Device and method for pressure indication

1. A device that indicates internal pressure of an inflatable medical cuff including:

a hollow housing having a first opening at a first end thereof to which a cuff inflation tube can be coupled and a second opening at a second end of the hollow housing to which a syringe can be coupled, the hollow housing including a generally cylindrical body which is made from transparent material and an integral end formation which includes the second opening;

a valve in the second opening having a valve element which can be unseated from sealing engagement with a valve seat on coupling of the syringe to the second opening for permitting inflating air from the syringe to pass into or from the hollow housing; and

a bellows having an open end and a closed end, the open end of the bellows coupled to the hollow housing at said first end to form an inner chamber within the bellows and an outer chamber between the bellows and the hollow housing, and wherein the closed end of the bellows is disposed towards the second end of the hollow housing, the hollow housing including at least one vent which vents the inner chamber to atmosphere, and wherein the hollow housing includes at least one fluid communication passage from the first opening to the outer chamber and an end body which is coupled to the cylindrical body and includes the first opening, the at least one communication passage and the at least one vent and wherein the open end of the bellows is connected to the end body, whereby in use the outer chamber is at the same pressure as the internal pressure of the cuff, whereby changes in the internal pressure of the cuff cause expansion and retraction of the bellows such that the position of the closed end of the bellows indicates the internal pressure of the cuff.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow housing is autoclavable and formed of one of polysulphone, Lexan and Ultem.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow housing is generally cylindrical and has scale markings thereon with which a position of the closed end of the bellows may be compared to indicate the internal pressure of the cuff.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve element is unseated from the valve seat by engagement of an end of the syringe upon insertion of the syringe into the second opening to allow air communication from or into the syringe to or from the outer chamber.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the bellows is formed of silicone.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein a wall thickness of the bellows is about 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the wall thickness is about 0.4 millimeters.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein pleats of the bellows have an opening angle of about sixty degrees when the bellows is in a relaxed state.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein a flange is provided at the open end of the bellows for engaging a rebate in the hollow housing.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the bellows has an outer diameter of between about 15 mm and 9 mm.

11. The device of claim 7 , wherein at least one pleat of the bellows toward the closed end is less compressive than pleats toward the open end.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein at least one pleat toward the closed end is of a larger diameter than pleats toward the open end.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the outer chamber includes a substantially annular chamber between an inside wall of the hollow housing and the bellows and an end chamber between the second end of the hollow housing and the closed end of the bellows, the end chamber and the annular chamber being partially separated by a movable indicator.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the movable indicator is connected to the bellows at the closed end thereof.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the movable indicator comprises an annular portion of the bellows disposed toward the closed end thereof.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein guide means are provided on the inside wall of the hollow housing for guiding movement of the bellows axially within the hollow housing.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the guide means includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the ribs protrude from the inside wall by about 0.25 mm.

19. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an indication mark formed on an outer annular portion of a pleat proximate to the closed end.

20. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a laryngeal mask including the inflatable medical cuff having the cuff inflation tube coupled thereto.