Laser resistant ventilating device

Claim 2

A surgical ventilation device which is resistant to laser-caused dysfunction during laser surgery, comprising a device defining a continuous gas passageway for passage of ventilation gases during surgery, the device further comprising: (a) a distal end for insertion into a patient's airway, the distal end defining a portion of said continuous gas passageway; (b) a proximal end for connecting the continuous gas passageway to a source of gas; (c) an airtight flexible metal tube connecting the distal end and the proximal end of the device, the metal tube being resistant to damage by a surgical laser and having a matte outer surface for dispersing unfocused light when a surgical laser beam is directed against said outer surface, the metal tube defining a substantial portion of said continuous gas passageway; (d) a lower liquid-inflatable, sealing cuff positioned to make sealing contact with the patient's trachea so as to prevent leakage of gas between the lower cuff and the trachea, and an upper liquid-inflatable barrier cuff for contacting the patient's trachea, the lower and upper cuffs connected to and longitudinally disposed along the ventilation device at approximately the distal end of the device, the trachea-sealing lower cuff being disposed between the upper cuff and the distal end with the barrier cuff positioned to shield the sealing cuff from damage by laser energy directed toward the sealing cuff; (e) means for inflating the lower cuff with liquid to bring the lower cuff into sealing contact with a patient's airway to prevent leakage of gas between the lower cuff and the airway; and (f) means for inflating the upper cuff with liquid for bringing the upper cuff into contact with said airway to thereby shield the lower cuff from damage caused by laser energy directed toward the lower cuff.

Claim 3

The ventilation device of claim 1 including a lower polymeric tubing connected to one end of said metal tube, on an outer surface of which tubing said lower and upper cuffs are mounted, the means for inflating the lower cuff including a first inflation lumen defined by said lower polymeric tubing, the first inflation lumen being in communication with the lower cuff and connectable with a source of liquid for inflation of the lower cuff, the lower polymeric tubing having a proximal end connected to a distal end of the metal tube, the polymeric tube having a distal end which is the distal end of the ventilating device and defining a portion of said continuous gas passageway; and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second inflation lumen defined by said lower polymeric tubing, the second inflation lumen being in communication with the upper cuff and connectable with a source of liquid for inflation of the upper cuff.

Claim 4

The ventilation device of claim 1 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage, the first conduit being in communication with the lower cuff and connectable with a source of liquid for inflating the lower cuff, and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage, the second conduit being in communication with the upper cuff and connectable with a source of liquid for inflating the upper cuff.

Claim 5

The ventilation device of claim 2 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage, the first conduit in communication with the first inflation lumen for connecting the first inflation lumen with said source of liquid; and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage, the second conduit in communication with the second inflation lumen for connecting the second inflation lumen with said source of liquid.

Claim 6

The ventilation device of claim 1 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first valve controlling inflation of said lower cuff, and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second valve controlling inflation of said upper cuff.

Claim 7

The ventilation device of claim 2 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first valve in communication with the first inflation lumen and connectable with said source of liquid for controlling inflation of said lower cuff; and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second valve in communication with the second inflation lumen and connectable with said source of liquid for controlling inflation of said upper cuff.

Claim 8

The ventilation device of claim 3 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first valve in communication with the first conduit and connectable with said source of liquid for controlling inflation of said lower cuff; and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second valve in communication with the second conduit and connectable with said source of liquid for controlling inflation of said upper cuff.

Claim 9

The ventilation device of claim 4 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first valve in communication with the first conduit and connectable with said source of liquid for controlling inflation of said lower cuff; and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second valve in communication with the second conduit and connectable with said source of liquid for controlling inflation of said upper cuff.

Claim 10

The ventilation device of claim 1 wherein the upper cuff is inflated with liquid to near atmospheric pressure.

Claim 11

The ventilation device of claim 1 wherein the metal tube is selected from the group consisting of helically convoluted metal hose, segmented flexible metal hose and corrugated bellows.

