Hinged tracheostomy tube obturator

Claim 2

In combination, a tracheostomy tube including a curved cannula lying substantially within a given plane and formed with a non-constant radius, and an obturator means insertable into said cannula for guiding intubation of said tracheostomy tube, said obturator means comprising: a single piece member formed of a resilient and flexible material and curvable upon insertion within said cannula with a radius lying within said given plane, said member having a proximal and a distal end and shaft means extending therebetween, said shaft means including at least on substantially rigid portion over a substantial portion of its length being dimensioned such as to impart sufficient rigidity both in a direction substantially perpendicular and also substantially parallel to said given plane, said shaft means also including at least one flexible section, said shaft means at said flexible section having two portions of substantially rectangular cross-section having a width and a thickness, said width as measured perpendicular to said given plane substantially exceeding its thickness, and a first protuberance located between said two portions, said flexible section being positioned substantially adjacent said distal end; said shaft means at said flexible section being easily flexible along its length in said given plane of its curvature but being substantially stiff in a direction perpendicular to said given plane because of the greater width of its cross-section at said two portions; said shaft also including a second protuberance having a diameter larger than that of the first protuberance.

Claim 3

An obturator according to claim 1, wherein said second protuberance is a raised fin member located behind said flexible section, as seen along the length of said shaft means in the direction towards its proximal end, said fin member having its diameter exceeding the diameter of said first protuberance and of the remaining portions of said shaft means, said diameter of said second section corresponding to the inner diameter of said cannula, wherein upon insertion of said obturator into said cannula, said raised fin member contacts an inner wall of said cannula and prevents backward movement of said obturator in said cannula.

Claim 4

An obturator according to claim 2, wherein said substantially rigid portion of said shaft means is divided into a first and second rigid section separated by said flexible section.

Claim 5

An obturator according to claim 3, wherein said first and second rigid sections include a first flat member having a cross-section corresponding to that of said flexible section and being continuous therewith and also include a web portion substantially perpendicular to the width of said flat member.

Claim 6

An obturator according to claim 4, wherein said raised fin member is provided on said web portion of said first rigid section.

Claim 7

In combination, a tracheostomy tube including a curved cannula lying substantially within a given plane and formed with a non-constant radius, and an obturator means insertable into said cannula for guiding intubation of said tracheostomy tube, said obturator means comprising: a single piece member formed of a resilient and flexible material and curvable upon insertion within said cannula with a radius lying within said given plane, said member having a proximal and a distal end and shaft means extending therebetween, said shaft means including at least one substantially rigid portion over a substantial portion of its length being dimensioned such as to impart sufficient rigidity both in a direction substantially perpendicular and also substantially parallel to said given plane, said shaft means also including a single flexible section, said shaft means at said flexible section having two portions of substantially rectangular cross-section having a width and a thickness, said width as measured perpendicular to said given plane substantially exceeding its thickness, said two portions being positioned apart from each other and along said shaft, and a single protuberance located between said two portions, said flexible section being positioned substantially adjacent said distal end, the thickness of said two portions being also substantially less than the thickness of all the remaining portions of said shaft means; said shaft means at said flexible section being easily flexible along its length at said two portions in said given plane of its curvature but being substantially stiff in a direction perpendicular to said given plane because of the greater width of its cross-section at said two portions.

Claim 8

In combination, a tracheostomy tube including a curved cannula lying substantially within a given plane and formed with a non-constant radius, and an obturator means insertable into said cannula for guiding intubation of said tracheostomy tube, said obturator means comprising: a single piece member formed of a resilient and flexible material and curvable upon insertion within said cannula with a radius lying within said given plane, said member having a proximal and a distal end and shaft means extending therebetween, said shaft means including at least one substantially rigid portion over a substantial portion of its length being dimensioned such as to impart sufficient rigidity both in a direction substantially perpendicular and also substantially parallel to said given plane, said shaft means also including a single flexible section, said shaft means at said flexible section having two portions of substantially rectangular cross-section having a width and a thickness, said width as measured perpendicular to said given plane substantially exceeding its thickness, said two portions being positioned apart from each other and along said shaft, and a single protuberance located between said two portions, said flexible section being positioned substantially adjacent said distal end, the thickness of said two portions being also substantially less than the thickness of all the remaining portions of said shaft means; said shaft means at said flexible section being easily flexible along its length at said two portions in said given plane of its curvature but being substantially stiff in a direction perpendicular to said given plane because of the greater width of its cross-section at said two portions.