Tracheal tube and tube extension

#The present disclosure relates generally to tracheal tubes and, more particularly, to tracheal tubes with proximal extensions.

#This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

#Tracheal tubes may be utilized to define a clear passageway for air, other gases, and medicaments to the trachea and lungs, thus providing an artificial airway for spontaneous or mechanical ventilation of a patient. Such tracheal tubes may include endotracheal tubes and tracheastomy tubes. Tracheostomy tubes, for example, are typically introduced into an opening or stoma in front of the neck and trachea. The stoma is defined by a tracheotomy incision in the neck that provides access to the trachea. When the inner or distal end of the tracheostomy tube is properly inserted into the trachea, the outer or proximal end will extend from the neck a certain distance. The proximal end of the tracheostomy tube may include a connector to attach various devices such as ventilators, manual respirators, suctioning equipment, nebulizers, vaporizers, and so forth. However, in certain circumstances such as with prone patients and with neonatal or pediatric patients, the attachments at the proximal end of the tracheal tube may come into contact with the neck, chin, or stoma, potentially interfering with patient comfort and mobility.

#Advantages of the disclosed techniques may become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an artificial airway management system;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting an embodiment of a tracheal tube extension and an embodiment of a tracheal tube;

#One or more specific embodiments of the present techniques will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

#The disclosed embodiments include medical devices for artificial airway applications. In certain embodiments, a tracheal tube extension is provided that extends from the proximal end of a tracheal tube. The tracheal tube extension provides a clinician with an increased working space in the area in front of the tracheal tube, thus allowing for rapid attachment of devices such as ventilators, manual respirators, suctioning equipment, nebulators, vaporizers, tee connectors, and so forth, to the proximal end of the tracheal tube. Further, the tracheal tube extension may decrease patient discomfort during regular use by extending the distance between attachments to the tracheal tube and the frontal neck region. The increased distance provides for additional freedom of movement of the head and minimizes physical contact between the chin, stoma, and/or neck with the attachments at the proximal end of the tracheal tube. Additional comfort in a prone position is also realized by extending the attachments to the tracheal tube so that they may lie, for example, on the chest instead of on the neck.

#In certain embodiments, the tracheal tube extension may incorporate attachment features that securely hold the tracheal tube extension in place but that also allow for the easy removal of the tracheal tube extension. Accordingly, the tracheal tube extension may be easily removed for extubation and before the patient undergoes certain clinical procedures, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Such attachment features also enable the rapid removal of the tracheal tube extension during emergencies and the rapid attachment to other medical equipment, e.g., suctioning equipment, or manual respirators. In other embodiments, the tracheal tube extension system is manufactured of materials that are MRI compatible, thus allowing for the use of the tracheal tube extension during MRI procedures. The disclosed embodiments may also include devices designed to minimize airway dead space of the system, i.e., the volume of air that is aspirated by the patient during inhalation but that does not participate in gas exchange. Minimizing airway dead space allows for less energy expenditure and result in a decreased work-of-breathing (WOB).