Tracheal tube cuff inflation control and monitoring system
First Claim
1. Tracheal tube apparatus, comprising:
- an elongated tracheal tube having a proximal end for connection to a mechanical ventilator and a distal end for insertion into the trachea;
an inflatable cuff bonded to and externally encircling the tracheal tube at a point close to the distal end;
a first tubule which communicates with the interior of the cuff and which is comprised of two sections in gaseous communication, the first section of which is formed within the wall of the tracheal tube and extends from a point close to the proximal end, substantially along the length of the tracheal tube, and ends in gaseous communication with the interior of the cuff near the distal end of the tracheal tube, the second section of which is an external tubule, one end of which extends freely from the tube and the other end of which is connected to the tracheal tube at a point near the proximal end of said tracheal tube and which is in gaseous communication with the first section which is formed in the wall of the tracheal tube, said first tubule providing continuous and instantaneous monitoring of pressure conditions within said tracheal tube; and
a second tubule which communicates with the interior of the cuff and which is comprised of two sections in gaseous communication, the first section of which is formed within the wall of the tracheal tube and extends from a point close to the proximal end, substantially along the length of the tracheal tube and ends in gaseous communication with the cuff near the distal end of the tracheal tube, the second section of which is an external tubule, one end of which extends freely from the tracheal tube and the other end of which is connected to the tracheal tube at a point near the proximal end of said tracheal tube and is in gaseous communication with the first section which is formed in the wall of the tracheal tube, said second tubule providing synchronous and rapid inflation and deflation of said tracheal cuff.
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Abstract
A tracheal tube is equipped with two air lines to the inflatable cuff, one for monitoring cuff pressure and another of larger diameter for inflating the cuff. Intracuff pressure monitored via the smaller diameter line is continuously displayed. A cuff pressure control system allows independent adjustment of cuff pressure via the larger diameter line from high pressure during inspiration to low pressure during expiration. The switchover point is determined by a detecting pressure monitor in the mechanical ventilator inspiration line. The circuit also adjusts automatically to changes in the baseline expiration pressure. The output of a bidirectional mass flow sensor tracks airflow in the cuff inflation line and is integrated to indicate volume. Volume into the cuff is then compared to volume out of the cuff to detect cuff leakage.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. Tracheal tube apparatus, comprising:
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an elongated tracheal tube having a proximal end for connection to a mechanical ventilator and a distal end for insertion into the trachea; an inflatable cuff bonded to and externally encircling the tracheal tube at a point close to the distal end; a first tubule which communicates with the interior of the cuff and which is comprised of two sections in gaseous communication, the first section of which is formed within the wall of the tracheal tube and extends from a point close to the proximal end, substantially along the length of the tracheal tube, and ends in gaseous communication with the interior of the cuff near the distal end of the tracheal tube, the second section of which is an external tubule, one end of which extends freely from the tube and the other end of which is connected to the tracheal tube at a point near the proximal end of said tracheal tube and which is in gaseous communication with the first section which is formed in the wall of the tracheal tube, said first tubule providing continuous and instantaneous monitoring of pressure conditions within said tracheal tube; and a second tubule which communicates with the interior of the cuff and which is comprised of two sections in gaseous communication, the first section of which is formed within the wall of the tracheal tube and extends from a point close to the proximal end, substantially along the length of the tracheal tube and ends in gaseous communication with the cuff near the distal end of the tracheal tube, the second section of which is an external tubule, one end of which extends freely from the tracheal tube and the other end of which is connected to the tracheal tube at a point near the proximal end of said tracheal tube and is in gaseous communication with the first section which is formed in the wall of the tracheal tube, said second tubule providing synchronous and rapid inflation and deflation of said tracheal cuff. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification