Smiths Group Plc

Smiths Medical International Limited

Mentor Medical Limited

Icu Medical International Limited

Timothy Bateman

Stephen James Field

Andrew Thomas Jeffrey

Eric Pagan

John Edward Nash

Christopher John Woosnman

Christopher John Woosnam

Giles Andrew Bishop

Neil Steven Veasey

Andrew James Lee

Steven James Field

Alan Neame Simon

Steven Mark Tupper

Laura Beth Morton

A tracheostomy tube assembly includes an outer tube () and an inner cannula () removably inserted in the outer tube. The connector () on the machine end of the outer tube is rotatable through about a quarter turn and has a screw thread () on its inner surface. The hub () on the machine end of the inner cannula () is also formed with a screw thread () arranged to engage with the screw thread () in the connector. The inner cannula () is pulled into the outer tube (), or is pushed outwardly of the tube, by rotating the connector.

Tracheostomy tube assemblies and inner cannulae

A tracheostomy tube assembly includes an outer tube () and an inner cannula () inserted in the outer tube. Two lugs () and () project outwardly from the inner cannula. The outer tube has a connector () that is rotatable and has catch members () and () that can be rotated into alignment with the lugs () and () on the inner cannula so as to retain the inner cannula in the outer tube. The inner cannula is removed by twisting the connector () through 90&#xb0; so that the catch members () (and) move out of alignment with the lugs () and () to enable the inner cannula to be pulled rearwardly out of the outer tube.

A tracheostomy tube assembly comprises an outer tracheostomy tube () and an inner cannula () fitted in the tube. The machine end of the inner cannula has a collapsible region () formed by a plurality of curved or bent struts () extending parallel with one another between a machine end collar () and a patient end collar (). The struts () carry outwardly-projecting catches () arranged to engage a rib () extending around the inside of a hub () at the machine end of the tube and thereby resist removal of the cannula from the tube. The inner cannula () is removed by twisting the machine end collar () so that the struts () collapse inwardly and thereby disengage the catches () from the rib ().

A tracheostomy tube assembly includes a flexible tube (') and a flexible introducer (&#x2032;) within the tube, the introducer having a passage () along its length for receiving a guidewire () inserted into the trachea () through a tracheostomy (). The tube () has an inwardly-projecting collar (&#x2032;) at its patient end (), which engages an outwardly-projecting shoulder (&#x2032;) on the introducer (&#x2032;) so that the tube does not ride rearwardly along the introducer during insertion. The flexibility of the assembly is such that it can be inserted through the tracheostomy () while straight and then curves to follow the guidewire () as its patient end enters the trachea ().

Tracheostomy tube assemblies

A tracheostomy tube has an inner skeletal frame () of a relatively stiff plastics material having a longitudinal spine () and several annular ribs () extending around the frame. A thin, flexible plastics sheath () is bonded to the outside of the frame (). The construction enables a maximum internal diameter with a minimum external diameter.

Tracheostomy tubes

A face mask comprises a sealing collar () extending around the mouth with a shelf () extending under the nose supporting a gel insert () that makes sealing contact between the nostrils and a passage () through the shelf. A curved, rigid window () is a push fit in a central opening () of the collar () and has a gas inlet () attached with it so that the window can be removed or connected with the sealing collar as necessary. The collar () supported on the head by a harness () having two triangular portions () on opposite sides encircling respective ears.

Mask apparatus

A ventilation device has a flexible adhesive sheet that can be sealed around the patient's nose and mouth. A fitting extending through the sheet in the region of the mouth enables the patient to be ventilated by means of a vent tube inserted through the fitting.

Patient ventilation devices

Oocyte extraction apparatus or embryo replacement apparatus has a flexible tube along which the oocyte or embryo passes. The tube extends along an outer jacket which maintains the temperature within the tube. The jacket may be thermally insulating or it may be heated such as with warmed liquid.

Oocyte and embryo handling apparatus

An wc-disposable ostomy bag has a pouch of alkali-disposable material and an adhesive flange in two parts. One part is an inner ring permanently bonded with the pouch around its opening. The other part forms the major part of the flange and is an outer ring attached with the pouch by a temporary, manually-separable bond. The outer ring can be disposed of separately from the pouch and inner ring, which are placed in a wc to which an alkali has been added. The small size of the inner ring enables it to be flushed away.

Growing community of inventors

Hythe, United Kingdom

Timothy Bateman