The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 1979
Filed:
Mar. 25, 1977
James O Elam, Chicago, IL (US);
Other;
Abstract
A monitoring system is comprised of an elastomer balloon housed in a rigid cage having a plurality of windows which is designed to continuously indicate the state of collapse or expansion of the internal cuff or cuffs of an encotracheal tube. This balloon monitor is interconnected in series with the pneumatic channel through which the cuff or cuffs are inflated. The volume of the balloon may be observed visually with reference to its filling the cage enclosure denoting thereby its state of inflation and therefore, also that of the endotracheal cuff. Calibration of the balloon monitor provides means for accurately observing both the volume and pressure of air in the system. Therefore, visual inspection of the balloon monitor indicates by reason of the calibration the prevailing level of pressure in the patient's endotracheal cuff. Since the maintenance of safe cuff pressures results in a normal position of the balloon, in contact with the cage, electrical and electronic means may be arranged appropriately between the balloon and the inner surface of the cage to produce a warning signal in the event of cuff overdistension and an alarm signal in the event of cuff collapse.