Tracheostomy tube with disposable inner cannula

• US 4,315,505 A
• Filed: 04/07/1980
• Issued: 02/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Medical Inc. (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Shiley Incorporated
• Inventors: French, Robert C., Crandall, Norman C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/137,626
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/136, 128/202.28, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.16, 128/207.17, 128/348, 128/349 R, 128/349 B
• US Class Current: 128/200.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0427 with removable and re-insertable liner tubes, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0497 Tube stabilizer

Abstract

A tracheostomy tube includes an outer cannula and a removable, disposable inner cannula. The inner cannula is provided with a tapered portion located just behind its distal tip which forms simultaneously an air tight seal with the outer cannula and a stop device for preventing the protrusion of the tip substantially beyond the end of the outer cannula. The stop device furthermore compensates for variations in the length of the inner cannula by controlling the position of the tip between a location flush with the end of the outer cannula and one just slightly beyond. A coupling connector is mounted on the proximal end of the inner cannula to provide easy, releasable attachment of the inner cannula to the outer cannula. The inner cannulae are inexpensively constructed from a soft, flexible polyvinyl chloride material and are dimensionally compatible with any particular outer cannula.

Claims

1. A tracheostomy tube for insertion into a patient'"'"'s trachea through an opening in the neck to assist breathing, said tube being adapted to use with disposable inner cannulae, comprising:

an outer cannula having a distal end for insertion within said trachea and a proximal end remaining outside said trachea, said distal end having a reduced diameter portion;

a disposable inner cannula having approximately at least the same length or longer length as said outer cannula removably inserted into said outer cannula, said disposable inner cannula having a tip at its distal end comprising an annular raised portion with an annular tapered surface sloping toward said tip, means for stationarily securing said inner cannula to said outer cannula; and

said tapered surface on said inner cannula abutting against said reduced diameter portion on said outer cannula upon insertion of said inner cannula into said outer cannula thereby providing means proximal the distal end of said disposable inner cannula and said outer cannula for (i) forming a gas seal between said disposable inner cannula and said outer cannula for preventing leakage of either incoming or expelling gas and (ii) compensating for dimensional variations in said disposable inner cannula by insuring that the distal tip of said inner cannula is flush with or extends only slightly beyond the end of the outer cannula.

2. The tracheostomy tube of claim 1 wherein said tapered surface is frustro-conical in shape.

3. A tracheostomy tube for insertion into a patient'"'"'s trachea through an opening in the neck to assist breathing, said tube being adapted for use with disposable inner cannulae, comprising:

an outer cannula having a distal end for insertion within said trachea and a proximal end remaining outside said trachea;

a disposable inner cannula having approximately at least the same length or longer as said outer cannula removably inserted into said outer cannula, said disposable inner cannula having a tip at its distal end, means for stationarily securing said inner cannula to said outer cannula;

means proximal the distal end of said disposable inner cannula and said outer cannula for (i) forming a gas seal between said disposable inner cannula and said outer cannula for preventing leakage of either incoming or expelling gas and (ii) compensating for demensional variations in said disposable inner cannula by insuring that the distal tip of said inner cannula is flush with or extends only slightly beyond the end of the outer cannula, said means proximal said distal end comprising an annular raised portion on said cannula having an annular tapered surface which slopes toward said tip and a reduced diameter portion on said outer cannula near the distal end of said outer cannula wherein said tapered surface abutts said reduced diameter portion when said cannula is inserted into said cannula.

4. A tracheostomy tube for insertion into a patient'"'"'s trachea through an opening in the neck, comprising:

an outer cannula having a reduced diameter portion near its distal end; and

an inner cannula having approximately at least the same length or longer length as said outer cannula removeably inserted into said outer cannula, means for stationarily securing said inner cannula to said outer cannula, said inner cannula having an annular raised portion near its distal end adjacent said reduced diameter portion of said outer cannula with an annular tapered surface sloping toward its distal tip,

said tapered surface on said inner cannula abutting against said reduced diameter portion on said outer cannula when said inner cannula is inserted into said outer cannula to form gas seal means for preventing leakage of gas from said tracheostomy tube and for facilitating said patient'"'"'s breathing.