# US 2014/0196722 A1 · Tracheal tube system for enhanced patient comfort > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196722 A1 - Document ID: US20140196722A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/742,186 - Filed: 2013-01-15 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Kamlesh Sethiya; Emmet Bolger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196722A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/0497: {Tube stabilizer} - A61M 16/0434: {Cuffs} - A61M 16/0465: {Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A tracheal tube system includes a tracheal tube assembly having a cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway, and a connector coupled to the proximal end of the cannula. The tracheal tube assembly further includes a flange member secured about the cannula. The flange member includes an interior face configured to be disposed onto a patient neck when in use and a first plurality of protrusions disposed on top of the interior face, wherein the cannula and the connector form a contiguous passageway for exchanging fluid with the patient airway in operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tracheal tube system comprising: a tracheal tube assembly comprising: a cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway; a connector coupled to the proximal end of the cannula; a flange member secured about the cannula comprising: an interior face configured to be disposed onto a patient neck when in use; and a first plurality of protrusions disposed on top of the interior face, wherein the cannula and the connector form a contiguous passageway for exchanging fluid with the patient airway in operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plurality of protrusions comprises a hemispherical shape, a spherical shape, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, or combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the interior face comprises a first durometer hardness measure and each of the first plurality of protrusions comprises a second durometer hardness measure different than the first durometer hardness measure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of protrusions comprises a durometer hardness measure of approximately between shore OO and shore A. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of protrusions are separated at a distance of approximately between 0.01 mm to 10 mm from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of protrusions are separated at approximately the same distance from each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the flange member comprises a second plurality of protrusions disposed on the interior face, and the second plurality of protrusions are separated at different distances from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of protrusions extends outwardly from the interior face at a height of approximately between 0.01 mm to 10 mm ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising an inner cannula disposed inside the cannula, wherein the inner cannula and the connector form a contiguous passageway for exchanging fluid with the patient airway in operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a strap having a second plurality of protrusions disposed on a patient-facing strap side, wherein the tracheal tube is attached to the patient by the strap when in the strap is in use. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the second plurality of protrusions comprises a spherical shape, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, or combination thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the patient-facing strap side comprises a first durometer hardness measure and each of the second plurality of protrusions comprises a second durometer hardness measure different than the first durometer hardness measure. ### Claim 13 A tracheal tube assembly comprising: an outer cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway; an inner cannula configured to be disposed inside the outer cannula; a connector coupled to the proximal end of the outer cannula; a flange member secured about the outer cannula comprising: an interior face configured to be disposed onto a patient neck when in use; and a first plurality of protrusions disposed on the interior face, wherein the inner cannula and the connector form a contiguous passageway for exchanging fluid with the patient airway in operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first plurality of protrusions comprises a hemispherical shape, a partial hemispherical shape, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, or combination thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The assembly of claim 13, wherein the interior face comprises a first durometer hardness measure and each of the first plurality of protrusions comprises a second durometer hardness measure different than the first durometer hardness measure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the flange comprises at least two openings, and wherein a strap having a second plurality of protrusions disposed on a patient-facing side of the strap is configured to attach the patient neck to the flange by using the at least two openings. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing a tracheostomy system comprising: manufacturing a cannula configured to be positioned in a patient airway; manufacturing a connector coupled to the proximal end of the cannula; manufacturing a flange member secured about the cannula comprising an interior face configured to be disposed onto a patient neck when in use; and manufacturing a first plurality of protrusions on top of the interior face, wherein the cannula and the connector form a contiguous passageway for exchanging fluid with the patient airway in operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the manufacturing the first plurality of protrusions on top of the interior face comprises making the first plurality of protrusions separate from the flange member and then disposing the first plurality of protrusions on top of the interior face. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising manufacturing a strap having a second plurality of protrusions disposed on a patient-facing strap side, wherein the tracheal tube is attached to the patient neck by the strap when in the strap is in use. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the interior face comprises a first durometer hardness measure and each of the first plurality of protrusions comprises a second durometer hardness measure different than the first durometer hardness measure.