Combination Artificial Airway Device and Esophageal Obturator

Abstract

A combination artificial airway device and esophageal obturator ( 10 ) includes a pressure indicator ( 25 ) surrounding a pilot balloon ( 28 ) for continuous monitoring of the internal pressure within the cuffs ( 14 & 16 ).

1 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway device having a sealing cuff, said cuff pressure indicator comprising:
 a cylindrical pilot balloon inserted in an inflation line leading to said sealing cuff;   a semi-spiral cylinder extending the entire length of and circumferentially surrounding said cylindrical pilot balloon;   said semi-spiral cylinder being made from a yieldably resilient spring like material where its expansion is caused by expansion of the pilot balloon, said semi-spiral cylinder being visually marked with visual indicia to indicate an acceptable pressure range in the inflation line; and   said semi-spiral cylinder having an increase in diameter and a distal edge sliding over another wall section of said semi-spiral cylinder which has said visual indicia thereon for continuously indicating the pressure in said sealing cuff and to visually alert when a pressure outside said acceptable pressure range occurs.   
     
     
         2 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway as defined in  claim 1  further comprising:
 said visual indicia being a color scale thereon for continuously indicating the pressure in said sealing cuff, said color scale comprising a green bar for indicating that the internal cuff pressure is within the normal limits; and   at least one red bar for indicating an abnormal pressure condition.   
     
     
         3 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway as defined in  claim 2  further comprising:
 said green bar placed between two red bars;   an indicator being the distal edge of a semi-spiral cylinder, sliding over another wall section of the same cylinder;   said semi-spiral cylinder increasing and decreasing in its diameter as a function of the expansion or contraction of said cylindrical pilot balloon; and   said cylinder shaped pilot balloon expanding and contracting as a function of its internal pressure corresponding to the relative cuff pressure.   
     
     
         4 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway device having a sealing cuff, said cuff pressure indicator comprising:
 a cylindrical pilot balloon inserted in an inflation line leading to said sealing cuff;   a semi-spiral cylinder extending along a length of and circumferentially surrounding said cylindrical pilot balloon;   said semi-spiral cylinder being made from a yieldably resilient spring like material where its expansion is caused by expansion of the pilot balloon;   said semi-spiral cylinder having a distal edge sliding over an inner coil wall section of said semi-spiral cylinder which has visual indicia thereon for continuously indicating the pressure in said sealing cuff and to indicate an acceptable pressure range in the inflation line.   
     
     
         5 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway as defined in  claim 4  further comprising:
 said visual indicia being a color scale thereon for continuously indicating the pressure in said sealing cuff, said color scale comprising a green bar for indicating that the internal cuff pressure is within the normal limits; and   at least one red bar for indicating an abnormal pressure condition.   
     
     
         6 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway as defined in  claim 5  further comprising:
 said green bar placed between two red bars;   an indicator being defined by the distal edge of a semi-spiral cylinder, sliding over said inner coil wall section of the same cylinder to lie over said green bar when a correct cuff pressure is present and to lie over one of said two red bars when said cuff pressure is either too low or too high;   said semi-spiral cylinder increasing and decreasing in its diameter as a function of the expansion or contraction of said cylindrical pilot balloon; and   said cylinder shaped pilot balloon expanding and contracting as a function of its internal pressure corresponding to the relative cuff pressure.   
     
     
         7 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway device having a sealing cuff, said cuff pressure indicator comprising:
 a cylindrical pilot balloon inserted in an inflation line leading to said sealing cuff;   a semi-spiral cylinder extending the entire length of and circumferentially surrounding said cylindrical pilot balloon;   said semi-spiral cylinder being made from a yieldably resilient spring like material where its expansion is caused by expansion of the pilot balloon; and   said semi-spiral cylinder having an increase in diameter and a distal edge sliding over another wall section of said semi-spiral cylinder which has a colored scale thereon for continuously indicating the pressure in said sealing cuff and to visually alert when a pressure outside said acceptable pressure range occurs.   
     
     
         8 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway as defined in  claim 7  further comprising:
 said color scale thereon for continuously indicating the pressure in said sealing cuff comprising a green bar for indicating that the internal cuff pressure is within the normal limits; and   at least one red bar for indicating an abnormal pressure condition.   
     
     
         9 . A cuff pressure indicator for an artificial airway as defined in  claim 8  further comprising:
 said green bar placed between two red bars;   an indicator defined by the distal edge of a semi-spiral cylinder sliding over another wall section of the same cylinder;   said semi-spiral cylinder increasing and decreasing in its diameter as a function of the expansion or contraction of said cylindrical pilot balloon; and   said cylinder shaped pilot balloon expanding and contracting as a function of its internal pressure corresponding to the relative cuff pressure.