MEDICAL DEVICE AND TECHNIQUE FOR USING THE SAME

• US 20100186749A1
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Neal, Jon, Mehta, Dhairya, Behlmaier, Mark R., Macan, Aaron, Hayman, Sarah
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.150
• 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 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• 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 2049/2017 outside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2069 moulded in combination, e.g. injection moulded in the same mould before or after blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4882 Mould cavity geometry
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7831 characterised by pressure values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/48 Moulds
• 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 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7802 Positioning the parts to be joined, e.g. aligning, indexing or centring
• 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 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 23/00 : Producing tubular articles B29D24/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/00 : Use of rubber derived from conjugated dienes, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2011/00 : Use of rubber derived from chloroprene as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/0633 : LDPE, i.e. low 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: B29L 2031/7542 : Catheters

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., colorimetric or shape-wise indicators. Cuffs with improved attachment relative to the tube may have increased sealing performance.

Claims

1. A tracheal tube comprising:

a conduit; and

a balloon cuff associated with the conduit, the balloon cuff comprising;

a proximal collar region in a wall of the balloon cuff capable of being attached to the conduit, the proximal collar region comprising a first indicator;

an inflatable region; and

a distal collar region in the wall of the balloon cuff capable of being attached to the conduit, the distal collar region comprising a second indicator, wherein the first indicator and the second indicator are substantially in-line with one another along an imaginary axis substantially through the first indicator and the second indicator along the length of the conduit.

2. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the balloon cuff comprises polyethylene teraphthalate (PETP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone, neoprene, polyisoprene, polypropylene, or polyurethane (PU).

3. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the tracheal tube is operatively connected to a ventilator.

4. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator comprises a protrusion or depression.

5. The tracheal tube of claim 4, wherein the protrusion or depression is raised at least 0.1 mm in relation to the balloon cuff.

6. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator comprises a colorimetric or chemical marker.

7. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises one or more X-ray lines that run along at least a portion of the length of the conduit and wherein the first indicator and the second indicator are substantially in alignment with at least one of the lines.

8. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises one or more alignment markers and wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator are substantially aligned with at least one of said alignment markers.

9. The tracheal tube of claim 8, wherein the conduit comprises one or more protrusions.

10. The tracheal tube of claim 8, wherein the conduit comprises a first alignment marker and a second alignment marker, and wherein when the first indicator and the second indicator are aligned with the first alignment marker and the second alignment marker respectively, the balloon cuff is aligned with respect to a cuff length along the conduit.

11. The tracheal tube of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a lumen capable of aspirating fluids from a region proximal to the balloon cuff when the balloon cuff is inflated.

12. An inflatable balloon cuff for use in conjunction with a medical device comprising:

a proximal collar in a wall of the balloon cuff capable of being attached to the medical device, the proximal collar comprising a first indicator; and

a distal collar in the wall of the balloon cuff capable of being attached to the medical device, the distal collar comprising a second indicator.

13. The inflatable balloon cliff of claim 12, wherein the balloon cuff comprises polyethylene teraphthalate (PETP), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone, neoprene, polyisoprene, polypropylene, or polyurethane (PU).

14. The inflatable balloon cuff of claim 12, wherein the first indicator and the second indicator are not identical.

15. The inflatable balloon cuff of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator comprises a protrusion or depression.

16. The inflatable balloon cuff of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first indicator or the second indicator comprises text or an image.

17. The inflatable balloon cuff of claim 12, wherein the balloon cuff comprises a tapered cuff.

18. A medical device comprising:

a conduit with an associated balloon cuff the balloon cuff comprising;

a proximal collar in a wall of the balloon cuff comprising a first protrusion or depression; and

a distal collar in the wall of the balloon cuff comprising a second protrusion or depression, wherein the first protrusion or depression and the second protrusion or depression are touching or substantially within a 30°

diameter cross-section of the conduit, wherein the cross-section is substantially perpendicular to a flow path of the conduit.

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the 30°

diameter section of the conduit is indicated by a marker on the conduit.

20. The inflatable balloon cuff of claim 19, wherein the marker comprises a line substantially parallel to the flow path of the conduit.