Bendable Tracheal Cannula with Articulated Joint

Solution Overview

Problem

Tracheal ventilation apparatuses, particularly tracheostomy cannulas, face challenges in easy insertion and minimal interference with swallowing due to anatomical variations and the risk of tracheal wall damage from non-resilient materials that can press against the tracheal wall during swallowing.

Innovation Solution

A tracheal ventilation apparatus with an axially air-permeable joint connecting the proximal and distal tube portions, allowing pivotability and slight bending, and a fillable cuff for sealing and soft fixation, reducing the risk of tracheal wall injury and facilitating swallowing by enabling movement with the larynx and trachea.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the tracheal ventilation apparatus is made of hard or non-resilient material, then the structural strength and rigidity are improved, but the risk of pressing against and damaging the tracheal wall during swallowing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidtracheal wall damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula is divided into proximal and distal tube portions connected by an articulated joint, allowing the distal portion to move independently relative to the proximal portion. This segmentation enables the distal end to pivot and bend away from the tracheal wall during swallowing, reducing contact pressure while maintaining overall structural integrity through the rigid tube portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The articulated joint introduces dynamic mobility to the otherwise rigid cannula structure. The joint allows the distal tube portion to pivot and bend in response to swallowing movements, transforming the static rigid structure into a dynamic system that can adapt its shape to reduce harm during swallowing while maintaining strength during insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the tracheal ventilation apparatus is made of very soft material, then the risk of pressing against the tracheal wall during swallowing is reduced, but the ease of insertion and risk of incorrect positioning worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracheal wall damage riskVSAvoidease of insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula is divided into proximal and distal tube portions connected by an articulated joint, allowing the distal portion to move independently relative to the proximal portion. This segmentation enables the distal end to pivot and bend away from the tracheal wall during swallowing, reducing contact pressure while maintaining overall structural integrity through the rigid tube portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the cannula have different mechanical properties: the tube portions are made of rigid material for easy insertion and structural integrity, while the articulated joint is designed with flexible properties to allow movement and reduce tracheal wall contact during swallowing. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between insertion ease and swallowing safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tracheal ventilation apparatus is made soft to reduce tracheal wall contact, then the harm to the trachea is reduced, but the cannula may bend or rotate and the tip may be arranged at an unfavourable angle, increasing the risk of incorrect insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracheal wall contactVSAvoidinsertion accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula is divided into proximal and distal tube portions connected by an articulated joint, allowing the distal portion to move independently relative to the proximal portion. This segmentation enables the distal end to pivot and bend away from the tracheal wall during swallowing, reducing contact pressure while maintaining overall structural integrity through the rigid tube portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The articulated joint changes the geometric parameters of the cannula by allowing variable angles between the proximal and distal tube portions. This parameter change enables the distal end to adapt its orientation relative to the tracheal wall, maintaining favourable insertion angles while reducing harmful contact during swallowing through controlled pivoting and bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11324905B2Bendable tracheal ventilation apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 COLOPLAST AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to a tracheal ventilation apparatus, in particular a tracheostomy cannula or an endotracheal tube, having a cannula tube, which from a point of view from a gas supply, has a proximal tube portion with a proximal opening and a distal tube portion with a distal opening. In order to provide an easy-to-handle tracheal ventilation apparatus that can easily be inserted and that impedes a swallowing process as little as possible, the proximal tube portion and the distal tube portion are connected to one another by way of an axially air-permeable joint that facilitates at least restricted mobility and, in particular, pivotability of a longitudinal axis of the distal tube portion with respect to a longitudinal axis of the proximal tube portion.