Medical tube including an inflatable cuff having a notched collar

• US 8,096,299 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US12/638,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 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 method of attaching an inflatable cuff to a tubular body of a medical tube, the method comprising:

forming a notch in a collar of an inflatable cuff;

mounting the inflatable cuff on a tubular body having an opening; and

positioning the notch in the collar 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 method according to claim 1, further comprising bonding the collar of the inflatable cuff to the tubular body.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising positioning a band at least partially around the collar to help secure the collar to the tubular body.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notch is open-ended.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notch comprises an enclosed hole.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially circular shape.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the notch has a substantially ovoid shape.

8. A method of attaching an inflatable cuff having a collar to a tubular body of a medical tube, the method comprising:

mounting the inflatable cuff on the tubular body; and

forming a notch in the collar of the mounted cuff.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising bonding the collar of the inflatable cuff to the tubular body.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising positioning a band at least partially around the collar to help secure the collar to the tubular body.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

the inflatable cuff further includes another; and

the inflatable cuff is mounted on the tubular body at least by the two collars.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising forming an opening in the tubular body, wherein the notch in the collar is 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.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising forming an opening in the tubular body substantially simultaneously with the forming of the notch in the collar.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising forming the opening in the tubular body and the notch in the collar by cutting completely across a side of the collar and the tubular body to form a circular or ovoid opening and a circular or ovoid notch.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the notch in the collar and the opening in the tubular body are formed such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.

16. A method according to claim 8, wherein the notch is open-ended.

17. A method according to claim 8, wherein the notch comprises an enclosed hole.

18. A method according to claim 8, wherein the notch has a substantially circular shape.

19. A method according to claim 8, wherein the notch has a substantially ovoid shape.