TRACHEAL TUBE WITH NORMALLY EXPANDED BALLOON CUFF

• US 3,640,282 A
• Filed: 08/06/1970
• Issued: 02/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carolyn J. Wilkinson, Jack M. Kamen
• Original Assignee: Carolyn J. Wilkinson, Jack M. Kamen
• Inventors: Kamen, Jack M., Wilkinson, Carolyn J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/061,586
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 128/348,351,349B,349BV,344,246,208
• US Class Current: 128/207.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs

Abstract

A tracheal tube for use in intubation of a trachea, and embodying a resilient, yieldable cuff for effecting an air seal between the tube and the trachea. The cuff contains a resilient member, such as a rubber sponge, which resiliently maintains the cuff in an expanded position away from the tube. The cuff may be contracted by means of a vacuum applied thereinto by a secondary tube mounted on the tracheal tube. The cuff in its normal expanded position within the trachea affords a good seal and at the same time prevents injury to the tracheal wall by virtue of its yieldable contact therewith.

Claims

1. A tracheal tube comprising a. an elOngated tube having an outer surface, proximal end and distal end, b. a cuff mounted on said elongated tube adjacent to said distal end and in spaced relation to said proximal end, c. said cuff comprising 1. a flexible tubular cover a. disposed on said elongated tube in surrounding relation thereto, and b. having its ends secured to said outer surface, and 2. a resilient body portion mounted in said cover, d. said body portion having 1. normally an expanded position, wherein it is effective to hold a portion of said cover outwardly away from said elongated tube, and 2. a collapsed position, wherein the outer surface thereof is disposed closer to said elongated tube than in said expanded position to thereby permit said portion of said cover to assume a position closer to said elongated tube, and e. means connected to said cuff for creating and releasing a vacuum in said cover to thereby cause said body portion to move toward said collapsed and expanded positions, respectively.

2. a resilient foam rubber body portion mounted around said elongated and other tubes within said elastic tube in position to yieldingly urge said elastic tube outwardly away from said elongated and other tubes between said ends of said elastic tube.

3. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 2, and in which a. said cuff includes a cover member, and b. said resilient means comprises a resilient body portion disposed in said cover member for yieldingly urging said cover member outwardly away from said elongated tube.

4. A tracheal tube for use in intubating the trachea and comprising a. an elongated tube for insertion into operative position into a trachea for feeding air into and out of the latter and having a proximal end and a distal end, b. a cuff mounted on the distal end portion of said elongated tube in spaced relation to said proximal end thereof in position to be disposed within such a trachea when said elongated tube is disposed in said operative position therein, c. said cuff having

5. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 4 and in which a. said cuff comprises

6. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 5 and in which a. said filler has interstices spread therethrough.

7. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 4 and in which a. said cuff comprises

8. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 7 and in which a. said flexible tube is elastic, and b. said elastic mass comprises foam rubber.

9. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 4 and in which a. said last mentioned means comprises another tube, b. said cuff comprises

10. A tracheal tube as defined in claim 4 and in which a. said elongated tube is flexible, b. said last mentioned means comprises another tube secured to said elongated tube and extending into said cuff c. said cuff comprises