CUFF FOR USE WITH MEDICAL TUBING AND METHOD AND APARATUS FOR MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tube, comprising:
- a tube body comprising a tube wall; and
two or more endotracheal tube cuffs formed from respective blown out portions of the tube wall, wherein the two or more endotracheal tube cuffs are spaced apart on the tube body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of manufacturing more than one inflatable cuff per blow molding operation is provided. The method includes using two or more molds arranged in series and/or in parallel to simultaneously form two or more cuffs. The two or more cuffs may then be used in the manufacture of two or more respective endotracheal tubes. Apparatuses and systems for simultaneously forming the two or more cuffs are also provided.
104 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A tube, comprising:
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a tube body comprising a tube wall; and two or more endotracheal tube cuffs formed from respective blown out portions of the tube wall, wherein the two or more endotracheal tube cuffs are spaced apart on the tube body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A blow molding system, comprising:
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two or more molds, each comprising a cavity corresponding to a shape of a cuff; one or more heating/cooling jackets capable of securing the two or more molds and of actively heating and cooling the two or more molds; and two or more clamps, wherein the one or more heating/cooling jackets and the two or more molds are positioned between at least two of the clamps that are capable of moving toward and away from the one or more heating/cooling jackets and the two or more molds. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A mold assembly, comprising:
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two or more molds, each comprising a cavity corresponding to a shape of an endotracheal tube cuff; and one or more heating/cooling jackets capable of securing the two or more molds and of actively heating and cooling the two or more molds. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of manufacturing two or more inflatable cuffs in a single operation comprising:
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clamping each end of a tube, wherein portions of the tube are positioned within two or more molds; stretching the tube by pulling the ends of the tube away from the two or more molds; increasing the pressure within the tube such that the portions of the tube within the two or more molds are blown outward to conform to the shape of the molds; heating the molds for an interval of time; cooling the molds; decreasing the pressure within the tube; removing tension on the tube by moving the ends of the tube toward the two or more molds; and releasing the ends of the tube.
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20. A method of manufacturing two or more inflatable cuffs in a single operation comprising:
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loading one or more tubes into a mold assembly comprising two or more molds; initiating a blow molding program on a blow molding machine, wherein the blow molding program initiates and controls stretching, heating, pressurizing, and cooling operations performed by the blow molding machine such that a cuff is formed in a respective portion of tube disposed within each of the two or more molds; removing the one or more tubes from the mold assembly, wherein each tube comprises at least one cuff region; and cutting the cuff regions from the one or more tubes to form two or more cuffs. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification