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 (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 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 (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: 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: 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 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).

Abstract: An inner cannula (2) for a tracheostomy tube (1) has a resilient catch (23) at its machine end. The catch has a two angular teeth (27) and (28) projecting outwardly towards its free end. One tooth (27) is shaped and positioned to engage in a groove (40) on the inside of a hub (16) at the machine end of the tube when the inner cannula is fully inserted. The other tooth (28) is smaller and is spaced rearwardly along the catch. The hub (16) also has a shallow rounded bead (44) projecting inwardly and spaced a short distance to the rear of the groove (40). When the inner cannula (2) is pulled out of the tube (1) the smaller tooth (28) engages the bead (44) on the hub (16) causing the catch (23) to deflect inwardly. In this way, the larger tooth (27) is displaced slightly out of the groove (40) making it easier for it to ramp out of the groove and allow the cannula to be withdrawn with little additional pulling force.

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 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 speaking valve assembly (2, 200) for fitting to the machine end (13) of a tracheostomy tube (1) has a one-way valve (23, 236) that allows inhalation but prevents exhalation. The assembly further includes a pressure relief arrangement that remains closed during normal respiration and vocalisation but opens when pressure in the assembly rises above a normal level. In one arrangement the pressure relief arrangement takes the form of a ball valve (30) with a ball (32) that is lifted away from an opening (31) by excess pressure but falls back to block the opening when pressure reduces. An alternative pressure arrangement has a slidable collar (226) that normally covers vent apertures (223) in a housing (220) of the assembly. When pressure in the assembly rises above a normal level the collar (226) is pushed out to expose the vent apertures (223) and allow air to escape.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube has a ball formation (31) of part-spherical shape at its machine end (13). The ball formation (31) is retained between two rings (33) and (34) projecting rearwardly from the tube neck flange (20) to enable movement between the tube shaft (10) and the flange in multiple planes.

Abstract: A valve (20) for the sealing cuff (10) of a tracheal tube has a valve member (40) urged against a valve seal (36, 37) by an MRI-safe resilient member (42) of neoprene or nitrile. The valve includes a two-part actuator (70) by which the valve member is displaced. Before use, during storage, the valve member is in a closed position with the resilient member relatively relaxed. When the valve is opened for the first time by inserting a syringe or the like, the two-part actuator arrangement is moved forwards to unseat the valve member to allow flow. This causes inclined surfaces (88) and (92) on the two parts (72) and (73) of the actuator to rotate the forward part slightly. When the syringe is removed to allow the valve to close, the forward part of the actuator latches on a surface (34) of the housing (21) in an operational position where the valve is closed.