GB2552880A

GB2552880A - Tracheostomy tube assemblies and supports

Info

Publication number: GB2552880A
Application number: GB1708733.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pagan Eric
Original assignee: Smiths Medical International Ltd
Current assignee: Smiths Medical International Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-18
Filing date: 2017-06-01
Publication date: 2018-02-14
Also published as: GB201610716D0; GB201708733D0

Abstract

A tracheostomy tube support 20 comprising two attachment members 21, 22 each having an opening 23, 24 therethrough arranged to receive a part of the tube or coupling 10 secured with the tube; wherein each attachment member 21, 22 is attachable with or includes a neck securement member 29 and the attachment members 21, 22 are arranged to secure to one another at their facing surfaces when placed on top of one another with their openings aligned 23, 24 about part of the tube or coupling. The attachment members 21, 22 may be magnetic and comprise permanent magnets. The attachment members 21, 22 may be magnetically polarised in the plane of the attachment member 21, 22 or may be magnetically polarised parallel to the axis of the attachment member. The attachment members 21, 22 may have cooperating hook and loop material facing surfaces or have an adhesive surface. The attachment members 21, 22 may have a circular, ring shape.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Smiths Medical International Limited (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

1500 Eureka Park, Lower Pemberton, ASHFORD, Kent, TN25 4BF, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

A61M 76/04 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

GB 2541082 A US 6612309 B US 4622034 A (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA61M Other: EPODOC, WPI

WO 2012/160458 A1 US 4832019 A US 4520813 A (72) Inventor(s):

Eric Pagan (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Smiths Medical

Lammas Park Road, Ealing, LONDON, W5 5JD, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: Tracheostomy tube assemblies and supports Abstract Title: Tracheostomy tube support (57) A tracheostomy tube support 20 comprising two attachment members 21, 22 each having an opening 23, 24 therethrough arranged to receive a part of the tube or coupling 10 secured with the tube; wherein each attachment member 21, 22 is attachable with or includes a neck securement member 29 and the attachment members 21, 22 are arranged to secure to one another at their facing surfaces when placed on top of one another with their openings aligned 23, 24 about part of the tube or coupling. The attachment members 21, 22 may be magnetic and comprise permanent magnets. The attachment members 21, 22 may be magnetically polarised in the plane of the attachment member 21, 22 or may be magnetically polarised parallel to the axis of the attachment member. The attachment members 21,22 may have cooperating hook and loop material facing surfaces or have an adhesive surface. The attachment members 21, 22 may have a circular, ring shape.

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1/2

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FIG. 3

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No. GB1708733.9

RTM

Date :14 November 2017

The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:

Velcro, P.g 8,

Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo

TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE ASSEMBLIES AND SUPPORTS

This invention relates to tracheostomy tube assemblies and supports.

Tracheostomy tubes are used to enable ventilation or respiration of a patient. The tube is inserted into the trachea via a surgically-formed opening in the neck so that one end locates in the trachea and the other end locates outside the patient adjacent the neck surface. Various types of different tracheostomy tubes are presently available to suit different needs. Tracheostomy tubes can be inserted by different techniques, such as the surgical cut-down procedure carried out in an operating theatre or a percutaneous dilatation procedure, which may carried out in emergency situations.

Tracheostomy tubes are generally used for more long-term ventilation or where it is not possible to insert an airway through the mouth or nose. The patient is often conscious while breathing through a tracheostomy tube, which may be open to atmosphere or connected by tubing to some form of ventilator. The tracheostomy ybe is often used in combination with an inner cannula that is removed and replaced periodically as secretions build up to avoid the need to replace the tube itself so often. The tracheostomy tube is usually supported where it emerges from the neck by means of a flange attached with the tube, the flange being attached with a strap extending around the palient’s neck. It is often necessary to release the neck strap from the tube in order to inspect pr clean the skin under the flange around the tracheostomy. Present arrangements for attaching the neck strap to the tube can be quite difficult to attach and release, adding to discomfort and disturbance of tissue around the tracheostomy.

SU1281275 describes a tracheostomy tube and inner cannula retained with the outer tube by magnets in a flange on the inner cannula and on the outer tube. US7866313 describes an airway in two parts that can be retained together by magnets. US2010/0101582 describes an arrangement for retaining a tracheostomy tube that uses· a magnet implanted beneath the skin to retain a magnetic plate attached with the tracheostomy tube. DOS2601623 describes a tracheostomy tube with magnets on the underside of a collar at the machine end of the tube that are attracted to a ferromagnetic neck plate. CN203609731U describes a support for a tracheostomy tube with magnetic sheets that come together end-toend on opposite sides of a connecting piece.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative tracheostomy tube assembly and a support for a tracheostomy tube.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is pro vided a support for a tracheostomy tube including two attachment members each having an opening therethrough arranged to receive therein a part of the tube or a coupling secured with the tube, each attachment member being attachable with or including a neck securement member, the attachment members being arranged to be secured to one another at ’.heir facing surfaces when placed on top of one another with their openings aligned about the part of the tube or coupling.

