Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An assembly for providing endotracheal ventiliation and vital sounds monitoring by stethoscope in a patient comprising a tracheal tube; an inflation cuff surrounding the tube adjacent the distal end; means for pressurizing said cuff for peripherally sealing the assembly against the trachea wall; and an audio cuff extending at least partially coextensive with said inflation cuff along the tube and having sufficient resiliency to vibrate in response to patient vital sounds to permit monitoring during patient ventilation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An assembly for providing endotracheal ventiliation and vital sounds monitoring by stethoscope in a patient comprising a tracheal tube; an inflation cuff surrounding the tube adjacent the distal end; means for pressurizing said cuff for peripherally sealing the assembly against the trachea wall; and an audio cuff extending at least partially coextensive with said inflation cuff along the tube and having sufficient resiliency to vibrate in response to patient vital sounds to permit monitoring during patient ventilation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 1 wherein said inflation cuff is outside said audio cuff for direct engagement with the trachea wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 1 wherein said audio cuff is inside the inflation cuff adjacent said tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 3 wherein said audio cuff is positioned wholly within said inflation cuff.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 1 wherein said pressurizing means includes a pressure conduit extending longitudinally along the side wall of said tube with a mouth opening into said cuff, and a pressure connector adjacent the proximal end for connection to a pressure source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 1 wherein is provided an audio conduit extending longitudinally along the side wall of said tube and opening into said audio cuff.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 6 wherein said tube includes a vent connector adjacent the proximal end for direct connection to a ventilator and an audio connector adjacent the proximal end of said audio conduit for direct connection to a stethoscope head set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 6 wherein the opening to the audio cuff is provided by a plurality of ports forming an audio manifold at the distal end of said audio conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 1 wherein said audio cuff includes a flexible plastic sleeve extending around the periphery of the tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 9 wherein said sleeve is slightly spaced from said tube to allow vibration in response to the vital sounds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 10 wherein said sleeve is sufficiently stable to maintain the spacing around the periphery of the tube even upon inflation of said inflation cuff.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tube/stethoscope assembly of claim 11 wherein said inflation cuff comprises a flexible bulb surrounding said sleeve, said bulb being highly flexible compared to said sleeve so as to provide full sealing action with minimum pressure.