172 results about "Tracheostomy tubes" patented technology

A method for controlling breathing gas flow of a ventilator for assisted or controlled ventilation of a patient as a function of a tracheobronchial airway pressure of the patient. A ventilator tube, such as a tracheal tube or tracheostomy tube, can be introduced into a trachea of the patient and subjected to the breathing gas, and has an inflatable cuff and at least one lumen that is continuous from a distal end of the tube to a proximal end of the tube. An apparatus detects an airway pressure, in which the tracheobronchial airway pressure is ascertained by continuous or intermittent detection and evaluation of an intra-cuff pressure prevailing in the cuff of the tube inserted into the trachea. The breathing gas flow of the ventilator is controlled as a function of the intra-cuff pressure detected.

A tracheostomy system includes an outer multi-layered tube, which can be expanded or allowed to contract as necessary in order to receive various sizes of cannula tubes. A dilator is used to initially insert the outer tracheostomy tube into the tracheostoma. After the initial installation dilator is removed, various sizes of dilators having a cannula mounted about them can be inserted into the outer tracheostomy tube. The multilayered tube will then expand in response to insertion of the various sizes of dilator cannula assembly being placed. When the dilator is removed the cannula tube will remain in place to maintain the desired diameter tracheostomy tube. This provides a means in which the diameter of the tube can be changed without having to actually remove and reinsert a different tube.

A tracheostomy tube that enables speech. The tube is provided with an inside tube portion to be set in a trachea, an outside tube portion connected to a ventilator, and a balloon provided on the outer circumference of the inside tube portion. The balloon is connected to the inside tube portion so that the inside and outside of the balloon cannot communicate with each other and the inside tube portion has a hole for communicating the inside of the interior of the inside tube portion with the inside of the balloon.

The self-cleaning and sterilizing endotracheal and tracheostomy tube may include a combination of an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube and a suction catheter that decreases the tendency of mucus and bacteria to adhere to the inner surfaces of the thereof. The endotracheal tube and the catheter may have a hydrophobic surface exhibiting the lotus effect, which may be formed either by femtosecond laser etching or by a coating of ploy (ethylene oxide). Alternatively, the endotracheal tube and the catheter may have a lumen coated with a photocatalyst. The endotracheal tube may also have a light source and a fiberoptic bundle mounted thereon, the optical fibers extending into the lumen to illuminate the photocatalyst.

The present invention relates to devices used in the management of bodily airways including tracheostomy tubes, laryngectomy tubes, bronchial stents, bronchial Y-tubes, bronchial TY-tubes, and nasal stents. The devices may comprise a protective coating to prevent the accumulation of mucus, crusting and granulation on or around airway management devices, as well as prevent adhesion to tissues which can cause bleeding upon removal, and prevent build-up of blood, or blood clots, to the stent.

A method is disclosed for treating benign conditions, such as enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids located in a patient's throat or nasopharynx, or soft tissue lesions located in a patient's oropharynx or larynx. According to the method, a space containing the patient's nasopharynx, oropharynx or pharynx and larynx is isolated from the patient's trachea and lungs using an inflatable cuff tracheostomy tube or nasotracheal tube inserted in the patient's trachea. The cuff is inflated to occlude the trachea. The patient is placed in a supine position, whereupon at least a portion of the space containing the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx and larynx is filled with saline. An endoscope is then inserted into the space to view the operative site in which the tonsils or tissue lesion are to be treated. An electrosurgical instrument having an active tissue treatment electrode and a return electrode connected to an electrosurgical generator is then inserted into the space, either along side the endoscope or through the endoscope's working channel. The generator is then operated to apply a radio frequency voltage between the active and return electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, whereby a conduction path is formed between the active and return electrodes, at least partially through the saline, whereupon the active electrode is manipulated to debulk or otherwise treat the soft tissue lesion or enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids.

A tracheostomy tube for use with a neck plate having an aperture. The tracheostomy tube comprises an elongate outer cannula having a lumen and configured to extend through the aperture; an elongate inner cannula having a lumen and an inflatable cuff, and configured to extend through the lumen of the outer cannula such that the cuff extends beyond a distal end of the outer cannula; and an interlocking mechanism configured to releasably secure a proximal end of the inner cannula to a proximal end of the outer cannula.