The attachment members are preferably magnetic and each attachment member may include one or more permanent magnets. Each attachment member yiay be magnetically polarised in the plane of the attachment member. Alternatively, each attachment member may be magnetically polarised parallel to the axis of the attachment member. Other attachment members may have cooperating hook and loop material facing surfaces or an adhesive surface on at least one attachment member facing a surface of the other attachment member. The attachment members preferably have a circular, ring shape and preferably have a formation to which is attached a part of the neck securement member.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a tracheostomy tube including two members of magnetic material each having an opening therethrough arranged to receive therein a part of the tube or a coupling secured with the tube, each member being attached with a neck strap, and the members of magnetic material being arranged to be attracted to one another when placed on top of ~>ne another with their openings aligned about the part of the tube or coupling.

The two members are preferably permanent magnets that preferably have poles oriented such that the two members attract one another in one angukir orientation and repel one another in a different orientation so that the two members can be separated by rotating them relative to one another to the orientation where they repel one another.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided tracheostomy tube assembly including a tracheostomy tube and a support according to the above one or other aspect of the present invention fitted about the machine end of the tracheostomy tube or about a coupling fitted with the machine end of the tube.

A support and a tracheostomy tube assembly including a support, according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is perspective view of the tracheostomy tube iissembly showing the support detached from the tracheostomy tube;

Figure 2 is a perspective enlarged view of one arrangement of the support; and

Figure 3 is a perspective enlarged view of an alternative arrangement of the support.

With reference first to Figure 1 there is shown a conventional tracheostomy tube 1 having a curved shaft 2 with a patient end 3 and a machine end 4. A flange 5 is attached to the machine end 4 of the shaft and extends outwardly on opposite sities to form two wings 6 and 7, which each have an opening 8 close to their outer ends to which a conventional neck f

strap (not shown) can be attached. The machine end 4 of the shaft 2 is also bonded with a conventional 15mm male connector 10. Alternatively, where the tube is for use without an external ventilator it may not include a connector but instead just have a short collar (not shown). The patient end 3 of the shaft 2 is shown in the drawing as being plain and uncuffed but it could alternatively support a sealing cuff of the usual kind. The tube 1 could be used with a conventional inner cannula (not shown). The tube could include a removable coupling fitted in the machine end of the shaft.

The assembly also includes a support 20 that is used for supporting the tube 1 with the neck of the patient instead of the integral flange 5. The support 20 consists of two attachment members in the form of circular annular members or rings 21 and 22 each having a central circular opening 23 and 24 of the same size as the external diameter of the connector 10 or collar on the tracheostomy tube 1. At one edge, the pngs 21 and 22 have a formation in the form of a short tab 25 and 26 projecting outwardly'and having a slot 27 and 28 respectively in which is received opposite ends of a neck securement member in the form of a neck strap 29. Alternatively, the attachment members could include some form of integral neck securement member.

The rings 21 and 22 are both made of, or include within them, a magnetic material arranged such that the rings are attracted towards one another and h^ld securely together

I when they are placed one on top of the other on the connector 10 or collar. There are several ways in which this can be achieved. For example, one of the rings 21 or 22 could include a permanent magnet and the other could include an unmagnetised magnetic material such as a ferromagnetic material, such as a soft iron. Alternatively, both rings could include or be made of a permanent magnet material.

In Figure 2 the components equivalent to those shown in Figure 1 are given the same numeral with the addition of a single prime Figure 2 shows one example of such an arrangement where the ring 21’ is magnetised along a diametrical axis 30 in the plane of the ring so that the North Pole is at one edge and the South Pole is at the opposite edge, the magnetic polarity being the same through the thickness of the ring. The other ring 22’ is similarly magnetically polarised about a diametrical axis 31 in the plane of the ring but in the opposite sense. The drawing illustrates the ring 21 ’as having the North pole uppermost whereas the other ring 22’ has the South pole uppermost but it will be appreciated that the actual disposition of the poles is not important providing that the relative dispositions of the poles in the two rings is displaced by 180°. In this way, when the two rings 21’ and 22’ are placed on top of one another on the connector 10 or collar with their respective tabs 25’ and 26’ extending in opposite directions, they will be attracted to one another face to face by the opposite arrangement of magnetic polarities so that they are secured with one another at their facing surfaces. This arrangement has the advantage that the two rings 21’ and 22’ can be readily separated from one another by rotating them angularly relative to one another. It will be appreciated that the magnetic attraction will reduce as the rotation increases to a neutral state when oriented by 90° relative to one another. If the rings 21 ’ and 22’ are rotated past the neutral state there will be a repulsive force tending to separate the two rings, which helps remove the support 20 without the need to apply a force to the tube 1 itself.

In Figure 3 the components equivalent to those in Figure 1 are given the same numerals with the addition of two primes “. Figure 3 shows an alternative arrangement of the magnetic rings 21” and 22” where these are both magnetised along axes 32 and 33 coaxial with the openings 23” and 24” respectively so that one face of each ring has a North polarity and the opposite face has a South polarity. In the arrangement shown, the outwardlyfacing, forward face 34 of the left-hand ring 21” has a North polari/y and its opposite, rear face 35 facing towards the tube 1 has a South polarity. Similarly, thp right-hand ring 22” has

I the same polarity with a North front face 36 and a South rear face 3(7. In this way, when the two rings 21” and 22” are stacked one on top of the other, they will be attracted to each other so that they are secured at their facing surfaces 35 and 36. This attraction is the same whatever the relative angular orientation of the two rings 21” and 22” so, in this arrangement, the rings would have to be separated by physically pulling them apart or by inserting some form of wedge separating tool between them.

