Inflation and monitoring assembly for a pressure cuff of an endotracheal tube

Abstract

An assembly structured to inflate a retaining or pressure cuff associated with an artificial airway tube and concurrently monitor pressure therein. A pump assembly is structured to force fluid flow to the retaining cuff, for inflation, through a pressure chamber within a casing of the assemblies. An indicator member is observable through a casing window and is variably positionable dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within the retaining cuff. Existing pressure within the pressure chamber is substantially equivalent to that within the retaining cuff and is thereby indicative of pressure within the retaining cuff. A junction may be disposed in removable interconnecting relation between the casing and an inflation lumen and be structured to prevent reconnection there between.

1 . An assembly structured to inflate and monitor pressure within a retaining cuff, said assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff; said pressure chamber including a multi-chamber construction comprising at least a first chamber and a second chamber,   a plunger connected to said casing and movable within said first chamber between an extended position and a compressed position,   said plunger structured to force fluid flow to the retainer cuff sequentially through said first chamber and said second chamber,   a valve assembly disposed in fluid regulating relation between said first chamber and said plunger,   a fluid channel disposed in direct fluid communication with said second chamber and structured to deliver fluid flow to the retaining cuff,   an indicator assembly movably disposed within said second chamber in exposed, fluid communication with said fluid channel, said indicator assembly including an indicator member, said indicator member variably positionable on said casing dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within at least said second chamber, and   said second chamber and fluid channel disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff, wherein said existing pressure within said second chamber is substantially equivalent to the pressure within the retaining cuff.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said indicator assembly further comprises a reaction member movably disposed in fluid communication within said second chamber and in driving relation to said indicator member; said variable positioning of said indicator member being dependent on disposition of said reaction member and existing pressure within said second chamber being exerted on said reaction member. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said reaction member is connected to said indicator member and movable therewith within said second chamber, said casing including a window disposed in visually accessible relation to said variably positionable indicator member. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said indicator assembly further comprises a biasing structure disposed in biasing engagement with said reaction member; said reaction member biasingly mounted in normally opposing relation to said existing pressure within said second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said reaction member and said biasing structure are disposed within said second chamber in physically segregated relation to said first chamber. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as recited in  claim 5  wherein said reaction member includes a hollow interior, said biasing structure disposed within said hollow interior, said reaction member movable between an outwardly extended orientation and a compressed orientation; a vent structure fluidly interconnecting said hollow interior of said reaction member to an exterior of said casing, said vent structure disposed and structured to regulate fluid flow into and out of hollow interior upon movement of said reaction member between said extended orientation and said compressed orientation. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  said valve assembly comprising a first valve member and a second valve member cooperatively disposed and structured to regulate fluid flow from an exterior of said casing into at least said first chamber, through an interior of said plunger. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein said first and second valve members each comprise a one way valve structure concurrently operable in interconnecting relation between said plunger interior and said first chamber; said first and second valve members alternately disposed in an open position and a closed position to regulate fluid flow from an exterior of said casing into said first chamber, through said interior of said plunger. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a relief valve assembly operably accessible from an exterior of said casing and disposed in regulating relation to pressure within said pressure chamber; a shield assembly movably mounted on said casing and disposable in access restricting relation to said relief valve assembly. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  said shield assembly including an activating portion deformable into activating relation with said relief valve assembly; said shield assembly selectively disposable between a closed, valve shielding position and an open valve activating position. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a retaining assembly connected to said casing and disposable into and out of retaining relation to said plunger. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly as recited in  claim 11  said retaining assembly including at least one retaining member, said one retaining member including one end disposable into and out of retaining engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly as recited in  claim 12  wherein said one retaining member is movable relative to said casing and into and out of retaining engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said one retaining member is pivotally connected to said casing and normally biased into said retaining engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said retaining assembly comprises two substantially oppositely disposed elongated retaining members each including one end disposable into and out of retaining engagement with said plunger; each of said retaining members manually positionable towards and away from said casing and into and out of retaining engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a connection assembly disposed in interconnecting relation between said casing and an inflation lumen of the retaining cuff; said connection assembly disposable between a connect orientation and a disconnect orientation. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly as recited in  claim 16  wherein said retaining assembly comprises a retaining member and a gripping structure movably disposed relative to one another and to an entry port of said casing; said retaining member disposed in receiving relation to a connector of the retaining cuff and movable relative to said gripping structure upon receipt of the connecting member. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 17  wherein said gripping structure is disposed to extend outwardly through said receiving port in entry obstructing relation thereto upon removal of the connector member associated with the retaining cuff. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly structured to inflate and monitor pressure within a retaining cuff, said assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff;   a plunger movably connected to said casing and disposed and structured to force fluid flow to the retainer cuff through said pressure chamber,   at least one pressure relief valve accessible from an exterior of said casing and structured to regulate pressure within said pressure chamber;   a shield assembly mounted on said casing and movable between a closed, valve shielding position and an open, valve activating position;   said shield assembly including an activating portion positionable into activating engagement with said pressure relief valve when in said open, valve activating position, and   an indicator assembly movably disposed within said pressure chamber and including an indicator member observable and variably positionable on said casing, dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within said pressure chamber.   
     
