US5487383A — Tracheal tube cuff inflation control and monitori…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 175 words

An inflation control system comprising: a cuff inflation line configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection with an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube; an inspiratory tubing monitoring line configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection with inspiratory tubing of a tracheal tube; an adjustable high pressure relief valve and an adjustable low pressure relief valve, both of which have inlet and outlet ports configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection in series with a source of pressurized gas and said cuff inflation line, both of which also have valved exhaust ports urged toward the closed condition, a solenoid mounted in series with the exhaust port of the low pressure relief valve, said solenoid arranged to block the exhaust port when said solenoid is activated; a pressure transducer in sealed, fluidic communication with said inspiratory tubing monitoring line to monitor pressure within said inspiratory tubing monitoring line, said pressure transducer generating an electrical output responsive to pressure within said inspiratory tubing monitoring line; and a threshold control circuit responsive to said electrical output of said pressure transducer for activating said solenoid.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 175 words

An inflation control system comprising: a cuff inflation line configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection with an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube; an inspiratory tubing monitoring line configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection with inspiratory tubing of a tracheal tube; an adjustable high pressure relief valve and an adjustable low pressure relief valve, both of which have inlet and outlet ports configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection in series with a source of pressurized gas and said cuff inflation line, both of which also have valved exhaust ports urged toward the closed condition, a solenoid mounted in series with the exhaust port of the low pressure relief valve, said solenoid arranged to block the exhaust port when said solenoid is activated; a pressure transducer in sealed, fluidic communication with said inspiratory tubing monitoring line to monitor pressure within said inspiratory tubing monitoring line, said pressure transducer generating an electrical output responsive to pressure within said inspiratory tubing monitoring line; and a threshold control circuit responsive to said electrical output of said pressure transducer for activating said solenoid.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 1, further comprising a user adjustable potentiometer which sets the pressure point in the inspiratory tubing monitoring line at which said solenoid activates.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein said threshold control circuit adjusts to varying baseline pressure in the inspiratory tubing monitoring line during expiration so that changes in baseline pressure do not cause actuation of the solenoid.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 3, wherein said threshold control circuit includes means for subtracting the electrical output of the transducer measured at baseline pressure from the electrical output of the transducer continuously.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 1, further comprising means for detecting and signalling excess volume entering said cuff inflation line which indicates a cuff leak.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 5 wherein said detecting means includes a mass flow transducer which produces a voltage output proportional to the degree and direction of flow into said cuff inflation line and flow out of said cuff inflation line.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 73 words

The system of claim 6, wherein said detecting means further includes means for integrating the electrical output of the mass flow transducer to determine volume into said cuff inflation line and volume out of said cuff inflation line, whereby volume out of said cuff inflation line is subtracted from volume into said cuff inflation line, and in which net volume into said cuff inflation line indicates a cuff leak which sounds an alarm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 162 words

An inflation control system comprising: a cuff inflation line configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection with an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube; an assembly having an exhaust port vented to atmosphere, said assembly configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection in series with said cuff inflation line and a source of gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, wherein in a first state of said assembly said cuff inflation line is coupled to said source of gas to deliver volume into said cuff inflation line, and wherein in a second state of said assembly said cuff inflation line is coupled to said exhaust port of said assembly to deliver volume out of said cuff inflation line; a system for detecting net volume entering said cuff inflation line by evaluating volume into said cuff inflation line and volume out of said cuff inflation line; and an alarm indicating a cuff leak in response to said system detecting net volume entering said cuff inflation line.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 162 words

An inflation control system comprising: a cuff inflation line configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection with an inflatable cuff of a tracheal tube; an assembly having an exhaust port vented to atmosphere, said assembly configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection in series with said cuff inflation line and a source of gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, wherein in a first state of said assembly said cuff inflation line is coupled to said source of gas to deliver volume into said cuff inflation line, and wherein in a second state of said assembly said cuff inflation line is coupled to said exhaust port of said assembly to deliver volume out of said cuff inflation line; a system for detecting net volume entering said cuff inflation line by evaluating volume into said cuff inflation line and volume out of said cuff inflation line; and an alarm indicating a cuff leak in response to said system detecting net volume entering said cuff inflation line.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 8, wherein said detecting system includes a mass flow transducer which produces a voltage output proportional to the degree and direction of flow into said cuff inflation line and flow out of said cuff inflation line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 73 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said detecting means further includes means for integrating the voltage output of the mass flow transducer to determine volume into said cuff inflation line and volume out of said cuff inflation line, whereby volume out of said cuff inflation line is subtracted from volume into said cuff inflation line, and in which net volume into said cuff inflation line indicates a cuff leak which sounds an alarm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 140 words

A cuff inflation method comprising: providing a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff and inspiratory tubing; providing a source of pressurized gas; providing a high pressure relief valve and a low pressure relief valve, each of said relief valves having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valved exhaust port; connecting said inlet and outlet ports of said high pressure relief valve and said low pressure relief valve in series with said source of pressurized gas and said inflatable cuff of said tracheal tube; supplying pressurized gas from said source of gas to said inflatable cuff through said high pressure relief valve and said low pressure relief valve; and opening said valved exhaust port of said low pressure relief valve in response to both pressure in said inflatable cuff and pressure in said inspiratory tubing of said tracheal tube.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 140 words

A cuff inflation method comprising: providing a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff and inspiratory tubing; providing a source of pressurized gas; providing a high pressure relief valve and a low pressure relief valve, each of said relief valves having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valved exhaust port; connecting said inlet and outlet ports of said high pressure relief valve and said low pressure relief valve in series with said source of pressurized gas and said inflatable cuff of said tracheal tube; supplying pressurized gas from said source of gas to said inflatable cuff through said high pressure relief valve and said low pressure relief valve; and opening said valved exhaust port of said low pressure relief valve in response to both pressure in said inflatable cuff and pressure in said inspiratory tubing of said tracheal tube.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said valved exhaust port of said low pressure relief valve opens in response to pressure in said inflatable cuff only when pressure in said inspiratory tubing is below a predetermined level.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 11 and comprising the further step of opening said valved exhaust port of said high pressure relief valve in response to pressure in said inflatable cuff.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said valved exhaust port of said high pressure relief valve opens when pressure in said inflatable cuff is above a predetermined level.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 12 or 14 comprising the further step of varying said predetermined level.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 11 and comprising the further steps of: detecting net volume entering said inflatable cuff by evaluating volume entering said inflatable cuff and volume exiting said inflatable cuff; and providing an alarm indication when net volume entering said inflatable cuff is detected by said detecting step.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 93 words

A cuff inflation method comprising the steps of: providing a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff; supplying gas to said inflatable cuff of said tracheal tube when pressure in said inflatable cuff is below a first predetermined level and pressure in said tracheal tube is above a second predetermined level; and removing gas from said inflatable cuff when pressure in said inflatable cuff is above a third predetermined level and pressure in said tracheal tube is below said second predetermined level, wherein said third predetermined level is less than said first predetermined level.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 93 words

A cuff inflation method comprising the steps of: providing a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff; supplying gas to said inflatable cuff of said tracheal tube when pressure in said inflatable cuff is below a first predetermined level and pressure in said tracheal tube is above a second predetermined level; and removing gas from said inflatable cuff when pressure in said inflatable cuff is above a third predetermined level and pressure in said tracheal tube is below said second predetermined level, wherein said third predetermined level is less than said first predetermined level.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 149 words

A respiration system comprising: a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff and inspiratory tubing; an adjustable high pressure relief valve and an adjustable low pressure relief valve, both of which have inlet and outlet ports configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection in series with a source of pressurized gas and said inflatable cuff of said tracheal tube, both of which also have valved exhaust ports urged toward the closed condition; a solenoid mounted in series with the exhaust port of the low pressure relief valve, said solenoid arranged to block the exhaust port when said solenoid is activated; a pressure transducer in sealed, fluidic communication with said inspiratory tubing of said tracheal tube to monitor pressure within said inspiratory tubing, said pressure transducer generating an electrical output responsive to inspiratory tubing pressure; and a threshold control circuit responsive to said electrical output of said pressure transducer for activating said solenoid.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 149 words

A respiration system comprising: a tracheal tube having an inflatable cuff and inspiratory tubing; an adjustable high pressure relief valve and an adjustable low pressure relief valve, both of which have inlet and outlet ports configured for sealed, fluidic interconnection in series with a source of pressurized gas and said inflatable cuff of said tracheal tube, both of which also have valved exhaust ports urged toward the closed condition; a solenoid mounted in series with the exhaust port of the low pressure relief valve, said solenoid arranged to block the exhaust port when said solenoid is activated; a pressure transducer in sealed, fluidic communication with said inspiratory tubing of said tracheal tube to monitor pressure within said inspiratory tubing, said pressure transducer generating an electrical output responsive to inspiratory tubing pressure; and a threshold control circuit responsive to said electrical output of said pressure transducer for activating said solenoid.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-01-29	1999-07-31	2000-01-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-01-29	2003-07-31	2004-01-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-01-29	2007-07-31	2008-01-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tracheal tube cuff inflation control and monitoring system

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