Medico-surgical apparatus

A tracheostomy assembly of a needle and a dilator removably mounted on said needle, wherein said dilator comprises:

• a first, patient end portion, said first portion being flexible and of substantially constant external diameter;
• a second portion extending rearwardly from said first portion, said second portion being more rigid and tapering along at least a part of its length to a larger diameter towards a rear end;
• and a bore extending through said dilator along its length within which said needle extends.

A tracheostomy assembly of a metal needle and a plastics dilator removably mounted on said needle, wherein said dilator comprises:

• a first, patient end portion, said first portion being flexible and of substantially constant external diameter;
• a second portion extending rearwardly from said first portion, said second portion being more rigid and tapering along at least a part of its length to a larger diameter towards a rear end;
• and a bore extending through said dilator along its length within which said needle extends, wherein said needle has a hub at its rear end engaging a rear end of said dilator, and wherein said needle has a pointed tip projecting from a patient end of said dilator such that a patient end of the assembly can be inserted into the trachea and said needle removed from said dilator leaving said dilator in position with its first portion located in the trachea, such as to enable a guidewire to be inserted into the trachea along said bore of said dilator and such that said second portion of the dilator can be inserted to expand tissue by sliding along said guidewire.