Abstract: A subglottic suctioning system with a tracheal tube having a ventilation lumen, a cuff inflation lumen, and a suction lumen are disclosed which may help reduce the incidence of ventilator associated (or acquired) pneumonia. The suction lumen communicates with the space in the trachea above the cuff where secretions accumulate. The suction lumen has a valve on the proximal end for connection to a source of vacuum. The valve is adapted to interrupt the supply of vacuum to the suction lumen to allow for the introduction of a rinsing fluid in its place and to automatically re-establish the connection to the source of vacuum upon completion of rinsing. The rinsing fluid aids in maintaining an open suction lumen and may include medicaments and mucolytic agents to enhance or promote healing or to alter the properties of the mucus to make removal easier. The user may easily and repeatedly alternate suction and rinsing fluid through the suction lumen, i.e.

Abstract: A subglottic suctioning system with a tracheal tube having a ventilation lumen, a cuff inflation lumen, and a suction lumen are disclosed which may help reduce the incidence of ventilator associated (or acquired) pneumonia. The suction lumen communicates with the space in the trachea above the cuff where secretions accumulate. The suction lumen has a valve on the proximal end for connection to a source of vacuum. The valve is adapted to interrupt the supply of vacuum to the suction lumen to allow for the introduction of a rinsing fluid in its place and to automatically re-establish the connection to the source of vacuum In upon completion of rinsing. The rinsing fluid aids in maintaining an open suction lumen and may include medicaments and mucolytic agents to enhance or promote healing or to alter the properties of the mucus to make removal easier. The user may easily and repeatedly alternate suction and rinsing fluid through the suction lumen, i.e.

Abstract: A subglottic suctioning system with a tracheal tube having a ventilation lumen, a cuff inflation lumen, and a suction lumen are disclosed which may help reduce the incidence of ventilator associated (or acquired) pneumonia. The suction lumen communicates with the space in the trachea above the cuff where secretions accumulate. The suction lumen has a valve on the proximal end for connection to a source of vacuum. The valve is adapted to interrupt the supply of vacuum to the suction lumen to allow for the introduction of a rinsing fluid in its place and to automatically re-establish the connection to the source of vacuum upon completion of rinsing. The rinsing fluid aids in maintaining an open suction lumen and may include medicaments and mucolytic agents to enhance or promote healing or to alter the properties of the mucus to make removal easier. The user may easily and repeatedly alternate suction and rinsing fluid through the suction lumen, i.e.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making a balloon having a differential thickness. The method uses a raw tube composed of a thermoplastic polymer which is placed in an asymmetrical mold. The tube is preheated in the mold to a temperature sufficient to soften the material of the tube and inflated with a gas to generally uniformly stretch the material of the tube while allowing the tube to retract lengthwise, thus forming a balloon. The resulting completed balloon has a differential wall thickness wherein the upper region has a thickness of from about 15 to about 30 micrometers and the lower region has a thickness of from about 5 to about 15 micrometers.

Abstract: There is provided a method for performing a tracheotomy. In this method a tracheostomy dilator has a body and a tip which are detachably attached. The tip has a proximal inner portion which is within the body while the tip is attached to the body. The dilator is inserted into the trachea and used to dilate an opening. After the trachea has been dilated, the body may be detached and removed from the tip, the tip remaining partially in the trachea. A dilator loading catheter installed within a tracheostomy tube may be mated with the tip and the tip, loading catheter and tracheostomy tube moved into the trachea. After the tracheostomy tube is installed, the tip and loading catheter may be withdrawn through the tracheostomy tube and the tracheostomy tube placed in service.

Abstract: There is provided a device for performing a balloon dilation tracheostomy. The balloon has internal braces or “stays” extending from the center to the inside surface of the balloon, though other arrangements are possible. The braces control the ultimate expansion and final shape of the balloon when it is fully inflated, inhibiting the ability of parts of the balloon to herniate. The balloon should also expand more uniformly, allowing the practitioner to more confidently expand the tracheal stoma site and ensuring a successful dilation and tube placement.

Abstract: There is provided a moisture indicator for a heat and moisture exchange (HME) device that uses a pre-colorant and an activator applied to an inner surface of the HME device. The colorant undergoes a color change of Delta E (?E) of equal to or greater than 3 units upon exposure to moisture but not upon exposure to high humidity. The colorant is visually obvious to the unaided human eye under normal light conditions through the body of the device. The HME device with the visual indicator for moisture can indicate to the care-giver that it is time to change the HME device.

