A tracheostomy tube (1) has a shaft (10, 10) including a helical reinforcing wire (30) overmoulded by a plastics material, such as of silicone. The wire has an indented path (31) traversing its turns in which is received a small-bore tube (32) so that this does not project above the surface of the shaft, or only forms a small projection. The small-bore tube (32) acts as an inflation line and opens at its patient end (33) within a sealing cuff (13). The machine end of the tube (32) is terminated by a combined inflation indicator and connector (36).

The present application relates to endotracheal tubes and to systems and methods for detecting airway edema and evaluating breathing with an endotracheal tube. An example endotracheal tube includes a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a linker portion. The linker potion couples the distal portion and the proximal portion. The linker portion includes at least two struts. The struts extend between the distal portion and the proximal portion. Also, there is at least one opening defined between and along the length of the struts. The linker portion is configured to contact the vocal cords of the subject when in use.

The present invention relates generally to medical devices, methods, and kits. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved endotracheal tubes or patient ventilation tubes which prevent the leakage of proximal secretions to the distal airways.

An intubation system includes: a base configured to be secured relative to a subject; a guide movably coupled to the base to allow the guide to move relative to the base; and a connector configured to be connected to a distal end of the guide and to detachably connect to an endotracheal tube such that as the guide is moved relative to the base toward the subject, the endotracheal tube is inserted into the subject.

An endotracheal tube assembly with a plurality of curved portions is provided. A first curved portion in the endotracheal tube assembly is located adjacent to an insertion end thereof with a curvature that matches the curvature of a video laryngoscope (e.g., Glidescope®). A second curved portion in the endotracheal tube assembly is located in a central portion of the endotracheal tube assembly. The curvature of the first curved portion is greater than the curvature of the second curved portion. The first curved portion is bent at an angle of between about 120° and about 150° with respect to a straight portion of the endotracheal tube assembly. The second curved portion is bent at an angle of between about 30° and about 60° with respect to the straight portion of the endotracheal tube assembly.

Devices, systems, and methods for creating a percutaneous tracheostomy are described herein. In some embodiments, a system can include an inflation assembly and a guidewire assembly. The inflation assembly can include an elongated tube, an inflatable member, and a magnetic member. The elongated tube can have a first end, a second end, and can define a lumen. The inflatable member can be coupled to the first end of the elongated tube and can be fluidically coupled to the lumen such that the inflatable member can receive fluid via the lumen. The magnetic member can be coupled to the first end of the elongated tube. The first end of a guidewire of the guidewire assembly can include a coupling member, the coupling member configured to couple to the inflatable member such that translation of the elongated tube translates the guidewire assembly.

A pulmonary secretion clearing airway structure and related airway management system is disclosed that has a double lumen portion which each lumen of the double lumen portion operably secured to an airway management system so that inspiratory fluid (air/oxygen mixtures, with or without added water vapor) is delivered to the distal end of the ventilation catheter through one of the two lumens and expired inspiratory fluid, pulmonary secretions, and pulmonary fluids are removed from the patient through the other lumen. The expiratory fluid pathway preferably includes a secretion collection system for removing the pulmonary secretions and the like from the pathway, thereby improving operation and safety of the system. The airway structure can be a ventilation catheter or a supraglottic airway system such as laryngeal mask and the like.

The disclosure relates to an airway maintenance device, such as an endotracheal tube, tracheostomy tube, or supraglottic airway device, and in particular to an airway maintenance device having a sensor for measuring capillary blood flow and/or pressure. The device includes an airway maintenance device with an airway lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, a distal end portion incorporating an optical sensor configured to measure capillary blood flow in tissue surrounding the distal end when in position within a patient's airway. The optical sensor may include a portion of an optical fibre extending to the distal end portion along the lumen.

A stimulation probe device including a first electrode, a stimulation module, a control module and a physical layer module. The stimulation module is configured to (i) wirelessly receive a payload signal from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device, and (ii) supply a voltage or an amount of current to the first electrode to stimulate a nerve or a muscle in a patient. The control module is configured to generate a parameter signal indicating the voltage or the amount of current supplied to the electrode. The physical layer module is configured to (i) upconvert the parameter signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the stimulation probe to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

A system to induce electrical muscle relaxation for airway management. The illustrative system includes a power control system targeted to relax muscles associated with an airway channel, and more particularly, to assist in human intubation by placement of an endotracheal tube within the trachea of a patient, mask ventilation, and/or resolution of laryngospasm. The relaxation of the muscles is achieved through external stimulation of nerves through the skin by an output electrical current pattern applied by the power control system. The illustrative system is configured to independently regulate an output current frequency and an output current amplitude of the output electrical current pattern.