A cuff assembly for an airway tube includes an outer bladder and an inner cuff. The inner cuff is positioned adjacent to the airway tube, and the outer bladder is positioned adjacent to the inner cuff. The outer bladder is made with a less elastic material and operates at a higher relative pressure. The inner cuff is made with a more elastic or hyper-elastic material and operates at a lower relative pressure. A pressure controller independently adjusts the pressure within the inner cuff and the outer bladder. A secretion collection receptacle is formed by the cuff assembly and is evacuated via a suction catheter or channel.

A surgical system includes an endotracheal system and intubation system. The intubation system includes an introducer rod and intubation instrument. The intubation instrument includes: an esophageal tube, intubation tube, endoscopic camera tube, and balloon located distally beyond a distal end of the intubation tube. The introducer rod is insertable through the intubation tube to a position where an endoscopic camera in the endoscopic camera tube has a line of sight to a distal end of the introducer rod. The balloon is movable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition in which the balloon fully occludes the esophageal opening to block advancement of the introducer rod into the esophagus and urge the introducer rod into the trachea. The intubation tube is removable from the patient leaving behind the introducer rod, such that the introducer rod is guides an endotracheal tube of the endotracheal system into the patient's trachea.

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 method for cleaning the lens of a visualization device integrated into a ventilation tube positioned inside a patient, wherein the tube comprises a ventilation lumen and the lens is positioned proximal to the distal end of the ventilation lumen, the method comprising providing a suction catheter comprising a brush at its distal end; positioning the catheter inside the ventilation lumen such that the brush protrudes from the distal end of the ventilation lumen; and manipulating the catheter at its proximal end to cause the brush to make contact with the lens in order to clean the lens.

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.

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 device and method that reduces impingement upon fragile airway structures and improves the performance and safety associated with endotracheal devices and related intubation procedures. The endotracheal device includes a lumen such that one end of the lumen includes an anterior beak that includes a distal tip of the anterior beak and a posterior beak having a distal tip of the posterior beak.

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.

A device (1) for the tracheal intubation of and the administration of ventilation to a patient for rapid volume-compensating sealing of the trachea, wherein the sealing surfaces of a preferably fully and residually formed balloon-like film body (4) abut the wall of the trachea with a sealing pressure of the balloon (4) which is as constant as possible and follow the thoracic pressure acting on the balloon with the least possible time latency with regard to corresponding fluctuations of the balloon inflation pressure, and the trachea is kept sealed under such dynamic fluctuations or respiration synchronously alternating fluctuations of the balloon inflation pressure. This is enabled by a defined large lumen (7, 5) supply of the balloon inflation medium, the supplying lumen being measured in such a way that a sealing pressure-maintaining extracorporeal volume compensation that works in a time synchronous manner can be achieved in the sealing balloon element.