# US 8,464,718 B2 · Neck flange attachment apparatuses for tracheostomy tubes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,718 B2 - Document ID: US8464718B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/028,968 - Filed: 2011-02-16 - Published: 2012-08-16 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-16 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Sarah Hayman - Inventors: Sarah Hayman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464718B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0465: {Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters} - A61M 16/0488: {Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes (guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02)} - A61M 16/0497: {Tube stabilizer} - 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)} ## Abstract Various embodiments of tracheostomy tube assemblies including a cannula and a flange are provided. One of the cannula and the flange includes a pair of slots and the other of the cannula and the flange includes a pair of protrusions adapted to be received by the pair of slots. The pair of slots and the pair of protrusions enable two or more degrees of freedom of movement of the flange with respect to the cannula. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tracheostomy tube assembly, comprising: a cannula comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to be inserted into a patient's trachea and the proximal end comprising a collar comprising a first slot and a second slot; and a flange member comprising an aperture configured to receive the proximal end of the cannula, a first protrusion adapted to be received by the first slot, and a second protrusion adapted to be received by the second slot, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend into the aperture from opposite surfaces of the flange member, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the flange member are configured to engage with the first slot and the second slot of the cannula to enable the flange member to move with two or more degrees of freedom with respect to the cannula when the tracheostomy tube assembly is positioned for operation such that the distal end of the cannula is inserted into the patient's trachea and the flange member is engaged with the patient's neck to support the tracheostomy tube assembly and maintain the flange member outside of the patient's body, wherein one of the two or more degrees of freedom of movement comprises movement of the flange member longitudinally with respect to the length of the cannula between the distal end and the proximal end of the cannula. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the first slot or the second slot comprise an elongated shape extending longitudinally from the proximal end toward the distal end of the cannula. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the first slot or the second slot comprise an elongated spherical shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 3, wherein the first slot or the second slot comprise an annular recess extending at least partially around the circumference of the cannula. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion comprise a rigid thermoplastic polymer integral with a rigid thermoplastic shell of the flange member, and wherein the flange member comprises a flexible thermoplastic polymer overmolded over the rigid thermoplastic shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 1, wherein the cannula comprises an injection molded tubular portion onto which the collar is overmolded. ### Claim 7 A tracheostomy tube assembly, comprising: a cannula comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to be inserted into a patient's trachea and the proximal end comprising one of a pair of slots or a pair of pins; and a flange member comprising the other of the pair of slots configured to engage with the pair of pins on the cannula, or the pair of pins configured to engage with the pair of slots on the cannula, and wherein when the tracheostomy tube assembly is positioned for operation such that the distal end of the cannula is inserted into the patient's trachea and the flange member supports the tracheostomy tube assembly via engagement with the patient's neck to maintain the flange member outside of the patient's body, the pair of slots and the pair of pins are configured to enable two or more degrees of freedom of movement of the flange member with respect to the body, wherein one of the two or more degrees of freedom of movement comprises movement of the flange member longitudinally with respect to the length of the cannula between the distal end and the proximal end of the cannula. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 7, wherein the pair of slots comprise a pair of longitudinally disposed slots disposed in a portion of the cannula and extending from the proximal end of the cannula toward the distal end of the cannula. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 8, wherein the pair of pins is integral with the flange member and the pins extend from opposite surfaces of the flange member, and engage with the slots disposed on the cannula. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 7, wherein the flange member comprises an opening configured to receive the cannula and defined by a circumferential wall of the flange member, and wherein the pair of slots is disposed in the circumferential wall such that the slots are disposed on opposite sides of the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 10, wherein the pair of pins are disposed on the proximal end of the cannula, wherein each pin of the pair of pins is circumferentially displaced from the other pin at substantially the same radial position about the cannula. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 7, wherein one of the two or more degrees of freedom of movement comprises pivotal movement of the flange member with respect to the cannula. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The tracheostomy tube assembly of claim 7, wherein the cannula comprises a collar integrally formed therewith, and wherein the collar comprises the one of the pair of slots or the pair of spherical pins. ### Claim 14 A tracheostomy assembly, comprising: a cannula comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to be inserted into a patient's trachea; a collar coupled to the proximal end of the cannula; and a flange coupled directly to the collar or the cannula and comprising a pivoting means that permits pivotal movement about a transverse axis in two or more degrees of freedom of movement of the flange with respect to the collar or the cannula when the tracheostomy tube assembly is positioned for operation such that the distal end of the cannula is inserted into the patient's trachea and the flange member is engaged with the patient's neck to support the tracheostomy tube assembly and maintain the flange member outside of the patient's body, wherein one of the two or more degrees of freedom of movement comprises movement of the flange member longitudinally with respect to the length of the cannula between the distal end and the proximal end of the cannula. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tracheostomy assembly of claim 14, wherein the cannula or the collar comprises a pair of slots. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tracheostomy assembly of claim 15, wherein the pivoting means comprises a pair of protrusions configured to be received by the pair of slots to permit the pivotal movement of the flange with respect to the collar or the cannula. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tracheostomy assembly of claim 15, wherein each slot of the pair of slots comprises an elongated shape positioned between 0° and 90° with respect to an axial plane of the collar or the cannula. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The tracheostomy assembly of claim 14, wherein the pivoting means of the flange comprises a pair of slots configured to engage with a pair of protrusions disposed on the collar or the cannula.