US3794043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endotracheal tube with inflatable cuff and check valve
Assignee: LANZ MEDICAL PROD CO
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Filing: 1972-11-08
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-11-08
Abstract
Abstract One end of an endotracheal tube is encircled by an inflatable cuff, to which is connected a tubule that extends toward the opposite end of the tube and into a valve housing having an air inlet bore from which passages extend to the tubule and to an inflatable member. The bore contains valve means normally closing the adjacent ends of said passages, and means for opening the valve to admit air under pressure to those passages or release it therefrom. The valve housing also has a bypass connecting the two passages and closed by a check valve preventing escape of air from the cuff to the inflatable member in case the outside of the cuff is subjected to sudden pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 G Mcginnis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0434; A61M16/044; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879; Y10T137/7888; Y10T137/7889; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
The combination with an endotracheal tube with distal and proximal ends, and a normally collapsed flexible cuff encircling the tube near its distal end and having opposite ends attached to the tube, of a tubule extending from the cuff outwardly along said tube and having a distal end communicating with the inside of the cuff, the proximal end of the tubule having an inlet for air under pressure for inflating the cuff, an inflatable member, a valve housing provided with an air inlet bore and passages extending from the side of the bore to the inflatable member and the proximal end of the tubule respectively, valve means in said bore normally closing the adjacent ends of said passages, means for opening said valve means to admit air under pressure through said inlet bore to said passages to inflate the cuff and said inflatable member, the valve housing also having a bypass connecting said passages, and a check valve in said bypass restricting flow of air from the cuff to said inflatable member, whereby sudden pressure against the outside of the cuff will not force air from it back into the inflatable member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
The combination with an endotracheal tube with distal and proximal ends, and a normally collapsed flexible cuff encircling the tube near its distal end and having opposite ends attached to the tube, of a tubule extending from the cuff outwardly along said tube and having a distal end communicating with the inside of the cuff, the proximal end of the tubule having an inlet for air under pressure for inflating the cuff, an inflatable member, a valve housing provided with an air inlet bore and passages extending from the side of the bore to the inflatable member and the proximal end of the tubule respectively, valve means in said bore normally closing the adjacent ends of said passages, means for opening said valve means to admit air under pressure through said inlet bore to said passages to inflate the cuff and said inflatable member, the valve housing also having a bypass connecting said passages, and a check valve in said bypass restricting flow of air from the cuff to said inflatable member, whereby sudden pressure against the outside of the cuff will not force air from it back into the inflatable member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said valve opening means is an actuating member in said inlet bore for opening the valve means when pushed, the outer end of said member being formed for engagement by the nozzle of a syringe inserted in said inlet bore to push said member inwardly and to inject air into said passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said check valve normally is not fully closed, whereby air from the cuff can leak past it slowly if the pressure inside the cuff becomes greater than that in said inflatable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said inflatable member is a balloon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination recited in claim 4, said balloon being formed of material that decreases in thickness as it is stretched by air forced into it until it has expanded to a size at which the air pressure therein is the same as the maximum air pressure desired in the cuff, and the balloon having the property of then stretching further without increase in said maximum pressure as additional air is forced into it to expand it more.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said valve means include a resilient tube disposed in said inlet bore and normally fitting tightly therein to close said passages, and means anchoring the outer end of the tube in said bore, said valve-opening means being a pin extending axially and loosely through said tube and having a projecting outer end provided with a head, the inner end of the pin being attached to the inner end of the tube so that when said head is pushed toward the tube the pin will stretch the tube lengthwise and cause it to contract radially, whereby air forced intO the outer end of said bore can pass through the tube and then into said passages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination recited in claim 1, in which said bypass includes a circumferential groove in said valve housing, a port connecting the groove with the passage that extends between said bore and inflatable member, and an opening between the groove and the other passage, and said check valve is a flexible band loosely encircling said housing in said groove and covering said port, said band tightly closing said port when subjected to said sudden pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |