Patent ID: 7735488
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A medical device comprising: a tracheal tube and a cuff surrounding an exterior of said tracheal tube and configured to be positioned in the trachea of a subject with the tracheal tube allowing the subject to respirate through the tracheal tube; a first tube having a first end in fluid communication with an interior of the cuff and having an opposite, second end; a second tube having a first end in fluid communication with the interior of the cuff and having an opposite, second end; a pumping device connected to the respective second ends of the first and second tubes that circulates a fluid through the interior of the cuff, said pump, said first and second tubes, and said cuff forming a flow path for said fluid; said cuff comprising a membrane that is selectively permeable to a substance relative to said fluid, said membrane being disposed to allow transfer through said membrane of said substance from an exterior of the cuff to the interior of the cuff so as to mix with the fluid in the interior of the cuff; an analysis unit in fluid communication with said flow path that analyzes said fluid with regard to content in said fluid of said substance from the exterior of the cuff that has mixed with said fluid the interior of the cuff; a dosing unit in fluid communication with said flow path that administers a dose of a medicament into said fluid; and said analysis unit comprising a calculation unit that quantitatively determines an amount of said substance in said fluid relative to a predetermined normal amount, and said dosing unit comprising at least one reservoir containing at least one additive corresponding to said substance, said dosing unit causing said additive from said reservoir to be added into said medicament if said analysis unit determines that said amount of said substance in said fluid is below said predetermined normal amount.