GB2335362A

GB2335362A - Cuffed medico-surgical tube

Info

Publication number: GB2335362A
Application number: GB9904751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Nash
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 1998-03-18
Filing date: 1999-03-03
Publication date: 1999-09-22
Also published as: JPH11313891A; DE19909446A1; AU1863299A; GB9904751D0; FR2776193A1; GB9805786D0

Abstract

A cuffed tracheostomy tube assembly has a moulded tube 1 with a channel 10 extending along its outside. A cuff member 20 is attached with the tube, the cuff member having an extended rear sleeve 23 that extends over the channel 10 to the machine end 5 of the tube 1. An inflation line 30 is joined in the channel 10 beneath the rear sleeve 23 so that an inflatable portion 22 of the cuff member towards the patient end 2 of the assembly can be inflated.

Description

1 CUFFED MEDICO-SURGICAL TUBE ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to cuffed

medico-surgical tube assemblies.

2335362 Cuffed medico-surgical tubes, such as tracheal tubes, have an inflatable cuff on the outside of the tube, which is inflated to form a sea) between the outside of the tube and the inside of the passage within which the tube is inserted. In the case of a tracheal tube. the cuff seals with the inside of the trachea. There are several different arrangements by which inflation fluid can be supplied to and from the cuff. In one arrangement, the tube is extruded with a small-bore lumen extending within its wall and an opening is cut into the tube from the outside so as to open the inflation lumen to the inside of the cuff. An inflation line is connected to the inflation lumen towards the machine end of the tube via an opening cut in the wall ofthe tube. Alternativelv, a small bore inflation line may be attached to the outside of the tube and enter the cuff where it is joined to the outside of the tube.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide an alternative cuffed medicosurgical tube assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided a cuffed medicosurgical tube assemblY comprising a tube, a cuff member having an inflatable portion. the cufl'nlclllber being attached with the outside of the tube, and a cuffinflation passage extending along the tube assembly, the cuffintlation passage being formed between a channel extending longitudinally along the outside ofthe tube and a rear sleeve extension ofthe cuffniember, 4 When inflated, the portion 22 seals with the patient's trachea. The rear skirt 23 extends along the intermediate curved portion 6 and the machine end straight portion 4 to the machine end 5 of the tube.

The assembly also includes an inflation line 30, which is a small bore tube, typically with an outside diameter of about 2min. The inflation line 30 extends within the channel 10 along the outside of the tube 1, beneath the cuff member 20 and may be secured in place by, an adhesive or solvent. The patient end of the inflation line 30 is located in the machine end of the inflatable portion 22 of the cuff member 20 so that air can flow along the inflation line freely into or out of the space between the outside of the tube 1 and the inflatable portion. The diameter of the inflation line 30 and the size of the channel 10 are such that inflation line is a snug fit and does not protrude above the channel. thereby ensuring a smooth external surface to the assembiv. The inflation line 30 emerces from the channel 10 at its rear end and extends loosely away from the tube 1 through an aperture in the flange 4. The rear, machine end of'the inflation line 30 is terminated by an inflation indicator and connector 3 1. An inflation passage is thereby formed to the inflatable portion 22 of the cuff member 20 through the inflation 1 Ine 30.k,lierc it extends between the channel 10 and the skirt 23.

It is not essential that the inflation line e\tends right into the inflatable portion itself. Instead. it could just extend a short distance in the rear end of the channel 10, under the skirt 23 stifficient to retain the inflation line in position and seal its end between tile tube and tile skirt. Inflation fluld would then flow along the inflation passage I'Ormed between the channel and the overlying skirt.

1 3 with a straight portion 4 at its machine end 5 via an intermediate curved portion 6. The machine end 5 of the tube 1 is attached to a coupling and flange 7, which may be moulded integrally with the tube itself. In use, the patient end 2 of the tube 1 is located in the trachea with the machine end 5 extending from the trachea through a surgically-made opening in the patient's neck.

On the outside surface of the tube 1 there is moulded a shallow channel 10 about 2mm deep and wide, which extends longitudinally from the machine end 5 to about midway along the straight, patient end portion 3). Alternatively, the channel 10 could be formed by cutting into the outer surface of the tube.

The assembly includes a cuff member 20 of the kind shown 'In Figure 3. The cuff member 20 has, at its fonvard. patient end a short sleeve portion 21 the internal diameter of which is the same as the outer diameter of the tube 1. The patient end sleeve 21 adjoins a larger diameter, inflatable portion 22, which in turn adjoins a rearwardly- extendIng sleeve or skirt 23. The skirt 23 has the same diameter as the patient end sleeve 21 but is substantially longer. The sleeve 2 1 and skirt 23 of the cuff member 20 are attached to the outside of the tube 1. such as by nicans ofa solvent. by adhesive or cement bonding or welding. Alternatively, the culTmember 20 could be bonded onto the tube 1 by welding. slich as using heat, ultrasound or RF energy. In another arrangement, the cuff nielliber could be of' a heat shrink material that is attached to the tube 1 by heat shrinking in place. With the cuffmember 20 attached to the tube 1, the patient end sleeve 21 is located adjacent the patient end 2 ofthe tube. The inflatable portion 22 is unattached to the tube, so that it is free to be 11111ated and deflated. and extends along substantially the length of the patient end straight portion 3.

6

Claims

A cuffed medico-surgical tube assembly comprising a tube, a cuff member having an inflatable portion, the cuff member being attached with the outside of the tube, and a cuff inflation passage extending along the tube assembly, wherein the cuff inflation passage is formed between a channel extending longitudinally along the outside of the tube and a rear sleeve extension of the cuff member, wherein the sleeve extension extends rearwardly from the inflatable portion substantially to the machine end of the tube, and wherein an inflation line is joined in the inflation passage.
A tube assemblv according to Claim 1, wherein the inflation line extends along the channel substantialIv as far as the inflatable portion.
A tube assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the inflation line is Joined in the inflation passage at the machine end only.
4, A tube assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube is moulded.
5. A tube assembly according to Claim 4, wherein the channel is formed by, moulding.
6. A tube assembly according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the assembly includes a coupling and flange at the machine end of the tube, and yherciii the coupling and flange are moulded with the tube.

1 11 The present invention is particularly suitable for moulded or other tubes where it is not possible to form an inflation lumen within the wall, since it enables an inflation passage to be provided in a tube assembly having a smooth external surface.

The invention is not restricted to tracheal tubes: it can be used in any cuffed medicosurgical tube.
7 7. A tracheostomy tube assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube is curved along its length, wherein the patient end of the tube is adapted for location within the trachea, wherein the inflatable portion is adapted to seal with the trachea, and wherein the machine end of the tube is adapted to extend out of the trachea through an opening in the patient's neck.
8. A tracheostomy tube assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Any, novel and inventive feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.