Smiths Group Plc

Glowstone Ltd

Thomas Gostelow

The invention concerns a torch () which has a rechargeable electric battery (), at least one LED (), an energy receiver device () for receiving energy from a charging station (), circuitry for charging the battery from the energy receiver device, circuitry for supplying electric current from the battery to the LED to drive the LED, and a user-operable switching device () for controlling the supply of current from the battery to the LED. In accordance with the invention, the battery, the LED, the circuitry for charging the battery, the circuitry for supplying electric current from the battery to the LED and the switching device are all embedded in a unitary body of polymer material, the LED being arranged to emit light through the polymer material.

Torch

A tracheostomy device has a short tube terminating adjacent the internal end of an opening into the trachea. A flange secures the external end of the tube and a retainer secures the internal end of the tube against the surface of the trachea. The device also includes a seal, which engages the surface of the trachea above the opening, and a suction passage extending externally by which secretions can be removed.

Tracheostomy device

An instrument for providing ventilation access to the trachea has a hollow needle with a sharp tip, a tube extending within the needle and a spring urging the tube to project a short distance from the patient end of the needle. The rear end of the tube carries two colored flags one of which is visible at a time in a transparent window towards the machine end of the needle. When the patient end of the instrument is pushed through neck tissue overlying the trachea the inner tube is pushed rearwardly so that a flag of one color is visible. When the patient end of the instrument enters the trachea the spring can push the inner tube forwardly so that the other flag is visible. In one embodiment the instrument carries a dilator and tracheostomy tube that can be slid off the needle after penetration. In another embodiment, ventilation equipment is connected to the rear of the inner tube and the patient is ventilated through the instrument itself.

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Chester, United Kingdom

Thomas Gostelow