     
         20 . An assembly structured to inflate and monitor pressure within a retaining cuff, said assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff;   said casing comprising an integrated pump assembly including a plunger, said plunger movable within said pressure chamber between an extended position and a compressed position and structured to force fluid flow to the retainer cuff through said pressure chamber,   a valve assembly disposed in fluid regulating relation between said pressure chamber and said plunger, and   an indicator assembly movably disposed within said pressure chamber and including an indicator member, said indicator member observable and variably positionable on said casing dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within said pressure chamber.   
     
     
         21 . A single-use assembly structured to introduce fluid into a medical device, said single-use assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the medical device and an entry port connectable to the medical device;   a connection assembly structured for a single use of said casing and disposed adjacent said entry port in interconnecting relation between said casing and the medical device; said connection assembly disposable between a connect orientation and a disconnect orientation, and   said disconnect orientation at least partially defined by at least a portion of said connection assembly disposed in obstructing relation to a reconnection of a medical device to said entry port.   
     
     
         22 . An assembly as recited in  claim 21  further comprising a connection assembly disposed in interconnecting relation between said casing and an inflation lumen of the retaining cuff; said connection assembly disposable between a connect orientation and a disconnect orientation. 
     
     
         23 . An assembly as recited in  claim 21  wherein said retaining assembly comprises a retaining member and a gripping structure movably disposed relative to one another and to said entry port of said casing; said retaining member disposed in receiving relation to a connector of the medical device and movable relative to said gripping structure upon receipt of the connecting member. 
     
     
         24 . An assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein said gripping structure is disposed to extend outwardly through said entry port in entry obstructing relation thereto upon removal of the connector member associated with the medical device. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly structured to inflate and monitor pressure within a retaining cuff, said assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff and an entry port connectable to an inflation lumen of the retaining cuff;   said casing comprising an integrated pump assembly movable within said pressure chamber and structured to force fluid flow to the retainer cuff through said pressure chamber,   a valve assembly disposed in fluid regulating relation between said pressure chamber and said pump assembly,   a retaining assembly including at least one retaining member movably connected to said casing and disposable into and out of retaining relation to said plunger, said one retaining member manually positionable out of retaining engagement with said plunger, and   an indicator assembly movably disposed within said pressure chamber and including an indicator member, said indicator member observable and variably positionable on said casing dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within said pressure chamber.   
     
     
         26 . An assembly structured to inflate and monitor pressure within a retaining cuff, said assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff; said pressure chamber including a multi-chamber construction comprising at least a first chamber and a second chamber,   said casing including an integrated plunger movably connected to said casing within said pressure chamber and structured to force fluid flow to the retainer cuff sequentially through said first chamber and said second chamber,   an indicator assembly movably disposed within said pressure chamber and including an indicator member observable and variably positionable on said casing dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within at least said second chamber, and   a reaction member movably disposed in fluid communication within said second chamber in physically segregated relation to said first chamber and in driving relation to said indicator member; said variable positioning of said indicator member being dependent on disposition of said reaction member and existing pressure within said second chamber being exerted on said reaction member.