Patent ID: 7305989

Claim:
A medico-surgical instrument for ventilation via the trachea comprising: a hollow needle having a sharp tip adapted to penetrate the trachea through neck tissue; an elongate inner member located within said needle such that the member can slide along its length relative to the needle; a resilient member adapted to urge said inner member forwardly relative to said needle, such that a forward end of said inner member is located forwardly of said needle tip before use but is displaced rearwardly during passage through neck tissue by engagement with the tissue and moves forwardly relative to said needle when said trachea is penetrated; a tracheostomy tube removably supported by and extending along the outside of said needle: and an indicator towards a rear end of said needle for indicating position of said elongate member relative to said needle such that said needle can be removed to leave the tracheostomy tube in position extending through neck tissue when said indicator indicates that the trachea has been penetrated.