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US 2006/0130846 A1Published application
Trachea tube with germicidal light source
OwnerRobert Rifeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tube for insertion into a trachea having a germicidal light source that is positioned above a cuff that holds the tube in place in the trachea. Activation of the germicidal light source causes an radiation emission that kills undesired bacteria that is fostered by the tube and the cuff, reducing the patient's risk of associated disease, and reducing the need for antibiotics.
Claims18
A tube for insertion into a trachea, said tube comprising an elongated tube;
- an expandable cuff located on a section of said elongated tube that is expanded to hold said tube within a trachea of a user;
- and
- a germicidal light source that is positioned on said elongated tube and above said expandable cuff, wherein said germicidal light source transmits germicidal light toward said expandable cuff.
15-18. (canceled)
A tube for insertion into a trachea, said tube comprising:
- an elongated tube;
- an expandable cuff located on a section of said elongated tube that is expanded to hold said tube within a trachea of a user;
- a germicidal light source that transmits germicidal light to a trachea of a user;
- a chamber that is located on said elongated tube and above said expandable cuff,
- wherein a surface of said chamber that is on an exterior portion of said elongated tube is substantially transparent to said germicidal light, and
- wherein said germicidal light source is present within said chamber, and said germicidal light source transmits said germicidal light through said surface of said chamber that is substantially transparent to said germicidal light and to an exterior of said chamber.
3 more elements
A tube for insertion into a trachea, said tube comprising:
- an elongated tube;
- an expandable cuff located on a section of said elongated tube that is expanded to hold said tube within a trachea of a user;
- a germicidal light source that transmits germicidal light to a trachea of a user of the tube for insertion into the trachea;
- and
- a timing circuit, wherein, when the tube for insertion into the trachea is positioned in the trachea, said germicidal light source intermittently transmits germicidal light to the trachea and toward said expandable cuff.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.