Claim 12

A surgical ventilation device which is resistant to laser-caused dysfunction during laser surgery, comprising a device defining a continuous gas passageway for passage of ventilation gases during surgery, the device further comprising: (a) a lower liquid-inflatable elastomeric sealing cuff and an upper liquid-inflatable barrier cuff, the lower and upper cuffs mounted on lower polymeric tubing approximate a distal end of the ventilation device, the lower cuff positioned for tracheal contact between the upper cuff and the distal end of the device, the lower polymeric tubing defining a portion of said continuous gas passageway, the distal end of the ventilation device for insertion into a patient's airway; (b) a flexible metal tube defining a substantial portion of said continuous gas passageway, the metal tube having an airtight wall portion connecting the lower polymeric tubing and a proximal end of the ventilation device which proximal end is connectable to a source of gas, the metal tube being resistant to damage by a surgical laser and having a matte outer surface for dispersing unfocused light when a surgical laser beam is directed against said outer surface; (c) means for inflating the lower cuff with aqueous liquid to bring the lower cuff into sealing contact with a patient's trachea to prevent leakage of gas between the lower cuff and the trachea, the lower cuff inflating means including a first inflation lumen in the lower polymeric tubing, the first inflation lumen being in communication with the lower cuff and connectable with a liquid source for inflation of the lower cuff; the lower cuff inflating means further including a first conduit in communication with the first inflation lumen for connecting the first inflation lumen with the liquid source, the first conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage; the lower cuff inflating means further including a first valve in communication with the first conduit for connecting the first conduit with the liquid source and for controlling inflation of the lower cuff; and (d) means for inflating the upper cuff with aqueous liquid for bringing the upper cuff into contact with said trachea to thereby shield the lower cuff from damage caused by laser energy directed toward the lower cuff, the upper cuff inflating means including a second inflation lumen in the lower polymeric tubing, the second inflation lumen being in communication with the upper cuff and connectable with a second liquid source for inflation of the upper cuff; the upper cuff inflating means further including a second conduit in communication with the second inflation lumen for connecting the second inflation lumen with the second liquid source, the second conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage; the upper cuff inflating means further including a second valve in communication with the second conduit for connecting the second conduit with the second liquid source and for controlling inflation of the upper cuff.

Claim 13

A surgical ventilation device which is resistant to laser-caused dysfunction during laser surgery, comprising a device defining a continuous gas passageway for passage of ventilation gases during surgery, the device further comprising: (a) a lower liquid-inflatable elastomeric sealing cuff and an upper liquid-inflatable barrier cuff, the lower and upper cuffs mounted on lower polymeric tubing approximate a distal end of the ventilation device, the lower cuff positioned for tracheal contact between the upper cuff and the distal end of the device, the lower polymeric tubing defining a portion of said continuous gas passageway, the distal end of the ventilation device for insertion into a patient's airway; (b) a flexible metal tube defining a substantial portion of said continuous gas passageway, the metal tube having an airtight wall portion connecting the lower polymeric tubing and a proximal end of the ventilation device which proximal end is connectable to a source of gas, the metal tube being resistant to damage by a surgical laser and having a matte outer surface for dispersing unfocused light when a surgical laser beam is directed against said outer surface; (c) means for inflating the lower cuff with aqueous liquid to bring the lower cuff into sealing contact with a patient's trachea to prevent leakage of gas between the lower cuff and the trachea, the lower cuff inflating means including a first inflation lumen in the lower polymeric tubing, the first inflation lumen being in communication with the lower cuff and connectable with a liquid source for inflation of the lower cuff; the lower cuff inflating means further including a first conduit in communication with the first inflation lumen for connecting the first inflation lumen with the liquid source, the first conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage; the lower cuff inflating means further including a first valve in communication with the first conduit for connecting the first conduit with the liquid source and for controlling inflation of the lower cuff; and (d) means for inflating the upper cuff with aqueous liquid for bringing the upper cuff into contact with said trachea to thereby shield the lower cuff from damage caused by laser energy directed toward the lower cuff, the upper cuff inflating means including a second inflation lumen in the lower polymeric tubing, the second inflation lumen being in communication with the upper cuff and connectable with a second liquid source for inflation of the upper cuff; the upper cuff inflating means further including a second conduit in communication with the second inflation lumen for connecting the second inflation lumen with the second liquid source, the second conduit disposed within the metal tube and protected thereby from laser damage; the upper cuff inflating means further including a second valve in communication with the second conduit for connecting the second conduit with the second liquid source and for controlling inflation of the upper cuff.

Claim 14

The ventilation device of claim 1 wherein the means for inflating the lower cuff includes a first valve controlling inflation of said lower cuff, and wherein the means for inflating the upper cuff includes a second valve controlling inflation of said upper cuff.