Coated tracheostomy tube and stoma stent or cannula

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices used in the management of bodily airways including tracheostomy tubes, laryngectomy tubes, bronchial stents, bronchial Y-tubes, bronchial TY-tubes, and nasal stents. The devices may comprise a protective coating to prevent the accumulation of mucus, crusting and granulation on or around airway management devices, as well as prevent adhesion to tissues which can cause bleeding upon removal, and prevent build-up of blood, or blood clots, to the stent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bronchial stent having a generally tubular shape comprising:
 (a) an open distal end, an open proximal end, a lumen extending therebetween having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal axis through the center of the lumen;   (b) a means to prevent movement or displacement of the stent; and   (c) a protective coating that covers one or more portions of the outer surface, inner surface, or both the outer and inner surface, of the stent.   
     
     
         2 . The bronchial stent of  claim 1 , wherein the means to prevent movement or displacement of the stent is one or more rings around the circumference of the stent, one or more posts that extend outwardly from the outer surface of the stent, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The bronchial stent of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more rings are located on the distal end of the stent, the proximal end of the stent, between the distal end and proximal end of the stent, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The bronchial stent of  claim 2 , wherein the posts are cylindrical, cubic, pyramidal, or prism-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The bronchial stent of  claim 2 , wherein the posts are distributed randomly or in a pattern along the outer surface of the stent. 
     
     
         6 . The bronchial stent of  claim 1 , wherein the protective coating is a polymeric coating. 
     
     
         7 . The bronchial stent of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer is parylene. 
     
     
         8 . The bronchial stent of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the bronchial stent bifurcates into a first tubular diagonal arm and a second tubular diagonal arm, wherein each arm comprises an open distal end, an open proximal end, a lumen extending therebetween having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal axis through the center of the lumen of each diagonal arm. 
     
     
         9 . The bronchial stent of  claim 8 , wherein the lumen in the diagonal arms is continuous with the lumen of the stent. 
     
     
         10 . The bronchial stent of  claim 8 , wherein the lengths of the first diagonal arm and the second diagonal arm are equal. 
     
     
         11 . The bronchial stent of  claim 8 , wherein the lengths of the first diagonal arm and the second diagonal arm are unequal. 
     
     
         12 . The bronchial stent of  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the bronchial stent forms a first angle with the longitudinal axis of the first diagonal arm and wherein the longitudinal axis of the bronchial stent forms a second angle with the longitudinal axis of the second diagonal arm. 
     
     
         13 . The bronchial stent of  claim 12 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are equal. 
     
     
         14 . The bronchial stent of  claim 12 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are unequal. 
     
     
         15 . The bronchial stent of  claim 1 , wherein the bronchial stent further comprises a third tubular arm extending from the stent wherein the third tubular arm comprises a first open end, a second open end, and a lumen extending therebetween having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a longitudinal axis through the center of the lumen of the third tubular arm.