MEDICAL DEVICE AND TECHNIQUE FOR USING THE SAME

• US 20100186211A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mehta, Dhairya, Hayman, Sarah, Neal, Jon, Behlmaier, Mark R., Macan, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US12/362,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20100186211A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0479 above the cuff, e.g. giving access to the upper trachea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4608 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7831 characterised by pressure values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/78645 characterised by temperature values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/009 after shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/081 Specified dimensions, e.g. values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/424 Moulding surfaces provided with means for marking or patterning for injection moulding B29C45/372
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/14 Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/16 using pressure difference for pre-stretching, e.g. pre-blowing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/48 Moulds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4823 with incorporated heating or cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/52 having decorating or printing means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 : Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7802 : Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7814 : in the form of inter-cooperating positioning features holding or clamping means cooperating with specially formed features of at least one of the parts to be joined B29C65/7844, e.g. tenons and mortises tenon and mortise joints B29C66/126; tongue and groove joints B29C66/124
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7817 : in the form of positioning marks
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 : Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53241 : said articles being tubular and said substantially annular single elements being of finite length relative to the infinite length of said tubular articles making T-shaped pieces by joining tubular articles B29C66/52241
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/63 : Internally supporting the article during joining B29C66/49 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2011/00 : Use of rubber derived from chloroprene as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 : Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/065 : HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 : PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2083/00 : Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/022 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7542 : Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

An inflatable balloon cuff may be adapted to seal a patient'"'"'s trachea when associated with an endotracheal tube. These cuffs may include indicia that facilitate attachment of the cuff relative to the tube to reduce manufacturing variability for such characteristics as rotational and length alignment. Such indicia may include protrusions that are formed in the wall of the cuff collars or may include visual indicators, e.g., calorimetric or shape-wise, indicators. Cuffs with improved attachment relative to the tube may have increased sealing performance.

Claims

1. A mold assembly for an inflatable balloon cuff comprising:

a proximal collar portion for forming a proximal collar of an inflatable balloon cuff

a distal collar portion for forming a distal collar of the inflatable balloon cuff;

a first protrusion or depression in the proximal collar portion and a second protrusion or depression in the distal collar portion, wherein the first protrusion or depression and the second protrusion or depression are substantially in-line with one another along an imaginary axis substantially through the first protrusion or depression and the second protrusion or depression along the length of the mold assembly.

2. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly is part of an extrusion blow molding system.

3. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly comprises beryllium copper.

4. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the proximal collar portion or the distal collar portion comprises a dowel or recess adapted to form the first or second protrusion or depression.

5. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion or depression and the second protrusion or depression are differently shaped or colored from each other.

6. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly comprises two symmetrical halves.

7. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the mold assembly comprises one or more injection sites configured to apply a chemical or colorimetric marker to the inflatable balloon cuff.

8. A method of applying an inflatable balloon cuff to a conduit comprising:

passing a conduit through a proximal collar and a distal collar in a wall of the balloon cuff; and

aligning a first indicator on the proximal collar with a second indicator on the distal collar wherein the alignment is substantially along an axis extending through the first indicator and the second indicator along the length of the conduit.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising sealing or adhering the balloon cuff to the conduit.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising aligning the first indicator and the second indicator along a set length of the conduit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein aligning the first indicator and the second indicator along the set length of the conduit comprises inserting a rod through the conduit, wherein the rod comprises at least one alignment marker corresponding to the first indicator or the second indicator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein aligning the first indicator and the second indicator along the set length of the conduit comprises aligning the first indicator or the second indicator to a mark or feature on the conduit.

13. A method of manufacturing an inflatable balloon cuff comprising:

providing a proximal collar and a distal collar in a wall of the balloon cuff;

providing a first indicator on the proximal collar; and

providing a second indicator on the distal collar.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising providing a tracheal tube associated with the balloon cuff wherein the tracheal tube passes through the proximal collar and the distal collar of the balloon cuff.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the first indicator on the proximal collar or the second indicator on the distal collar comprises molding a first protrusion or a second protrusion into the wall of the balloon cuff.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein molding the first protrusion or the second protrusion into the wall of the balloon cuff comprises allowing extra flash in a mold assembly.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising cutting the cuff from a longer tube using the first indicator and the second indicator as a cutting guide.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein cutting the cuff from the longer tube comprises optically sensing the first indicator and the second indicator.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein cutting the cuff from the longer tube comprises viewing the first indicator and the second indicator under a fluorescent light or an ultraviolet light.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein cutting the cuff from the longer tube comprises laser cutting.