TUBULAR WORKPIECE FOR PRODUCING AN IMPROVED BALLOON CUFF TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE
First Claim
1. A tubular workpiece for blow-molding into an inflatable balloon component, the tubular workpiece comprising:
- a raw tube having a lumen and composed of a thermoplastic polymer, the tube having an asymmetric wall thickness such that the tube may be blow molded in a mold to form a balloon component.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a tubular workpiece for blow-molding into an inflatable balloon component. The tubular workpiece is a raw tube having a lumen and composed of a thermoplastic polymer, the tube having an asymmetric wall thickness such that when the tube is preheated in a mold to a temperature sufficient to soften the material of the tube and inflated with a gas to generally uniformly stretch the material of the tube, the tube forms a balloon component. The balloon may be non-uniform in wall thickness depending on the type of mold used. The balloon may be attached according to conventional means to a hollow tube to produce a tracheostomy device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A tubular workpiece for blow-molding into an inflatable balloon component, the tubular workpiece comprising:
a raw tube having a lumen and composed of a thermoplastic polymer, the tube having an asymmetric wall thickness such that the tube may be blow molded in a mold to form a balloon component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- 7. A tubular workpiece for blow molding into an inflatable balloon for use on a tracheostomy tube wherein said workpiece is asymmetrical, has a wall thickness between 6 and 11 mm and is made from polyurethane, said inflatable balloon having ends and openings on either end wherein the openings are off center from the ends of the balloon.
- 9. A tubular workpiece for blow molding into an inflatable balloon for use on a tracheostomy tube wherein said workpiece is asymmetrical, has a wall thickness between 6 and 11 mm and is made from polyurethane, said inflatable balloon having ends and openings on either end wherein the openings are centered on the ends of the balloon.
Specification