US5775322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tracheal tube and methods related thereto
Assignee: Lucent Medical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-27
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2016-06-27
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient. The tracheal tube includes a tube portion having a distal end, and a signal source associated with the tube portion at a predefined distance from its distal end. The tracheal tube is inserted into the trachea such that the signal source is immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament. Methods related to confirming proper placement of the tracheal tube by detecting the signal source immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament are also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred E. Silverstein
- 👤 Robert N. Golden
- 👤 Christopher P. Somogyi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0488; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, comprising a tube portion having a distal end and a permanent magnet associated with the tube portion, wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a distance from the distal end such that, when the tube portion is inserted into the trachea of the patient and the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, the distal end is positioned within the trachea at a proper depth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, comprising a tube portion having a distal end and a permanent magnet associated with the tube portion, wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a distance from the distal end such that, when the tube portion is inserted into the trachea of the patient and the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, the distal end is positioned within the trachea at a proper depth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet is permanently affixed to the tube portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet is removably affixed to the tube portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion such that its magnetic dipole is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tracheal tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion such that its magnetic dipole is parallel to a transverse axis of the tracheal tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the tube portion has an anterior side and a posterior side, and wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the anterior side of the tube portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the tube portion has an internal surface and the permanent magnet is associated with the internal surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for confirming proper placement of a tracheal tube within the trachea of a patient, comprising inserting into the trachea a tracheal tube having a tube portion and a permanent magnet associated therewith, wherein the tube portion has a distal end and the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a fixed distance from the distal end such that, when the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, the distal end is positioned to permit ventilation of both lungs; positioning the tracheal tube such that the permanent magnet is immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, and detecting the permanent magnet immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for confirming proper placement of a tracheal tube within the trachea of a patient, comprising inserting into the trachea a tracheal tube having a tube portion and a permanent magnet associated therewith, wherein the tube portion has a distal end and the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a fixed distance from the distal end such that, when the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, the distal end is positioned to permit ventilation of both lungs; positioning the tracheal tube such that the permanent magnet is immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, and detecting the permanent magnet immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the permanent magnet is permanently affixed to the tracheal tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the permanent magnet is removably affixed to the tracheal tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, after the step of detecting, the permanent magnet is removed from association with the tracheal tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the detecting step detects the orientation of the magnet dipole of the permanent magnet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, comprising a tube portion having a distal end and a permanent magnet associated with the tube portion, wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a distance from the distal end such that, when the tube is inserted into the trachea of a patient and the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, the distal end of the tracheal tube is positioned within the trachea at a proper depth, and wherein the tube portion has an internal surface and the permanent magnet is rotatably affixed to the internal surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, comprising a tube portion having a distal end and a permanent magnet associated with the tube portion, wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a distance from the distal end such that, when the tube is inserted into the trachea of a patient and the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid ligament, the distal end of the tracheal tube is positioned within the trachea at a proper depth, and wherein the tube portion has an internal surface and the permanent magnet is rotatably affixed to the internal surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tracheal tube of claim 13 wherein the magnet dipole of the permanent magnet rotates about an axis in response to air passing through the tracheal tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
107 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, comprising a tube portion having a distal end and a permanent magnet associated with the tube portion, wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a distance from the distal end such that, when the tube is inserted into the trachea of a patient and the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid membrane, the distal end of the tracheal tube is positioned within the trachea at a proper depth, and wherein the tube portion has an internal surface and the permanent magnet is flexibly affixed to the internal surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
107 words
A tracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, comprising a tube portion having a distal end and a permanent magnet associated with the tube portion, wherein the permanent magnet is associated with the tube portion at a distance from the distal end such that, when the tube is inserted into the trachea of a patient and the permanent magnet is positioned immediately posterior to the patient's cricothyroid membrane, the distal end of the tracheal tube is positioned within the trachea at a proper depth, and wherein the tube portion has an internal surface and the permanent magnet is flexibly affixed to the internal surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the magnetic dipole of the permanent magnet is displaced in response to air passing through the tracheal tube.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |