TRACHEAL VENTILATION DEVICE HAVING OPTIMIZED CUFF TUBE

Abstract

Reduction to the risk that artifacts occur in the cuff pressure measurement owing to accumulations of water in the cuff is by a tracheal ventilation device, including a cannula tube and an inflatable sleeve (cuff) arranged around the cannula tube. The sleeve is in fluid contact with a filling tube. In certain embodiments, the inner surface of the filling tube is formed by a solid hydrophilic layer. Further disclosed is a method that improves the pressure measurement in the sleeve of a conventional tracheal ventilation device.

Claims

1. A tracheal ventilation device comprising: a cannula tube; a filling hose; and an inflatable sleeve disposed around the cannula tube, wherein the sleeve is in fluid contact with the filling hose, and wherein the inner surface of the filling hose is formed by a solid hydrophilic layer.

2. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic layer consists of a hydrophilic layer material which, measured using the sessile drop method and calculated using Young’s equation with distilled water at 20° C., forms a contact angle θ < 80°.

3. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic layer covers the inner surface of an outer filling hose layer in a planar manner and is firmly connected to said surface.

4. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic layer is made of a hydrophilic polymer material which is selected from hydrophilic poly(lactams), polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl ethers, maleic anhydride-based copolymers, polyesters, vinylamines, polyethylenimines, polyethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides, poly(carboxylic acids), polyamides, polyanhydrides, polyphosphazenes, polypeptides, polysaccharides, polyesters, oligonucleotides, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, polylactides, polyglycolides and polycaprolactones.

5. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic layer is made of a hydrophilic polymer material which is selected from hydrophilic homo- and copolymers of acrylic acid, salts of homo- and copolymers of methacrylic acid, salts of homo-and copolymers of maleic acid, salts of homo- and copolymers of fumaric acid, salts of homo-and copolymers of monomers comprising sulphonic acid groups, homo- and copolymers of monomers comprising quaternary ammonium salts and mixtures and/or derivatives thereof.

6. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic layer is made of a water-swellable material.

7. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the dry state, the hydrophilic layer has a layer thickness in the range from 0.1 to 5 .Math.m.

8. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the water-swollen state, the hydrophilic layer has a layer thickness in the range from 10 to 200 .Math.m.

9. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the dry state, the filling hose has an inner diameter of less than 1.0 mm.

10. The tracheal ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein, in the water-swollen state, the filling hose has an inner diameter of more than 0.3 mm.

11. A method for improving the pressure measurement in the sleeve of a tracheal ventilation device via a filling hose, wherein the tracheal ventilation device comprises a cannula tube and an inflatable sleeve disposed around the cannula tube, wherein the sleeve is in fluid contact with a filling hose, the method comprising: applying a hydrophilic layer to the inner wall of the filling hose.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the hydrophilic layer is applied to the inner wall of the filling hose directly during production of the tracheal ventilation device or not until a later time after production of the tracheal ventilation device and prior to its use.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the hydrophilic layer is applied by introducing a hydrophilic coating material in a flowable form into the lumen of the filling hose.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the coating material is introduced into the filling hose in liquid form, in dissolved form, in suspended form or in powder form.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the coating material introduced into the filling hose is converted into a solid coating on the inner wall of the outer hose layer by spontaneous curing, by drying, by using elevated temperature and/or by irradiation with light.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0053] Further advantages, features, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment and the associated figures, whereby the same reference signs refer to the same elements. The figures show:

[0054] FIG. 1: a tracheal ventilation device according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0055] FIG. 2: both a longitudinal section and a cross-section through the filling hose of the tracheal ventilation device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a tracheal ventilation device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The tracheal ventilation device 1 shown here is a tracheostomy cannula comprising a cannula tube 2 and a sleeve (cuff) 3 that is tightly connected to the outside of the cannula tube 2. The cuff 3 is connected to a control balloon 5 in fluid communication via a filling hose 4. The cuff 3 can be filled with a gas via the filling hose 4 or the cuff pressure can be regulated via the filling valve 9 on the control balloon 5.

[0057] As schematically shown in FIG. 2, which shows an enlarged longitudinal section through the filling hose 4 on the left side and an enlarged cross-section through the filling hose 4 on the right side, the inner surface of the filling hose 4 is formed by a hydrophilic layer 7 provided on the inner side of the outer hose layer 6 made of conventional hose material. The hydrophilic layer 7 rests on the inner side of the outer hose layer 6 and is firmly, i.e., insolubly, connected to it. To the inside, the surface of the hydrophilic layer 7 defines the hose lumen 8.

[0058] For the purpose of the original disclosure, it should be noted that all of the features as they become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the claims, even if they have been specifically described only in connection with specific other features, can be combined both individually and in any combination with other features or groups of features disclosed here, insofar as this has not been expressly excluded or technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or pointless. A comprehensive, explicit presentation of all conceivable combinations of features is omitted here solely for the sake of brevity and legibility of the description.

[0059] Although the invention has been presented and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, this representation and description is merely an example and is not intended to limit the scope of protection as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0060] Modifications of the disclosed embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the drawings, the description and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprise” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not preclude their combination. Reference signs in the claims are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0061] 1 Tracheal ventilation device [0062] 2 Cannula tube [0063] 3 Sleeve (cuff) [0064] 4 Filling hose [0065] 5 Control balloon [0066] 6 Outer hose layer [0067] 7 Hydrophilic layer [0068] 8 Hose lumen [0069] 9 Filling valve