Inflation and monitoring assembly for a pressure cuff

Abstract

An assembly structured to inflate a retaining or pressure cuff of a medical device of the type associated with artificial airway tube and concurrently monitor pressure therein. A pump assembly is movably connected to a casing and structured to force fluid flow, for inflation of a pressure chamber of the casing. An indicator member is visually accessible through a casing window and is variably positionable dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within the retaining cuff. The existing pressure within the pressure chamber is substantially equivalent to that within the retaining cuff thereby facilitating the variable position of the indicator member being indicative of pressure within the retaining cuff. A junction between the casing and an inflation lumen is structured to allow disconnection and prevent reconnection between the casing and the lumen.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part application of previously filed, now pending application having Ser. No. 13 / 005,359, filed on Jan. 12, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part application of previously filed, now pending application having Ser. No. 12 / 806,810, filed on Aug. 20, 2010, which is a continuation-in-part application of previously filed, now pending application having Ser. No. 12 / 661,103, filed on Mar. 10, 2010 all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention is directed to an assembly structured to inflate and continuously monitor pressure within an inflatable cuff, such as a retaining cuff for an endotracheal tube and / or tracheostomy tube. A casing and a pump assembly are collectively operative to inflate the cuff and monitor existing pressure therein. The casing may be alternately structured for fixed or removable securement to either ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is an assembly for inflating and monitoring the pressure in a retaining or pressure cuff used in artificial airway tubes. The assembly includes a casing connected to the endotracheal tube, a pump assembly, and a valve assembly. The pump assembly is structured to selectively manipulate fluid flow from the casing into the pressure chamber and therefrom through the valve assembly and into the inflating lumen. The valve assembly includes a first valve structure for regulating fluid flow from the casing into the pump plunger and a second valve structure for regulating fluid flow from the pump plunger into the pressure chamber. The assembly also includes an indicator assembly with an indicator member movably connected to and variably positioned within the casing, which is in direct fluid communication with the interior of the pressure chamber. The indicator member is variably positioned within the casing dependent on the existing pressure within the pressure chamber, which is exerted on the indicator member. The assembly allows for efficient inflation and monitoring of the pressure in the retaining or pressure cuff."

Problems solved by technology

As a result, once the casing of the assembly is disconnected from the inflating lumen, it is not reusable at least to the extent of being reconnected to the inflating lumen.

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