US 7,328,702 B2
	Tracheostomy device
Thomas Gostelow, Springhead (United Kingdom)
Assigned to Smiths Group PLC, London (United Kingdom)
Appl. No. 10/549,617 PCT Filed Apr. 21, 2004, PCT No. PCT/GB2004/001707 § 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Sep. 20, 2005, PCT Pub. No. WO2004/096331, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 11, 2004.
Claims priority of application No. 0309389.5 (GB), filed on Apr. 25, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2006/0081254 A1, Apr. 20, 2006
Int. Cl. A61M 11/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 128—207.16  [128/207.29]

10 Claims

1. A tracheostomy device including a tubular member adapted to provide a gas passage into the trachea through an opening in neck tissues and an external retainer for retaining the tubular member with the external surface of the neck adjacent the opening, characterized in that the patient end of the tubular member terminates adjacent the internal end of the opening without extending below the opening, and that the device includes an internal retainer for retaining the tubular member with the internal surface of the trachea adjacent the opening and a gas seal located in the trachea above the opening with a lower side exposed to gas pressure within the trachea and substantially sealing the trachea above the opening against the flow of gas along the trachea in either direction such that gas flow to and from the trachea is confined to the tubular member.