Medical tube including an inflatable cuff having a notched collar

• US 7,654,264 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Clayton, Jessica
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/488,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.15, 128/207.14, 128/200.26, 128/207.16, 604/101.01, 604/96.01, 604/102.02
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0479 above the cuff, e.g. giving access to the upper trachea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1027 Making of balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A medical device may include a tubular body configured to communicate gas and an inflatable cuff coupled to the tubular body at least by a collar. The tubular body may include an opening. The collar may include a notch positioned relative to the opening in the tubular body such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a tubular body configured to communicate gas, the tubular body including an opening;

a suction lumen extending along at least a portion of the tubular body and in fluid communication with the opening in the tubular body; and

an inflatable cuff coupled to the tubular body at least by a collar;

wherein said collar includes a notch positioned relative to the opening in the tubular body such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.

2. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein:

the inflatable cuff includes another collar; and

the inflatable cuff is coupled to the tubular body at least by the two collars.

3. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch and the opening are fully aligned.

4. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch and the opening are partially aligned such that at least a portion of the notch overlies a material portion of the tubular body and at least a portion of the opening underlies a material portion of the collar.

5. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein:

the inflatable cuff includes an inflatable portion;

the collar has a first end adjacent the inflatable cuff and a second end; and

an edge of the notch closest to the second end of the collar is at least 0.05 inches from the second end of the collar.

6. A medical device according to claim 5, wherein the edge of the notch closest to the second end of the collar is about 0.0625 inches from the second end of the collar.

7. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein:

the inflatable cuff includes an inflatable portion adjacent a first end of the collar; and

an edge of the notch closest to the first end of the collar is at least 0.05 inches from the first end of the collar.

8. A medical device according to claim 7, wherein the edge of the notch closest to the first end of the collar is about 0.0625 inches from the first end of the collar.

9. A medical device according to claim 1, further comprising a band extending at least partially around the collar to help secure the collar to the tubular body.

10. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch is open-ended.

11. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch comprises an enclosed hole.

12. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch is substantially V-shaped.

13. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch is substantially U-shaped.

14. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially rectangular shape.

15. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially square shape.

16. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially circular shape.

17. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially ovoid shape.

18. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially elliptical shape.

19. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch in the collar and the opening in the tubular body have substantially similar shapes.

20. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch in the collar and the opening in the tubular body have different shapes.

21. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch in the collar and the opening in the tubular body have substantially similar sizes.

22. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the notch in the collar and the opening in the tubular body have different sizes.

23. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises an endotracheal tube.

24. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a tracheostomy tube.

25. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises an oropharyngeal tube.

26. A medical device according to claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a catheter.

27. A medical device, comprising:

conveying means for channeling gas to an area of the body including an opening;

a suction lumen extending along at least a portion of the conveying means and in fluid communication with the opening in the conveying means;

sealing means for sealing said conveying means against the wall of a body cavity; and

attaching means for attaching said sealing means to said conveying means, wherein the attaching means includes a collar having a notch positioned relative to the opening in the conveying means such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.