Abstract: A subglottic suctioning system with a tracheal tube having a ventilation lumen, a cuff inflation lumen, and a suction lumen are disclosed which may help reduce the incidence of ventilator associated (or acquired) pneumonia. The suction lumen communicates with the space in the trachea above the cuff where secretions accumulate. The suction lumen has a valve on the proximal end for connection to a source of vacuum. The valve is adapted to interrupt the supply of vacuum to the suction lumen to allow for the introduction of a rinsing fluid in its place and to automatically re-establish the connection to the source of vacuum upon completion of rinsing. The rinsing fluid aids in maintaining an open suction lumen and may include medicaments and mucolytic agents to enhance or promote healing or to alter the properties of the mucus to make removal easier. The user may easily and repeatedly alternate suction and rinsing fluid through the suction lumen, i.e.

Abstract: An oral care kit for a defined oral care treatment cycle is provided herein. The oral care kit utilizes a substantially rectangular box having oral care packs positioned therein. The oral care packs contain oral care devices useful for administering oral care treatment during a 24 hour oral care treatment cycle.

Abstract: There is provided a tracheal catheter designed so that a suction catheter may be used to suction out any secretions that accumulate in the zone above the balloon. There is further provided a tracheal catheter having a ventilation lumen with a flexible wall to provide a flexible lumen which takes up negligible volume when the catheter is not inserted. The suction catheter may be inserted into the flexible lumen, bending the flexible lumen wall that normally lies substantially flat against the ventilating lumen. As the suction catheter is inserted into the lumen, the lumen opens to accept it. When the catheter is removed, the wall of the flexible lumen moves back into position against the ventilating lumen wall, again taking up negligible volume. There is also provided a method of suctioning the subglottic space of an intubated patient. This involves providing a tube as described above, inserting a catheter into the flexible lumen from the proximal end, and providing suction to the proximal end of the catheter.

Abstract: There is provided a device for performing a tracheotomy. The tracheostomy dilator has a body and a tip which are detachably attached. The dilator has a cannula sized to accommodate a guiding catheter. The tip has a proximal inner portion which is within the body while the tip is attached to the body. After the trachea has been dilated, the body may be detached from the tip and removed and a tracheostomy tube may be inserted over the inner portion of the tip. The tip then may serve to guide a tracheostomy tube into the trachea. After the tracheostomy tube is installed, the tip and other components may be withdrawn through the tracheostomy tube and the tracheostomy tube placed in service.

Abstract: There is provided a method for performing a tracheotomy. In this method a tracheostomy dilator has a body and a tip which are detachably attached. The tip has a proximal inner portion which is within the body while the tip is attached to the body. The dilator is inserted into the trachea and used to dilate an opening. After the trachea has been dilated, the body may be detached and removed from the tip, the tip remaining partially in the trachea. A dilator loading catheter installed within a tracheostomy tube may be mated with the tip and the tip, loading catheter and tracheostomy tube moved into the trachea. After the tracheostomy tube is installed, the tip and loading catheter may be withdrawn through the tracheostomy tube and the tracheostomy tube placed in service.

Abstract: There is provided a novel tracheostomy tube flange. The flange is made of a flexible material and has a large open area for viewing of the underlying skin. The flange has holes for suturing the flange to the skin and slots for attachment of a strap to surround the neck and keep the flange and tube in place. The flange may swivel on the tube to allow for greater flexibility in attaching it to the skin. A stoma pad may be used with the flange to help keep the skin under the flange healthy.

Abstract: An oral care kit for a defined oral care treatment cycle is provided herein. The oral care kit utilizes a substantially rectangular box having oral care packs positioned therein. The oral care packs contain oral care devices useful for administering oral care treatment during a 24 hour oral care treatment cycle.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: There is provided a device for performing an initial piercing and dilating of a patient's trachea. The device has a needle within and extending beyond a sheath. After the needle is used to pierce the trachea, it may be removed and a guide wire (J-wire) inserted. A introducer dilator surrounds the sheath and is slidable over the sheath. The introducer dilator has a first position away from the distal end of the sheath and a second position in which the distal end of the sheath is substantially covered by the introducer dilator. The introducer dilator is then used to expand the initial piercing.