Inflation and monitoring assembly for a pressure cuff

Abstract

An assembly structured to inflate a retaining or pressure cuff of a medical device including of the type associated with an artificial airway tube such as an endotracheal tube and/or tracheostomy tube and concurrently monitor pressure therein including a casing having a pressure chamber on its interior. A pump assembly is movably connected to the casing and structured to force fluid flow to the retaining cuff, for inflation, through said pressure chamber. An indicator member is disposed within the casing and is visually accessible through the casing window, wherein the indicator member is variably positionable dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within the retaining cuff. The existing pressure within the pressure chamber is substantially equivalent to that within the retaining cuff thereby facilitating the variable position of the indicator member to be indicative of pressure within the retaining cuff. A junction may be disposed in interconnecting relation between the casing and an inflation lumen to the retaining cuff and is structured to allow disconnection between the casing and the lumen but prevent reconnection thereto.

1 . An assembly structured to inflate and monitor pressure within a retaining cuff of a medical device, said assembly comprising:
 a casing including an interior pressure chamber disposed in fluid communication with the retaining cuff; said pressure chamber including at least a first chamber and a second chamber,   a plunger connected to said casing and movable within said first chamber,   said plunger structured to force fluid flow to the retainer cuff sequentially through said first chamber and said second chamber,   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 in 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 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. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as recited in  claim 6  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. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as recited in  claim 8  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. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein said one retaining member is movable relative to said casing and into and out of retaining engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as recited in  claim 10  wherein said one retaining member is pivotally connected to said casing and normally biased into said retaining engagement with said plunger. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly as recited in  claim 9  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. 
     
     
         13 . 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. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly as recited in  claim 13  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. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly as recited in  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a single-use assembly, said single-use assembly comprising:
 a connection assembly structured for a single use of said casing and disposed adjacent an entry port of said fluid channel in interconnecting relation between said casing and the retaining cuff; 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 the medical device to said entry port. 
 
     
     
         17 . An assembly as recited in  claim 16  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. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly as recited in  claim 17  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. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly as recited in  claim 18  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.