There is provided a device for removing a tracheotomy dilator. The dilator has a body and a tip which are detachably attached. After dilating the trachea, the body is removed, leaving only the tip in the tracheal opening. The dilator tip loading catheter has a distal end adapted to engage the proximal end of the dilator tip, a proximal handle, and a mid-section therebetween. The device also has a cannula therethrough. The proximal handle can detachably attach to the proximal end of the tracheostomy tube. The distal end and mid-section of the device are sized to fit into the cannula of a tracheostomy tube. The distal end and mid-section of the device may be inserted into a tracheostomy tube, the distal end then mating with the proximal end of the dilator tip. The entire assembly may be moved into the trachea. Once the trach tube is in position, the loading catheter and tip may be withdrawn through the trach tube.

There is provided a balloon cuffed tracheostomy tube with a balloon designed so as to enhance the tube's anchorability without sealing the tracheal stoma. The tracheostomy tube device includes a conventional curved hollow tube. The distal end of the tube is adapted for insertion through a tracheal stoma and into the tracheal lumen of a patient's throat. The device further includes an inflatable balloon enveloping a portion of the tube. The balloon has a distal portion substantially centered about and attached to the distal end portion of the tube. The balloon also has a proximal portion attached to the bend region of the tube and positioned substantially off-center relative to the proximal portion of the tube and about the bend region below the proximal plane of the device. Upon inflation, this configuration provides for expansion of the balloon around the distal end portion of the tube and the proximal end portion of the tube below the proximal plane of the device to seal the trachea below the tracheal stoma and to avoid sealing the trachea above the tracheal stoma. This configuration of the balloon should allow secretions to exit the stoma so that they do not accumulate and become a possible source of ventilator acquired pneumonia.

A tracheostomy tube is proved. The tracheostomy tube includes an outer cannula that comprises an outer cannula connector comprising a first keying feature. The tracheostomy tube further comprises an inner cannula comprising an inner cannula connector including a second keying feature configured to complement the first keying feature when the inner cannula is inserted into the outer cannula. Further, a method is provided, whereby the method comprises inserting an outer cannula into a patient's trachea, and inserting an inner cannula into the outer cannula such that a keying feature on an inner cannula connector of the inner cannula engages a complementary keying feature on an outer cannula connector of the outer cannula.

A device and method for suctioning mucus and secretions from a patient's tracheostomy tube is described. The device utilizes a reusable squeezable bulb with check valves to regulate air flow in and out of the squeezable bulb and a disposable mucus trap and suction catheter to suction a tracheostomy tube effectively and discretely without using an electrically powered suction machine.

An HME for a tracheostomy tube has a flexible outer housing of a gas-permeable material containing an HME element of discrete particles, granules or the like of a hygroscopic material. The particles are contained between the outer housing and an inner wall of a foam. The inner wall has a ciliated surface facing the end of the tube, which acts to distribute gas over the surface of the HME element. The HME is attached to a flange on an inner cannula by means of a removable adhesive. The HME may include a suction port through a self-closing aperture, which makes a wiping seal with a suction catheter inserted in the tube.

Tracheostomy apparatus includes a needle with a doppler ultrasound transducer mounted within it close to its patient end and connected to a monitor. Two electrodes are insulated from one another on the external surface of the needle close to its patient end. The electrodes are also connected to the monitor. The needle supports a catheter on its outer surface. As the needle is inserted through tissue overlying the trachea, the ultrasound transducer detects the presence of any nearby blood vessels and gives an audible indication on the monitor. The monitor also responds to a rise in impedance between the electrodes indicative of entry of the end of the needle into the trachea so that the needle can be removed to leave the catheter in place. A guide is then inserted through the catheter and the path into the trachea is enlarged with a dilator sufficiently to receive a tracheostomy tube.

An instrument for providing ventilation access to the trachea has a hollow needle with a sharp tip, a tube extending within the needle and a spring urging the tube to project a short distance from the patient end of the needle. The rear end of the tube carries two colored flags one of which is visible at a time in a transparent window towards the machine end of the needle. When the patient end of the instrument is pushed through neck tissue overlying the trachea the inner tube is pushed rearwardly so that a flag of one color is visible. When the patient end of the instrument enters the trachea the spring can push the inner tube forwardly so that the other flag is visible. In one embodiment the instrument carries a dilator and tracheostomy tube that can be slid off the needle after penetration. In another embodiment, ventilation equipment is connected to the rear of the inner tube and the patient is ventilated through the instrument itself.