Smiths Group Plc

Smiths Medical International Limited

Neil Adam Tookman

Stephen James Field

Andrew Crisman

Alysa Lauren Granata

Caroline Therese Solly

A needle assembly has a needle having an echogenic feature proximate to its distal sharp tip mounted to an echogenic cannula, with the echogenic tip of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the cannula. The echogenic tip provides guidance for the movement of the needle assembly under ultrasound observation so that the needle assembly may be more readily maneuvered inside a body. Once correctly positioned, the needle is removed and further confirmation may be made under ultrasound observation that the cannula has been correctly positioned inside the body. The echogenic feature of the needle may be at least one spiral groove that is tilted at an angle relative to the tip of the needle to effect a substantially 180° reflection of the ultrasound. An alternative echogenic feature to improve reflected echogeneity has crisscrossing grooves each having a predetermined pitch density formed at a neutral position on the needle.

Echogenic needle assemblies and method of use thereof

A tracheostomy tube assembly has a flange arrangement () movable along the shaft () of the assembly and lockable at different positions. The flange arrangement has a gel-filled member () with a flexible conformable surface () providing substantially the entire surface contacting the skin. The flange has aperture () through which a tape can be extended for use in securing the assembly with the patient's neck. The gel-filled member () may be provided separately for use on existing tube assemblies.

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Middlesex, United Kingdom

Neil Adam Tookman