US4898168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflation indicators for cuffed tubes
Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
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Filing: 1989-01-09
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Granted: 1990-02-06
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Expires: 2009-01-09
Abstract
Abstract An inflation indicator for a cuffed tracheal tube has a plastics envelope with two walls sealed around their edges. An elongate indentation is formed along the inner surface of each wall along the length of the envelope to provide a continuous fluid passage between the walls, between a valved coupling and an inflation lumen, when the walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Yule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0434; A61M16/044; A61M16/0445; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M25/1018; A61M25/10184; A61M25/10187
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An inflation indicator of the kind for a cuffed medico-surgical tube formed from an envelope with two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, the envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends one of which communicates with the cuff on the medico-surgical tube such that the envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, the improvement wherein one of said walls has a surface formation extending along the length of the envelope on an inner surface of the wall to provide a continuous fluid passage between the walls between the two inlets when said walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An inflation indicator of the kind for a cuffed medico-surgical tube formed from an envelope with two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, the envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends one of which communicates with the cuff on the medico-surgical tube such that the envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, the improvement wherein one of said walls has a surface formation extending along the length of the envelope on an inner surface of the wall to provide a continuous fluid passage between the walls between the two inlets when said walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An inflation indicator according to claim 1, wherein said surface formation is formed integrally with the wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An inflation indicator according to claim 1, wherein said surface formation is an elongate indentation on the inner surface of the wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An inflation indicator according to claim 1, wherein said surface formation is provided on both of said walls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inflation indicator according to claim 1, wherein the envelope is a plastics sleeve and wherein the sleeve is flattened.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An inflation indicator according to claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a valved coupling, and wherein said valved coupling is sealed in one end of the envelope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
An inflation indicator for a cuffed medico-surgical tube, said indicator comprising: an envelope, said envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends, means connecting one of the said fluid inlets with a cuff on said tube such that said envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, said envelope having two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, each said wall having a respective elongate indentation entending along the length of the envelope on an inner surface of the wall such that when the walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope a continuous fluid passage is provided between the two inlets along said elongate indentations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
An inflation indicator for a cuffed medico-surgical tube, said indicator comprising: an envelope, said envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends, means connecting one of the said fluid inlets with a cuff on said tube such that said envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, said envelope having two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, each said wall having a respective elongate indentation entending along the length of the envelope on an inner surface of the wall such that when the walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope a continuous fluid passage is provided between the two inlets along said elongate indentations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cuffed tracheal tube assembly comprising: a tracheal tube having a cuff thereon, and a inflation indicator, said indicator comprising an envelope, said envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends, means connecting one of the said fluid inlets with said cuff such that said envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, said envelope having two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, at least one of said walls having a surface formation extending along the length of the envelope on an inner surface of the wall to provide a continuous fluid passage between the walls between the two inlets when said walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A cuffed tracheal tube assembly comprising: a tracheal tube having a cuff thereon, and a inflation indicator, said indicator comprising an envelope, said envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends, means connecting one of the said fluid inlets with said cuff such that said envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, said envelope having two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, at least one of said walls having a surface formation extending along the length of the envelope on an inner surface of the wall to provide a continuous fluid passage between the walls between the two inlets when said walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cuffed tracheal tube assembly comprising a tracheal tube having a cuff thereon and an inflation indicator, said indicator comprising an envelope, said envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends, means connecting one of the said fluid inlets with said cuff such that said envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, said envelope having two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, each said wall having a respective elongate indentation on an inner surface of the wall such that when the walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope a continuous fluid passage is provided between the two inlets along said elongate indentations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cuffed tracheal tube assembly comprising a tracheal tube having a cuff thereon and an inflation indicator, said indicator comprising an envelope, said envelope having respective fluid inlets at opposite ends, means connecting one of the said fluid inlets with said cuff such that said envelope is inflated by pressure in the cuff, said envelope having two opposite walls of a flexible gas-impermeable material, each said wall having a respective elongate indentation on an inner surface of the wall such that when the walls contact one another on collapse of the envelope a continuous fluid passage is provided between the two inlets along said elongate indentations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4178939A
Cited
US4407281A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-05 | 1993-08-07 | 1994-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-05 | 1997-08-07 | 1998-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-05 | 2001-08-07 | 2002-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |