摘要 |
An instrument for providing ventilation access to the trachea has a hollow needle 10, 110 with a sharp tip 12, 112, a tube 13, 113 extending within the needle and a spring 18, 118 urging the tube to project a short distance from the patient end of the needle. The rear end of the tube carries two coloured flags 16 and 17, 116 and 117 one of which is visible at a time in a transparent window 24, 124 towards the machine end of the needle. When the patient end of the instrument is pushed through neck tissue overlying the trachea the inner tube 13, 113 is pushed rearwardly so that a flag 16, 116 of one colour is visible. When the patient end of the instrument enters the trachea the spring 18, 118 can push the inner tube 13, 113 forwardly so that the other flag 17, 117 is visible. In one embodiment the instrument carries a dilator 2 and tracheostomy tube 3 that can be slid off the needle 10 after penetration. In another embodiment, ventilation equipment 216 is connected to the rear of the inner tube 113 and the patient is ventilated through the instrument itself. <IMAGE> |