Abstract: An obturator (2) for a tracheostomy tube (1) has a shaft (20) with a bullet-shape nose (24) at its patient end and a clip (21) at its machine end with arms (34) engaging recesses (15) on a coupling (13) at the machine end of the tube (1). The clip (21) is rotatably mounted with the shaft (20) by means of an engaging spigot (135) and aperture (213) and is retained angularly by dimples (219) on the clip engaged with recesses (141) on the obturator shaft. The obturator (2) is released from the tube (1) by twisting the clip against the retention of the dimples with the recesses and without applying any twisting force to the patient end of the obturator or tube.

Abstract: A cuffed tracheal tube has a shaft (10) with an inner component (30) having an inflation lumen (23) extending along a rib (33) along the outside of the component. The rib (33) terminates a short distance rearwardly of the patient end (14) of the inner component. The inflation lumen (23) is closed by an outer layer (51) applied over the inner component (30) and covering the patient end of the rib. Two closely spaced openings (54) through the rib (33) are spaced in the inflatable region of a silicone sealing cuff (13) secured around the patient end of the shaft.

Abstract: An HME device (2) for a tracheal tube (1) has an outer housing (21) with an HME element (20) spaced from the housing at its patient end by an annular recess (40). The HME element (20) is retained with the outer housing (21) by a clip fitting (29) and (30). The inside surface (26) of the housing (21) is tapered to fit on the outside of a connector (13) on the tube (1) so that the connector extends in the recess (40). The HME element (20) extends internally of the connector (13) and can be removed from the tube (1) by releasing the clip fitting with the outer housing (21).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube (1) has a shaft (10) with a neck flange (17) dividing the shaft into a patient end (18) and a machine end (19). The shaft is of a silicone material reinforced by a coil (30) embedded within it. The coil (30) comprises multiple closed loops (32) that are longer along the patient end portion than the machine end portion such that the closed ends of the loops contact one another along the machine end portion for maximum strength but leave a longitudinal gap (33) along the patient end portion. An inflation line (14) extends within the wall of the shaft along the gap (33) along the patient end portion (18) and extends externally of the shaft on the machine side of the neck flange (17). The patient end of the inflation line opens into an inflatable sealing cuff (13) extending around the shaft close to the patient end.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube has a shaft (10) with a patient end and a connector (14) at its machine end. The shaft is integrally moulded with a boss (15) located between its ends, the boss having two outwardly projecting retaining lugs (20) and two longitudinal alignment ribs (19). A mounting flange (30) is separately moulded of a deformable silicone and has a central collar (31) with two recesses (38) shaped to receive the lugs (20) on the shaft (10), and two alignment slots (36) to receive the ribs (19) on the shaft. The shaft (10) is threaded through the collar of the flange, which is deformed outwardly to enable the lugs (20) enter the collar and locate in the recesses (38). A bonding substance is applied to the shaft or collar to bond the flange on the shaft.

Abstract: An HME device (1) has an outer housing (10) in two parts removably connected with one another by bayonet lugs (17) on one part (13) inserted in bayonet slots (48) on the other part (14) and twisted. An HME unit (50) has a tapered coupling at one end fitted on an internal port (45) in one part (14) so that it can be removed and replaced by separating the two parts of the housing. The outside of the HME unit (50) is spaced from the inside of the housing (10) by an annular bypass channel (55). A selector (31) has a rotatable plate that can be moved to cover either the passage through the HME unit or the bypass channel.

Abstract: A cuffed tracheal tube has a shaft (10) with an inner component (30) having an inflation lumen (23) extending along a rib (33) along the outside of the component. The rib (33) terminates a short distance rearwardly of the patient end (14) of the inner component. The inflation lumen (23) is closed by an outer layer (51) applied over the inner component (30) and covering the patient end of the rib. Two closely spaced openings (54) through the rib (33) are spaced in the inflatable region of a silicone sealing cuff (13) secured around the patient end of the shaft.

Abstract: An HME device has a housing (10) containing an HME element (25). The device has a first gas-flow passage through the device via the HME element (25) and a second gas-flow passage that by-passes the HME element. Flow is switched between the first or second flow passage by a pivoted shutter (30) that can be displaced by a rotatable knob (32).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube flange (13) of a liquid silicone material has openings (14) towards opposite ends for receiving ends of a neck strap. The openings (14) are reinforced with overmoulded inserts (137, 138) of a heat cured silicone material having a similar hardness to that of the flange material. The inserts (137, 138) have an outwardly-projecting ledge (144) between their ends.