The magnetic rings 21 and 22 could be made entirely of a permanent magnet material

I or they could include one or more permanent magnets bonded on or moulded within a plastics body. The magnet material could be hard or flexible. Examples of permanent magnet materials include: nickel/iron/cobalt alloys, alnico, ceramic/ferrites, samarium cobalt, neodymium-iron-boron and others.

The tube 1 might normally be secured about the neck by me^ns of the flange 5 and a neck strap attached to this flange. The support 20 described above could be used as a temporary measure during placement of the tube. Alternatively, the tracheostomy tube could be provided without the flange 5 and the support 20 used instead as the sole means for securing about the neck. The rings 21 and 22 of the support 20 provide a secure retention against lateral forces applied by the neck strap 29 and the support provides secure retention of the tracheostomy tube 1 that can be readily attached and detached.

The attachment members need not be circular but could, for example, be rectangular plates with an opening to receive the connector or collar on the tube. The attachment members need not extend completely around the connector or collar providing that, when the two attachment members are joined on top of one another, they cannot be pulled off the connector or collar sideways by the forces normally experienced during use.

It will be appreciated that such magnetic attachments may nyt be suitable for use in an MRI environment but the ease of removal and attachment of the support means that it can easily be removed when the patient is to be exposed to MRI fields. Another issue with magnetic supports is that care would have to be taken if the tracheostomy tube were fitted with a speaking valve having a valve element of a magnetic material since the presence of the magnetic support might affect operation of the valve.

Where a magnetic attachment is not suitable it would be possible to use alternative attachment members such as including a hook and loop material (such as Velcro) on facing surfaces of the attachment members. Alternatively, an adhesive material on one or both facing surfaces could be used, preferably an adhesive of the kind that can be peeled off rather than one that forms a permanent bond.

Claims

1. A support (20) for a tracheostomy tube (1) including two attachment members (21, 22,21’, 22’, 21”, 22”) each having an opening (23,24,23’, 24’, 23”, 24”) therethrough arranged to receive therein a part of the tube or a coupling (10) secured with the tube, wherein each attachment member (21,22, 21 ’, 22 ’, 21 ”, 22 ”) is attachable with or includes a neck securement member (29), and wherein the attachment members (21,22,2Γ, 22’, 21”, 22”) are arranged to be secured to one another at their facing surfaces when placed on top of one another with their openings (23,24,23’, 24’, 23”, 24”) aligned about the part of the tube or coupling.

2. A support according to Claim 1, wherein the attachment meyibers (21,22, 21’, 22’,

21 ”, 22”) are magnetic. ;

3. A support according to Claim 2, wherein each attachment member (21,22, 2Γ, 22’, 21”, 22”) includes one or more permanent magnets.

4. A support according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein each attachment member (21, 22, 2Γ, 22’) is magnetically polarised in the plane of the attachment member.

5. A support according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein each attachment member (21, 22,21 ”, and 22”) is magnetically polarised parallel to the axis (32,33) of the attachment member.

6. A support according to Claim 1, wherein the attachment members have cooperating hook and loop material facing surfaces.

7. A support according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the attachment members has an adhesive surface facing a surface of the other attachment member.

8. A support according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attachment members (21,22,21’, 22’, 21”, 22”) have a circular, ring shape.

9. A support according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment members (21,22,21’, 22’, 21”, 22”) have a formation (25,26) to which is attached a part of the neck securement member (29).

10. A support (20) for a tracheostomy tube including two members (21,22,21 ’, 22’,

21”, 22”) of magnetic material each having an opening (23,24,23’, 24’, 23”, 24”) therethrough arranged to receive therein a part of the tube (1) or a coupling (10) secured with the tube, wherein each member (21,22,21 ’, 22’, 21”, 22”) is attached with a neck strap (29), and wherein the members of magnetic material are arranged to be attracted to one another when placed on top of one another with their openings aligned about the part of the tube or coupling.

11. A support according to Claim 10, wherein the two members (21, 22,21 ’, 22 ’, 21 ”, 22”) are permanent magnets.

12. A support according to Claim 11, wherein the permanent magnets in the two members (21,22,2 Γ, 22’) have poles oriented such that the two members attract one another in one angular orientation and repel one another in a different orientation so that the two members can be separated by rotating them relative to one another to the orientation where they repel one another.

13. A tracheostomy tube support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A tracheostomy tube support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 as modified by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A tracheostomy tube assembly including a tracheostomy tube (1) and a support (20) according to any one of the preceding claims fitted about the machine end (4) of the tracheostomy tube (1) or about a coupling (10) fitted with the machine end of the tube.

16. A tracheostomy tube assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A tracheostomy tube assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 as modified by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Intellectual

Property

Office

GB1708733.9

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