Appeal No. 97-0082
Application No. 07/993,718
APPENDIX
1. A neck flange for tracheostomy tube to position and support
the tube when inserted into the neck of a human comprising a
neck engaging portion having a sheet shape with a pair of
generally parallel major surfaces defined by an edge, the
neck engaging portion fashioned of a flexible material, and
an interconnection positioned centrally within the neck
engaging portion and carried thereby as part thereof, the
interconnection having a ring shaped body with an opening
therethrough, the ring shaped body for surrounding and
movably connecting to the tracheostomy tube passing
therethrough for permitting limited relative movement
therebetween, the interconnection of a material less
flexible than the neck engaging portion.
18. A method for using a neck flange for a tracheostomy tube
with a neck engaging portion of a flexible transparent
material and an interconnection of a less flexible
transparent material by the following steps:
(i) placing the tracheostomy tube into an entry in the
patient's neck;
(ii) swiveling the neck engaging portion relative to the
tracheostomy tube so as to conform the neck engaging portion
to the patient's neck;
(iii) flexing the neck engaging portion to conform to the
curvature around the entry into the patient's neck, and (iv)
observing the condition of the entry into the neck under the
transparent interconnection or the transparent engaging
portion.
19. A neck flange for a tracheostomy tube to position and
support the tube when inserted into the neck of a human
comprising: a neck engaging portion having a thin flexible
flat sheet with a pair of generally parallel major surfaces
defined by an edge therearound and a generally central
aperture therethrough, the neck engaging portion molded of a
flexible, transparent polymer material;an interconnection
positioned centrally within the neck engaging portion and
carried thereby, the interconnection having a ring shaped
body with an opening and a pair of opposed pivot pins
extending into the opening for carrying the tracheostomy
tube passing therethrough, the pair of opposed pins movably
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