An irrigating intraluminal suction inner cannula system for a tracheostomy tube may be a suction-powered system that may be used for suction alone or a combination of rinse and intraluminal suction for tracheostomy tubes in place of conventional catheter-based intraluminal suction. An inner cannula includes chambers, or regions, and holes that facilitate intraluminal suction and cleaning at multiple locations within the tracheostomy tube. It may be applied/actuated by a patient, healthcare worker, caretaker, or via an electronic system either on-demand or on regular or triggered intervals, in either inpatient/hospital or outpatient/ambulatory care setting.

A tracheostomy tube assembly includes an outer tracheostomy tube (1) and a removable inner cannula (3). The inner cannula (3) is made by helically winding PTFE tape (40) on a mandrel (42) and applying a reinforcing strip (34) of PTFE or other materials longitudinally along the outside of the wound tape. The tape and strip are then heated to sinter and bond them together and convert the PTFE to ePTFE and form an inner layer. An outer layer (46) is extruded along the outside of the inner layer. The shaft (30) is cut between the ends of adjacent reinforcing strips (34) to leave a short unreinforced portion (35) at the patient end (32) of each shaft.

A bi-lateral endobronchial suctioning device includes actuating and articulating components that allow a provider to accurately suction both right and left bronchi as well as the trachea in a controlled and safe manner. A control mechanism is used to manipulate the actuating components in tubes forming a suction catheter to flex the tip of the bi-lateral endobronchial suctioning device to the left and to the right when the device is inserted through an endotracheal tube or other similar device, to enable directional control of a catheter for suctioning the lungs or trachea. The device further includes a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) port allowing sterile saline or other liquids or fluids to travel down the catheter lumen to assist with breaking up thick secretions which collect in the airways.

A fenestrated tracheostomy tube has a shaft (1) made of a silicone or other soft material. The fenestrated region (10) located in the trachea (20) has two rows of several openings (11) along the center line of the tube. The openings (12) are formed in a separate plate (12) of a stiffer material bonded or moulded in an aperture (13) in the shaft (1) of the tube to give the shaft extra stiffness in this region.

A tracheal tube assembly includes an outer cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway and an inner cannula configured to be disposed inside the outer cannula. The tracheal tube assembly further includes a flange member secured about the outer cannula, and an outer cannula connector coupled to a proximal end of the outer cannula. The inner cannula includes a compressible proximal end region that is compressed while secured inside the outer cannula connector.

A method and apparatus for accomplishing placement and removal of an inner cannula with in an outer cannula endotracheal or other tracheal tube circuit for a critically ill patient without having to disconnect the patient from a respirator machine. An inner cannula is positioned in the outer cannula of an endotracheal or other tracheal tube through a wall of the respirator tubing set in a manner that maintains the integrity of the respiration system.

A tracheostomy tube assembly is proposed. The assembly may include an outer cannula configured to be positioned in an airway. The assembly may also include an outer cannula connector coupled to a proximal end of the outer cannula, the outer cannula connector including a proximal region. The proximal region of the outer cannula connector may include a cutout extending in a direction of a length of the outer cannula connector. The assembly may further include an inner cannula configured to be disposed inside the outer cannula. A proximal region of the inner cannula may include a grip protrusion configured to be gripped by a finger of a user. The grip protrusion may be accommodated at least partially in and exposed by the cutout of the outer cannula connector when the inner cannula is inserted into the outer cannula via the outer cannula connector.

The inner cannula (3) of a tracheostomy tube includes a shaft (30) extruded of an ePTFE material. The axial strength of the shaft is increased by heating elongate portions (34 and 35) along the shaft such as by contact with a heated roller (205). The heating is sufficient to alter the structure of the material and make the heated portions (34 and 35) more rigid than the remainder of the shaft.

Methods and systems are provided for intra-airway breath sensors where intra-airway breath sensors are not located within a ventilation gas delivery circuit, but are exposed to spontaneous respiration airflow from a patient. Furthermore, methods and systems of the present invention may be used to protect an intra-airway breath sensor from contacting tissue or accumulating debris that may impair abilities of the intra-airway breath sensors.

Medical devices and methods of treatment are described herein. More particularly, medical devices and methods for providing access to a bodily passage during dilation are described herein. An exemplary medical device comprises an elongate member and a balloon. The elongate member is moveable between a first, non-expanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration.