Medical tube including an inflatable cuff having a notched collar
View Patent ↗A medical device may include a tubular body configured to communicate gas and an inflatable cuff coupled to the tubular body at least by a collar. The tubular body may include an opening. The collar may include a notch positioned relative to the opening in the tubular body such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.
1. A method of attaching an inflatable cuff to a tubular body of a medical tube, the method comprising:
forming a notch in a collar of an inflatable cuff;
mounting the inflatable cuff on a tubular body having an opening; and
positioning the notch in the collar relative to the opening in the tubular body such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising bonding the collar of the inflatable cuff to the tubular body.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising positioning a band at least partially around the collar to help secure the collar to the tubular body.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the notch is open-ended.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the notch comprises an enclosed hole.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the notch has a substantially circular shape.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the notch has a substantially ovoid shape.
8. A method of attaching an inflatable cuff having a collar to a tubular body of a medical tube, the method comprising:
mounting the inflatable cuff on the tubular body; and
forming a notch in the collar of the mounted cuff.
9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising bonding the collar of the inflatable cuff to the tubular body.
10. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising positioning a band at least partially around the collar to help secure the collar to the tubular body.
11. A method according to claim 8 , wherein:
the inflatable cuff further includes another; and
the inflatable cuff is mounted on the tubular body at least by the two collars.
12. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising forming an opening in the tubular body, wherein the notch in the collar is positioned relative to the opening in the tubular body such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.
13. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising forming an opening in the tubular body substantially simultaneously with the forming of the notch in the collar.
14. A method according to claim 13 , further comprising forming the opening in the tubular body and the notch in the collar by cutting completely across a side of the collar and the tubular body to form a circular or ovoid opening and a circular or ovoid notch.
15. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the notch in the collar and the opening in the tubular body are formed such that a passageway extends through at least a portion of the notch and at least a portion of the opening.
16. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the notch is open-ended.
17. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the notch comprises an enclosed hole.
18. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the notch has a substantially circular shape.
19. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the notch has a substantially ovoid shape.