Abstract: The neck flange 3 of a tracheostomy tube is of a soft plastics such as silicone and has neck tie or suture openings 35 at opposite ends reinforced to prevent damage to the flange. The openings are reinforced by tubular inserts 38 of a harder plastics. The patient end of each insert has an enlarged, radially extending head 41 sitting flush in an enlarged recess 43 around the patient end of each opening. The opposite end of each insert also has an enlarged head 42 overlapping the flange but formed after the insert has been inserted in the flange. The opposite end head 42 may be heat formed from the end of the insert or may be a separate component clipped onto the end of the insert.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube has a machine end coupling (2) of a relatively hard plastics and formed with a retaining ring structure formation (23) at its patient end. This is joined with a tubular shaft (1) of a softer plastics, such as silicone, to form a subassembly (7) y a moulded interconnection of the machine end of the shaft about the retaining formation (23). An enlarged boss (12) at the rear end of the shaft (1) forms a forwardly facing wall (15). The tube also includes a moulded neck flange (5) of a relatively soft plastics with a central collar (50) having an internal, rearwardly facing wall (59). The boss (12) on the subassembly (7) is bonded into the collar (5) with the wall (15) on the boss abutting the wall (59) on the flange (5).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube comprises a skeletal frame (10) of a relatively stiff plastics covered by an overmoulding (11) of a relatively soft, transparent plastics. The frame (10) includes a portion extending along the shaft (1) of the tube and formed by longitudinal struts (16) linked by spaced ribs (20). The shaft portion of the frame (10) is formed integrally with a portion extending along a flange (5) of the tube, which includes apertures (6) for receiving the ends of a neck strap, and apertures (41) for use with sutures. At its patient end (2) the tube has a soft tip (51) formed by an extension of the overmoulding (11) beyond the patient end of the frame (10). At the machine end (3) of the tube the frame (10) is formed with a connector (4).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube introducer (1) has a patient end region (10) on which the tube (2) is mounted and that is curved in one sense. The introducer has a machine end region (11) projecting from the rear end of the tube (2) to provide a handle that curves in the opposite sense to the patient end region (10) so that the introducer has an S shape along its length. A bore (24) for a guide member extends from the patient end tip (14) of the introducer and opens in the machine end region (11) through a side opening (25). The introducer 1 is provided in a kit (200) with the tracheostomy tube (2) and a dilator (202) having the same general S shape as the introducer.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube (1) has an adjustable flange (2) that can be slid along the tube and locked in the desired position. The flange has a one-piece resilient nut (40) that is threaded on a tubular projection (30) on the flange. The nut has an integral inner sleeve (44) divided into separate fingers (48) the outside of which are engaged by the inside of the tubular projection. The flange is locked in position by screwing the nut onto the projection so that the fingers that are forced inwardly to engage the outside of the tube.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube assembly comprises an outer tracheostomy tube (1) and an inner cannula (20) fitted in the tube. The machine end of the inner cannula has a collapsible region (22) formed by a plurality of curved or bent struts (26) extending parallel with one another between a machine end collar (28) and a patient end collar (27). The struts (26) carry outwardly-projecting catches (23) arranged to engage a rib (24) extending around the inside of a hub (16) at the machine end of the tube and thereby resist removal of the cannula from the tube. The inner cannula (20) is removed by twisting the machine end collar (28) so that the struts (26) collapse inwardly and thereby disengage the catches (23) from the rib (24).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube (1) has a movable and lockable flange (2) by which the tube can be supported about the neck of a patient. The flange has a rotatable locking ring (34), which is threaded with a housing (26) fixed with the wings (22 and 23) of the flange. A resilient sleeve (50) is located in a recess (44) of the locking ring between a compression surface (45) on the locking ring at one end and the floor (46) of the housing at the opposite end. When the locking ring (34) is twisted it is moved forwardly along the housing (26), thereby compressing the resilient sleeve (50) axially. The axial compression causes the sleeve (50) to expand radially against the outside of the tube (1) and the inside of the housing (26), thereby locking the flange (2) in position.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube (1has an adjustable flange (2) that can be slid along the tube and locked in the desired position. The flange has a one-piece resilient nut (40) that is threaded on a tubular projection (30) on the flange. The nut has an integral inner sleeve (44) divided into separate fingers (48) the outside of which are engaged by the inside of the tubular projection. The flange is locked in position by screwing the nut onto the projection so that the fingers that are forced inwardly to engage the outside of the tube.

Abstract: A tracheal tube cuff inflator/indicator has a coloured pressure flag (211) slidable against the action of a spring (212) along the inside of a transparent housing (210) by change of pressure. The flag has three coloured regions along its length. A sleeve (310) with a transparent central window (311) is slidable frictionally along the outside of the housing so that the window can be aligned with a central green region (211G) when correct pressure is achieved in the cuff (10). Any change in pressure of the cuff (10) moves the flag (211) so that the green portion (211G) moves away from the window (311) in the outer sleeve, thereby indicating to the user that the cuff pressure has changed. The inflator/indicator also has an elastomeric balloon (220) acting as a pressure reservoir that can be manually compressed if it is necessary to increase pressure in the cuff.

Abstract: An inflation valve (20) for a sealing cuff (10) on a tracheal tube (1) has a helical ceramic spring (40) that urges a valve seal (45, 87) against a valve seat (28, 128). The actuator (51) by which the seal (45, 87) is lifted from the seat to open the valve includes a spring latch mechanism (53). The latch mechanism has three spring fingers (56) that are held resiliently in compression in a recess (60) before the first actuation of the valve. When first used, the actuator is moved forwardly to open the valve so that the free ends of the spring fingers clear the end of the recess and deflect outwardly. When the actuator (51) is released to allow the valve to close, the spring fingers (56) engage a latch surface (63) so that the spring (40) is held in greater tension.

Abstract: An inner cannula (200) for a tracheostomy tube (100) has an extruded shaft (20) with a smooth bore. A helical reinforcement element (23) is moulded onto the outside of the shaft the axial strength of which is increased by multiple groups of short bridging elements (24) extending between two adjacent turns of the reinforcement element. The bridging elements (24) are spaced around and along the shaft (20).