摘要:
A needle assembly has a needle having an echogenic feature proximate to its distal sharp tip mounted to an echogenic cannula, with the echogenic tip of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the cannula. The echogenic tip provides guidance for the movement of the needle assembly under ultrasound observation so that the needle assembly may be more readily maneuvered inside a body. Once correctly positioned, the needle is removed and further confirmation may be made under ultrasound observation that the cannula has been correctly positioned inside the body. The echogenic feature of the needle may be at least one spiral groove that is tilted at an angle relative to the tip of the needle to effect a substantially 180° reflection of the ultrasound. An alternative echogenic feature to improve reflected echogeneity has crisscrossing grooves each having a predetermined pitch density formed at a neutral position on the needle.
摘要:
An introducer for a tracheostomy tube is formed of several articulated sections (24) that can be changed from a relatively flexible state to a more rigid state by tightening a tension member extending along the introducer using an actuator at its machine end. In its flexible state the introducer can be inserted into and removed from the tube. The introducer is put in its more rigid state for use in inserting the tube into a tracheostomy. Alternatively or additionally the introducer could have several gripping rings on its outside towards its patient end and two elongate members that can be slid relative to one another to enlarge the patient end so that the gripping rings engage and grip the inside of the tube, thereby enabling the introducer to pull the tube through the tracheostomy from its patient end.
摘要:
A needle assembly has a needle having an echogenic feature proximate to its distal sharp tip mounted to an echogenic cannula, with the echogenic tip of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the cannula. The echogenic tip provides guidance for the movement of the needle assembly under ultrasound observation so that the needle assembly may be more readily maneuvered inside a body. Once correctly positioned, the needle is removed and further confirmation may be made under ultrasound observation that the cannula has been correctly positioned inside the body. The echogenic feature of the needle may be at least one spiral groove that is tilted at an angle relative to the tip of the needle to effect a substantially 180° reflection of the ultrasound. An alternative echogenic feature to improve reflected echogeneity has crisscrossing grooves each having a predetermined pitch density formed at a neutral position on the needle.
摘要:
An inner cannula (20) for a tracheostomy tube is made by extruding tubing (41) and cutting into separate lengths or preforms (42). Each preform (42) is placed in a mould (50, 51, 52) and blow moulded to expand the preform into contact with an inner surface (53, 54) of the mould which is shaped to produce a pattern on the outside of the preform of two intersecting diagonal corrugations (211, 212) that act to strengthen the blow moulded preform against lateral forces. The inner surface of the mould may also be textured so that the blow moulded preform is given a texture (213) to reduce friction with the outer tube (1).
摘要:
A tracheostomy tube (1) is made from a first component (20) of a relatively hard plastics material that is overmoul - ded with a second component (29) of a softer plastics material (26). The first component (20) provides a machine end coupling (6) and a helical reinforcement member (23, 23′) extending along the region (3) that will, in use, extend through the tracheal tissue. The second component (29) extends along the reinforcement member (23, 23′) and beyond it to form the patient end (2) of the tube (1).
摘要:
A video viewing device 10, such as for use in inserting medical tubes 3, has an outer bendable sleeve 80 and an inner assembly comprising an electrical assembly 20 of a camera 11, cable 13 and connector 14 secured in a channel-shape support member 40. The inner assembly 20, 40 is threaded along the outer sleeve 80 so that the camera 11 is positioned at one end 12 and the connector 14 at its opposite end. The support member 40 is preferably made of two lengths 40A and 40B of different stiffness joined end to end with an angled butt join 42, the length towards the patient end 12 being more flexible so that the rear end of the viewing device 10 is stiffer than its patient end. An angled Coudé tip 121 is formed subsequently, the correct orientation of the camera 11 relative to the angle of the tip being achieved by viewing the image of a target 91, rotating the viewing device 10 until the output is at the desired orientation, then placing the device in an angled jig 93 and subjecting it to heat treatment to set the angle of the inclined tip.
摘要:
A needle assembly comprises a metal needle (1) with a hub (13) and a marker in the form of a bubble-filled plastics rod (2) inserted within the needle. The rod (2) makes the assembly more visible under ultrasound observation when confirming correct placement of the needle (1) and is subsequently removed when correct placement has been confirmed. A fluid (3) is placed between the outside of the rod (2) and the inside of the needle (1) to improve acoustic coupling between the needle and the rod. Alternatively, a rod (72) is stretched during insertion and allowed to expand into close contact with the inside of the needle after insertion.
摘要:
A paediatric tracheostomy tube is provided in two parts. One part is a patient end portion (13) having a silicone shaft (10) arranged to locate in the trachea. The machine end is formed with a mounting flange (20) adapted to lie against the neck and has a low profile coupling (21) on its machine side. The other part is a machine end portion (23) having a flexible, corrugated shaft (10′) of polypropylene with a low profile coupling (26) at its patient end adapted to engage the coupling (21) on the flange as a twist fit. The machine end of the machine end portion (23) has a tapered male coupling (25) adapted to fit with a female coupling on a breathing tube, the male coupling having a larger profile than the coupling (26) on the patient end of the machine end portion (23) and the coupling (21) on the flange.
摘要:
A tracheostomy tube assembly includes an outer tube (1) and an inner cannula (2) removably inserted in the outer tube. The connector (15) on the machine end of the outer tube is rotatable through about a quarter turn and has a screw thread (30) on its inner surface. The hub (33) on the machine end of the inner cannula (2) is also formed with a screw thread (35) arranged to engage with the screw thread (30) in the connector. The inner cannula (2) is pulled into the outer tube (1), or is pushed outwardly of the tube, by rotating the connector.
摘要:
A tracheal tube has a high-volume/low-pressure sealing cuff (10, 201, 310, 510, 610, 710, 810) with an outer surface provided with surface formations (211, 311, 511, 611, 711, 811) adapted to reduce the flow of secretions past the cuff. The formations could be in the form of an array of dimples (211) or a pattern of linear ridges or channels (611 or 711). Alternatively, the surface formations, could be a pattern of intersecting linear projections (311, 312, 313) or grooves (511). Instead the surface formations could be provided by a rough texture (811) on the outer wall surface.