Pressure controller and tracheal breathing tube comprising same

A medical device, comprising:

• a tubular body having a central passage extending between proximate and distal end portions thereof, wherein an inlet is provided at the proximate end portion and an outlet is provided at the distal end portion;
• an inflatable body coupled to the tubular body adjacent to the distal end portion thereof;
• an inflation tube having opposing end portions, wherein a first one of the opposing end portions of the inflation tube is attached to the inflatable body for enabling fluid communication between an interior space of the inflatable body and a central passage of the inflation tube;
• and
• a pressure controller including a first fluid flow control structure and a second fluid flow control structure, wherein the first and second fluid flow control structures each include a valve body having a valve chamber therein and a valve assembly within the valve chamber, wherein an interior space of the valve chamber of the first fluid flow control structure is in fluid communication with an inlet of the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure, wherein said valve chamber inlet of the second fluid flow control structure is fluidly coupled to a second one of the opposing end portions of the inflation tube for enabling fluid communication between the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure and the central passage of the inflation tube, wherein the valve assembly of the first fluid flow control structure provides spring-biased one-way flow control of fluid through the valve chamber thereof, and wherein the valve assembly of the second fluid flow control structure provides at least one of spring-biased one-way flow control of fluid through the valve chamber thereof and pressure level visualization of fluid present at said valve chamber inlet of the second fluid flow control structure, wherein the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure includes a pressure bleeding structure through which fluid from within the valve chamber of the first fluid flow control structure is released in response to a sealing member of the valve assembly of the second fluid flow control structure being displaced from a seated position thereof when subjected to a fluid pressure at the inlet of the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure that is above a maximum inflatable body pressure, wherein the second one of the opposing end portions of the inflation tube is coupled to said valve chamber inlet of the second fluid flow control structure through the valve chamber of the first fluid flow control structure.

A medical device, comprising:

• a tubular body having a central passage extending between proximate and distal end portions thereof, wherein an inlet is provided at the proximate end portion and an outlet is provided at the distal end portion;
• an inflatable body coupled to the tubular body adjacent to the distal end portion thereof;
• an inflation tube having opposing end portions, wherein a first one of the opposing end portions of the inflation tube is attached to the inflatable body for enabling fluid communication between an interior space of the inflatable body and a central passage of the inflation tube;
• and
• a pressure controller including a first fluid flow control structure and a second fluid flow control structure, wherein the first and second fluid flow control structures each include a valve body having a valve chamber therein and a valve assembly within the valve chamber, wherein an interior space of the valve chamber of the first fluid flow control structure is in fluid communication with an inlet of the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure, wherein said valve chamber inlet of the second fluid flow control structure is fluidly coupled to a second one of the opposing end portions of the inflation tube for enabling fluid communication between the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure and the central passage of the inflation tube, wherein the valve assembly of the first fluid flow control structure provides spring-biased one-way flow control of fluid through the valve chamber thereof, wherein the valve assembly of the second fluid flow control structure provides at least one of spring- biased one-way flow control of fluid through the valve chamber thereof and pressure level visualization of fluid present at said valve chamber inlet of the second fluid flow control structure, and wherein the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure includes a pressure bleeding structure through which fluid from within the valve chamber of the first fluid flow control structure is released in response to a sealing member of the second one of the valve assemblies being displaced from a seated position thereof when subjected to a fluid pressure at the inlet of the valve chamber of the second fluid flow control structure that is above a maximum inflatable body pressure.

A tracheal breathing tube, comprising:

• an outer cannula having a central passage extending between proximate and distal end portions thereof;
• a cannula cuff attached to an exterior surface of the outer cannula adjacent to the distal end portion thereof,
• an inflation tube having a central passage extending between opposing end portions thereof, wherein a first one of the opposing end portions is fluidly coupled to the cannula cuff whereby an interior space of the cannula cuff is in fluid communication with the central passage of the inflation tube;
• and
• a pressure controller having a main body and a plurality of valve assemblies mounted therein, wherein the main body includes a fluid inlet passage, a fluid outlet passage fluidly coupling the fluid inlet passage, a first valve chamber fluidly coupling the fluid inlet passage and the fluid outlet passage and a second valve chamber fluidly coupling to at least one of the first valve chamber and the fluid outlet passage, wherein the fluid outlet passage is attached to the inflation tube at a second one of the opposing end portions thereof whereby the interior space of the cannula cuff is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet passage of the main body, wherein a first one of the valve assemblies is provided within the first valve chamber and a second one of the valve assemblies is provided within the second valve chamber, wherein the first one of the valve assemblies includes a first sealing member that is spring biased to provide one-way flow control of fluid from the fluid inlet passage, wherein the second one of the valve assemblies includes a second sealing member that is spring biased for inhibiting unrestricted fluid flow from the first valve chamber into the second valve chamber, and wherein the second valve assembly includes a pressure level indicating portion that provides a visual indication of fluid pressurization within the interior space of the cannula cuff as a function of displacement of the second sealing member.

A tracheal breathing tube, comprising:

• an outer cannula having a central passage extending between proximate and distal end portions thereof;
• a cannula cuff attached to an exterior surface of the outer cannula adjacent to the distal end portion thereof;
• an inflation tube having a central passage extending between opposing end portions thereof, wherein a first one of the opposing end portions is fluidly coupled to the cannula cuff whereby an interior space of the cannula cuff is in fluid communication with the central passage of the inflation tube;
• and
• a pressure controller including a main body having a first valve chamber and a second valve chamber, wherein the first valve chamber defines a fluid inlet passage of the main body and a fluid outlet passage of the main body that is coupled to the fluid inlet passage, wherein the fluid outlet passage is attached to the inflation tube at a second one of the opposing end portions thereof whereby the interior space of the cannula cuff is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet passage of the main body, wherein a first valve assembly provided within the first valve chamber includes a first sealing member spring-biased to a seated position within the first valve chamber such that pressurized fluid provided at the fluid inlet passage of the main body at a pressure sufficient to overcome a force of said spring-bias of the first sealing member causes displacement of the first sealing member and flow of said pressurized fluid into the first valve chamber whereby fluid pressurization occurs within the interior space of the cannula cuff, wherein a second valve assembly provided within the second valve chamber includes a second sealing member spring-biased to a seated position within the second valve chamber to close a fluid inlet passage of the second valve chamber, wherein the fluid inlet passage of the second valve chamber is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet passage of the main body such that said fluid pressurization within the interior space of the cannula cuff causes displacement of the second sealing member proportional to a force of said spring-bias of the second sealing member, and wherein the second valve assembly includes a pressure level indicating portion that provides a visual indication of a level of said fluid pressurization within the interior space of the cannula cuff.