wall of the trachea, said distal end is correspondingly deflected at said angle from the posterior wall; and means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source said means for connecting being located at said proximal end of said catheter body.

Claim 3

A transtracheal catheter as defined in claim 1, wherein said distal end is bent away from said catheter at an angle of 15°.

Claim 4

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body defining an inner lumen therethrough and comprising: an inner wall and means to resist kinking of said inner wall and including constructing said inner wall of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time, and said inner wall having a first cross-sectional thickness, and an outer wall fused to the inner wall and comprising a material that is more rigid and less flexible than the material of said inner wall, said outer wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is less than the cross-sectional thickness of said inner wall but which, in combination therewith, provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to hold said catheter body firmly against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body; a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being bent away from said catheter body at an angle such that when said catheter body is held firmly against the posterior wall of the trachea, said distal end is correspondingly deflected at said angle from the posterior wall; and means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source.

Claim 5

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body defining an inner lumen therethrough and comprising: an inner wall and means to resist kinking of said inner wall and including constructing said inner wall of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time, and said inner wall having a first cross-sectional thickness, and an outer wall fused to the inner wall and comprising a material that is more rigid and less flexible than the material of said inner wall, said outer wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is less than the cross-sectional thickness of said inner wall but which, in combination therewith, provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to hold said catheter body firmly against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body; a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being bent away from said catheter body at an angle such that when said catheter body is held firmly against the posterior wall of the trachea, said distal end is correspondingly deflected at said angle from the posterior wall; and means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source.

Claim 6

A transtracheal catheter as defined in claim 3, wherein said distal end is bent away from said catheter body at an angle of 15°.

Claim 7

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body defining an inner lumen therethrough and comprising: an inner wall and means to resist kinking of said inner wall and including constructing said inner wall of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time, and said inner wall having a first cross-sectional thickness; and an outer wall fused to the inner wall and comprising a material that is more rigid and less flexible than the material of said inner wall, said outer wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is less than the cross-sectional thickness of said inner wall but which, in combination therewith, provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to firmly hold said catheter body against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body, and wherein said outer wall is also sufficiently hydrophobic and has a low enough coefficient of friction so that said outer wall is resistant to mucous buildup, and wherein said inner wall terminates at a point within said inner lumen and said outer wall wraps around said inner wall at said point so as to essentially completely cover said inner wall to prevent contact of mucous by the inner wall; a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being bent away from said catheter body at a 15 degree angle such that when said catheter body is inserted against the posterior wall of the trachea, said distal end is deflected away from the posterior wall at a 15 degree angle thereby reducing irritation to the posterior wall by said distal end of said catheter body rubbing against the posterior wall, and reducing occlusion of said distal end by mucous obtained from the posterior wall; and means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source, said means for connecting being attached to said proximal end of said catheter body,

Claim 8

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated catheter body defining an inner lumen therethrough and comprising: an inner wall and means to resist kinking of said inner wall and including constructing said inner wall of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time, and said inner wall having a first cross-sectional thickness; and an outer wall fused to the inner wall and comprising a material that is more rigid and less flexible than the material of said inner wall, said outer wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is less than the cross-sectional thickness of said inner wall but which, in combination therewith, provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to firmly hold said catheter body against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body, and wherein said outer wall is also sufficiently hydrophobic and has a low enough coefficient of friction so that said outer wall is resistant to mucous buildup, and wherein said inner wall terminates at a point within said inner lumen and said outer wall wraps around said inner wall at said point so as to essentially completely cover said inner wall to prevent contact of mucous by the inner wall; a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being bent away from said catheter body at a 15 degree angle such that when said catheter body is inserted against the posterior wall of the trachea, said distal end is deflected away from the posterior wall at a 15 degree angle thereby reducing irritation to the posterior wall by said distal end of said catheter body rubbing against the posterior wall, and reducing occlusion of said distal end by mucous obtained from the posterior wall; and means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source, said means for connecting being attached to said proximal end of said catheter body,

Claim 9

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated, flexible catheter body having a length sufficient to permit insertion into a patient's trachea to a point near the patient's left and right main stem bronchi, said catheter body comprising: an inner wall and means to resist kinking of said inner wall and including constructing said inner wall of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time, and said inner wall having a first cross-sectional thickness; and an outer wall fused to the inner wall and comprising a material that is more rigid and less flexible than the material of said inner wall, said outer wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is less than the cross-sectional thickness of said inner wall but which, in combination therewith, provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to hold said catheter body firmly against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body; a proximal end, said proximal end being attached to a means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source; and a distal end, said distal end being bent at an angle such that when said catheter body has been fully inserted into the patient's trachea, said distal end will terminate near the left and right main stem bronchi but will also be bent away from the posterior wall of the trachea such that said distal end does not contact the posterior wall although substantially the rest of the catheter body will be in contact with the posterior wall, thereby reducing irritation to the posterior wall at said distal end and reducing possibility of occlusion of said distal end by mucous buildup which may occur during any catheter movement.

Claim 10

A transtracheal catheter comprising: an elongated, flexible catheter body having a length sufficient to permit insertion into a patient's trachea to a point near the patient's left and right main stem bronchi, said catheter body comprising: an inner wall and means to resist kinking of said inner wall and including constructing said inner wall of a material that is soft and flexible to the extent that it will bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for extended periods of time, and said inner wall having a first cross-sectional thickness; and an outer wall fused to the inner wall and comprising a material that is more rigid and less flexible than the material of said inner wall, said outer wall having a cross-sectional thickness which is less than the cross-sectional thickness of said inner wall but which, in combination therewith, provides said catheter body with enough softness and flexibility to bend rather than kink when placed within a patient's trachea for an extended period of time, and with enough rigidity to hold said catheter body firmly against a posterior wall of the trachea to minimize unwanted movement of the catheter body; a proximal end, said proximal end being attached to a means for connecting said catheter body to an oxygen source; and a distal end, said distal end being bent at an angle such that when said catheter body has been fully inserted into the patient's trachea, said distal end will terminate near the left and right main stem bronchi but will also be bent away from the posterior wall of the trachea such that said distal end does not contact the posterior wall although substantially the rest of the catheter body will be in contact with the posterior wall, thereby reducing irritation to the posterior wall at said distal end and reducing possibility of occlusion of said distal end by mucous buildup which may occur during any catheter movement.

Claim 11

A transtracheal catheter as defined in claim 6, wherein said distal end is bent away from said catheter body at an angle of 15 degrees.