Methods and apparatus for detection of tissue damage in patients using a medical device for an extended period of time are disclosed.

A tracheal tube (e.g., an endotracheal tube) includes an inserting cannula (that may be able to swivel), and wherein the inserting cannula is connected to an elbow adaptor through a Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) connection. The BNC connection may provide more secure connection of the corresponding components and may be able to withstand greater amounts of force exerted on them without becoming detached from each other. The elbow adapter may further be coupled to a pressure release valve that will alleviate pressure buildup within the tracheal tube.

A heat and moisture exchanger device comprising a housing containing a microcurrent-generating filter capable of generating a low level microcurrent. A microcurrent-generating filter can reduce the number of living or active microbes.

A customized tracheocutaneous fistula and tracheostomy plug having a face plate and a body customized to the anatomy of a patient is disclosed. The face plate has a face plate diameter, and the body has a first end connected to the face plate and a second end, a shoulder connected at the second end, and a tapered tip extending from the shoulder. The body has a body length extending from the first end to the second end and a shoulder diameter. The face plate diameter and the shoulder diameter are each greater than a measured minimum stoma diameter, and the body length is equal or substantially equal to a measured stoma length. Also, a mold-based method and a direct method of manufacturing the plug.

A tracheostomy tube has a machine end coupling (2) of a relatively hard plastics and formed with a retaining ring structure formation (23) at its patient end. This is joined with a tubular shaft (1) of a softer plastics, such as silicone, to form a subassembly (7) y a moulded interconnection of the machine end of the shaft about the retaining formation (23). An enlarged boss (12) at the rear end of the shaft (1) forms a forwardly facing wall (15). The tube also includes a moulded neck flange (5) of a relatively soft plastics with a central collar (50) having an internal, rearwardly facing wall (59). The boss (12) on the subassembly (7) is bonded into the collar (5) with the wall (15) on the boss abutting the wall (59) on the flange (5).

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).

A tracheostomy tube (1) has a movable and lockable flange (2) by which the tube can be supported about the neck of a patient. The flange has a rotatable locking ring (34), which is threaded with a housing (26) fixed with the wings (22 and 23) of the flange. A resilient sleeve (50) is located in a recess (44) of the locking ring between a compression surface (45) on the locking ring at one end and the floor (46) of the housing at the opposite end. When the locking ring (34) is twisted it is moved forwardly along the housing (26), thereby compressing the resilient sleeve (50) axially. The axial compression causes the sleeve (50) to expand radially against the outside of the tube (1) and the inside of the housing (26), thereby locking the flange (2) in position.

The present invention is directed to an improved cannula systems for use with tracheostomies and endotracheal tubes. The presently disclosed cannula system permits efficient delivery of an external substance or compound into the respiratory system of a patient. A method of use of the cannula system is also disclosed herein.

Systems and devices for monitoring, detecting, and removing fluid build-up found at various regions along a tracheal tube of an intubated patient. The fluid management system includes pressure and flow sensors for detecting whether there is fluid at the various regions along the tracheal tube, and a means for drawing out the fluid into collection jars. The system also includes lavage features that is able to rinse different the various regions along a tracheal tube. Also disclosed are respiration insertion devices that either couple to existing tracheal tubes or incorporate tracheal tubing, where the respiration insertion body has channels and ports that contact various regions along the tracheal tube. The combination of the fluid management system and the respiration insertion devices effectively monitor and remove fluid at various locations along a tracheal tube of an intubated patient.

A temporary tube placement system includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a camera supported by the tube at the distal end, a plurality of fiber optic filaments through which light from a light source travels from the proximal end to the distal end, a screen for displaying images from the camera, and a power source electrically attached to the camera and the light source. The enteral tube includes a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion and a lumen increasing in cross section from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion along at least a portion of the tube.