Tracheal cannulas and stents

• US 5,184,610 A
• Filed: 05/30/1991
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hood Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Hood Laboratories
• Inventors: Marten, Lewis H., Lane, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURKE, ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US07/707,442
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 604/280-284, 623/1, 623/9, 623/11, 623/12, 128/207.14, 128/200.26, 606/191, 606/196
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0213 where the catheter is attached by means specifically adapted to a part of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0253 where the catheter is attached by straps, bands or the like secured by adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body

Abstract

Disclosure is made of an improvement in the T-shaped tracheal stents and in the tracheal cannulas of the prior art, permitting one to conveniently have a complete and unitary unit including a closure member affixed to the device of the invention. Unidirectional retention sleeves are also described, which may be used in conjunction with the cannulas and the stents of the invention.

Claims

1. T-shaped stent for insertion through a tracheotomy orifice into a trachea having a cervical portion and a trachea wall including a margin and adjacent margins thereof when incised following surgical reconstruction of the cervical portion thereof, and surgical correction of tracheal and subglottic stenosis, said stent comprising;

an intraluminal tubular portion having a interior lumen open at both ends, a length and an outside diameter sized to provide a snugly fitting internal support for a reconstructed or corrected trachea;

an integral tracheotomy tubular portion of a diameter less than that of the intraluminal portion and disposed at an angle thereto intermediate the ends thereof and in communication with the interior lumen of said intraluminal portion, said tracheotomy portion being of a length to project outwardly through a tracheotomy orifice after the insertion of the intraluminal portion within a trachea through said orifice;

said tracheotomy tubular portion having an external open end disposed away from said intraluminal tubular portion and a smooth outer surface;

said intraluminal portion and said tracheotomy portion being joined to each other at a point of junction;

the junction being ovate with a long axis aligned along the length of the intraluminal portion and providing external flared shoulders of both intraluminal and tracheotomy portions such as to provide, when the stent is in place, molding surfaces for entry into the tracheotomy orifice in molding support of the margin or adjacent margins of the tracheal wall and operable to overcorrect said margins, thereby to avoid a protrusion of any resulting scar tissue into the trachea; and

a closure means configured to close and form a fluid seal with said external open end,

said closure means being integrally formed with said tracheotomy and intraluminal tubular portions and having

a severable portion severably connecting said closure means to said tracheotomy tubular portion adjacent to said external open end and

attached handle means for gripping said closure means, said handle means being a perforate member with a perforation being configured to receive therein said tracheotomy tubular portion after said closure means is severed therefrom.

2. The stent of claim 1 fabricated in a unitary single piece from a silicone rubber.

3. The T-shaped stent of claim 1 in which the molding surfaces of the tracheotomy portion are arcuate with radii varying with the diameter of the intraluminal portion.

4. The stent of claim 1 wherein the perforation receives the tracheotomy tubular portion in a frictional fit.

5. The stent of claim 4 wherein the handle has a surface which is a frictional surface, disposed about a periphery of the perforation.

6. The stent of claim 1 wherein the closure means is a solid plug.

7. The stent of claim 1 wherein a unidirectional retention sleeve is mounted on the tracheostomy portion of the stent in a low friction, sliding fit.