Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for maintaining a tracheal stoma in a patient, the stoma extending through a wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the patient's neck, the apparatus comprising: a) a cannula having first and second opposite end portions with first and second coterminous openings therein, the cannula being insertable into the stoma such that the first end portion protrudes into the trachea and the second end portion protrudes from the neck; b) retaining means for retaining the cannula in the stoma, the retaining means being external to the first and second coterminous openings to maintain the first and second coterminous openings unobstructed, the retaining means including an expandable and collapsible member secured the first end portion and capable of expandable to interfere with the anterior tracheal wall to prevent the first end portion from being withdrawn from the stoma while presenting a negligible effect to airflow in the trachea and collapsible to prevent interference of the member with the anterior tracheal wall to permit the first end portion to be withdrawn from the stoma; and c) squeezing means on the cannula for squeezing the wall, defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the neck, between the expandable member and the second end portion to hold the cannula securely in the stoma.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
An apparatus for maintaining a tracheal stoma in a patient, the stoma extending through a wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the patient's neck, the apparatus comprising: a) a cannula having first and second opposite end portions with first and second coterminous openings therein, the cannula being insertable into the stoma such that the first end portion protrudes into the trachea and the second end portion protrudes from the neck; b) retaining means for retaining the cannula in the stoma, the retaining means being external to the first and second coterminous openings to maintain the first and second coterminous openings unobstructed, the retaining means including an expandable and collapsible member secured the first end portion and capable of expandable to interfere with the anterior tracheal wall to prevent the first end portion from being withdrawn from the stoma while presenting a negligible effect to airflow in the trachea and collapsible to prevent interference of the member with the anterior tracheal wall to permit the first end portion to be withdrawn from the stoma; and c) squeezing means on the cannula for squeezing the wall, defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the neck, between the expandable member and the second end portion to hold the cannula securely in the stoma.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retaining means is permanently connected to the cannula.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expandable member expands generally radially outwardly from the cannula.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expandable and collapsible member has a relatively smooth surface for engaging the anterior tracheal wall without damage thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expandable and collapsible member includes a resilient membrane secured to the first end portion, the resilient membrane being inflatable with fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the membrane forms an annular ring about the first end portion upon inflation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further including a fluid conduit having a first end portion in communication with the expandable and collapsible member and a second end portion operable to receive fluid for inflating the expandable and collapsible member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cannula has an outer surface, the outer surface having a groove formed longitudinally therein, the groove extending between the first and second end portions, the fluid conduit being located in the groove.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expandable and collapsible member has a first surface for contacting the anterior tracheal wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the squeezing means includes a squeezing member having a second surface disposed oppositely to the first surface, the wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the outer surface of the neck being squeezed between the first and second surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second surface of the squeezing member has a continuous range of movement relative to the first end portion to permit the wall to be squeezed between the first and second surfaces at any desired force within a range of forces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second end portion has a threaded portion, the squeezing means includes a nut engageable with the threaded end portion and wherein the squeezing member includes a washer urged toward the accessible side of the wall by the nut.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a removable plug operable to cover the second coterminous opening to prevent air from entering or escaping from the cannula.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of maintaining a tracheal stoma in a patient, the stoma extending through a wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the patient's neck, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a first end portion of a cannula into a tracheal stoma such that the first end portion protrudes into the trachea and such that a second end portion of the conduit protrudes from the neck of the patient; b) expanding an expandable and collapsible member secured to the first end portion, while maintaining first and second coterminous openings of the cannula unobstructed such that said expandable member interferes with the anterior tracheal wall to prevent the first end portion from being withdrawn from the tracheal stoma from the neck, while presenting a negligible effect to airflow in the trachea; and c) squeezing the wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the neck, between the expandable member and the second end portion to hold the cannula securely in the tracheal stoma.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of maintaining a tracheal stoma in a patient, the stoma extending through a wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the patient's neck, the method comprising the steps of: a) inserting a first end portion of a cannula into a tracheal stoma such that the first end portion protrudes into the trachea and such that a second end portion of the conduit protrudes from the neck of the patient; b) expanding an expandable and collapsible member secured to the first end portion, while maintaining first and second coterminous openings of the cannula unobstructed such that said expandable member interferes with the anterior tracheal wall to prevent the first end portion from being withdrawn from the tracheal stoma from the neck, while presenting a negligible effect to airflow in the trachea; and c) squeezing the wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the neck, between the expandable member and the second end portion to hold the cannula securely in the tracheal stoma.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 further including the step of expanding the expandable and collapsible member radially outwardly from the cannula.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 further including the step of engaging the anterior tracheal wall with a relatively smooth surface to prevent damage thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 further including the step of inflating the expandable and collapsible member with fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 further including the step of forcing fluid into an end portion of a fluid conduit in communication with the expandable and collapsible member to inflate the expandable and collapsible member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 further including the step of inflating the expandable and collapsible member to form an annular ring about the first end portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 further including the steps of contacting the anterior tracheal wall with a first surface on the expandable and collapsible member and squeezing the wall defined by the anterior tracheal wall and the patient's neck between the first surface and a second surface disposed oppositely to the first surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 further including the step of urging a washer on which the second surface is disposed, toward the first surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 further including the step of covering the second coterminous opening to prevent air from entering the cannula.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 further including the step of collapsing the expandable and collapsible member to permit the first end portion to be withdrawn from the tracheal stoma.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 further including the step of withdrawing the cannula from the tracheal stoma.