US3443564A - Tracheal tube - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1969 H. oEHMlG TRACHEAL TUBE Filed June 2, 196e INVENT OR Heinz ehm'g BY v 6MATTORN im. ci. Asim 25/00 ILS. Cl. 12S-351 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DlCLOSURE A tracheal tube is composed of an outer rigid curved tapered tube having a straight outer end piece, and an inner flexible tube joined to a sleeve which extends into the end piece of the outer tube. This permits the placing of the tube in a windpipe without discomfort.

This invention relates to a tracheal tube adapted to be inserted in the upper portion of the windpipe in the throat in order to by-pass the larynx and permit easy unobstructed breathing. These tubes ordinarily are composed of a tube curved in a ninety degree arc and having a thin inner end adapted to enter the windpipe and a thicker outer end leading to the atmosphere. The outer end of the tube is provided with a -flan-ge forming a shield or plate `which is a metal surface through which the actual tube passes. These tracheal tubes can contain a second tube also bent in a ninety degree arc and which is relatively tightly iitted in the outer tube. The inner tube is removed from time to time so it can be cleaned of the secretions, mucus or the like which tend to collect at the inner end of the tube. This is absolutely necessary since otherwise the interior of the tube would be constricted by the deposited secretions, mucus or the like. To facilitate the removing of the inner tube from the outer tube, both tubes are in the shape of ninety degree arcs. After being removed, the inner tube can be cleaned by swinging or shaking it and then being replaced.

These tubes have the disadvantage that the end of the tube projecting outwardly from the throat is, in many cases, so short that it is diflicult to handle. The inner tube cannot have a straight piece projecting from the throat because the removal of the curved inner turbe would then be impossible. Tubes having varied radii of curvature and inner diameters have been suggested but do not remove the disadvantages because the distance from the windpipe to the surface of the skin of the throat varies with different persons.

The object of this invention is to avoid the disadvantages of the heretofore known tracheal tubes and to produce a tracheal tube which in all cases projects a suitable length from the throat in order to facilitate its handling. In this invention, the tracheal tube is bent into a ninety degree arc. The outer tube of lthis invention does not have a uniform radius of curvature or a uniform cross-sectional area along its entire length. The inner tube to be placed in the outer tube is a flexible metal spiral which slides in the outer tube and is provided with a sleeve at its outer end so that it can be connected to the outer tube. This has the advantage that the inner tube can be easily removed from the outer tube in order nited States Patent O Patented May 13, 1969 to be cleaned. Because the inner tube is a flexible spiral, it can easily adapt itself to the variation of curvature of the outer tube. The inner tube can be easily cleaned since the secretions which collect between the spiral can be rather simply removed.

In a simple form of construction according to this invention, the outer tube has a ninety degree bend and terminates in a straight piece. This straight piece enables the correct placing of the tracheal tube in the windpipe without tilting or canting and without producing points of discomfort and pressure. Furthermore, the distance from the surface of the skin to the axis of the windpipe is bridged by the straight piece of tube. This improves the handling qualities of the tube.

The means by which the objects of the invention are obtained are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic cross-sec tional view through the tracheal tube on an exaggerated scale.

The outer metal tube 1 is bent into a ninety degree arc and terminates in a straight piece 2 having a length of from about 10 to 20` mm. The outer tube is made, for example, of silver. Preferably the tube has a nonuniform radius of curvature and a cross-sectional area which increases from the end 3 to the juncture 4 of the curved portion with the straight piece.

The outer end 5 of straight piece 2 has a flange 6 forming a shield or plate and to which is pivotally fastened a latch lever 7.

The inner tube 8 which is inserted in the outer tube 1 is composed of a flexible non-corroding spiral and therefore ts any radius or curvature of the outer tube 1. The rexible tube 8 is connected to a sleeve 9 which has a small flange 10 and a stub end 11. Flange 10 is locked in place by the latch lever 7 when the tube is being used.

The non-corroding metal spiral 8 can be replaced by a different kind of flexible tube made of rubber or a synthetic material.

Having now described the means by which the objects of the invention are obtained, I claim:

l. A tracheal tube comprising a rigid outer tube bent in an approximately ninety degree arc with a non-uniform radius of curvature and terminating in a straight piece adapted to extend through the skin to the axis of a windpipe, a flexible spiral wound inner tube removably inserted into the curved outer tube, and a straight sleeve joined to said inner tube and inserted into the straight piece on said outer tube.

2. A tracheal tube as in claim 1, further comprising a ilange on the end of said straight piece on said outer tube, and latch means mounted on said ange for fastening said inner tube to said outer tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS' 1,835,757 12/1931 Burchett 12S-351 2,873,742 2/1959 Sheldon 128-351 2,923,299 2.-/1960` Blackwood 128-351 3,066,674 12/ 1962 Capra 12S-351 3,088L466 5/ 1963 Nichols 128-351 CHARLES F. ROSENBAUM, Primary Examiner.

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