Self-inflating endotracheal tube

Claim 2

A self-inflating endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible, open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and distal end, an inflatable cuff secured to said tube adjacent the distal end thereof, and means for automatically causing inflation of said cuff in response to inspiration through said tube and for maintaining said cuff inflated during expiration therethrough, the portion of said tube extending through said cuff being imperforate and said means comprising openings in the vicinity of the distal end of said cuff adapted to receive a backflow of air flowing along the outside of said tube.

Claim 3

The endotracheal tube of claim 1 further characterized in that the said cuff is generally tubular in configuration and has a diameter substantially larger than that of the trachea in which the tube is adapted to be inserted.

Claim 4

The endotracheal tube of claim 2 further characterized in that said cuff is of thin, film material.

Claim 5

The endotracheal tube of claim 1 further characterized in that said cuff is of thin film material sized and shaped to permit it to fold upon itself when inflated in the trachea into a substantial teardrop configuration with the large end of the teardrop near the proximal end.

Claim 6

A self-inflating endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible, open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and distal end, an inflatable cuff secured to said tube adjacent the distal end thereof, and means for automatically causing inflation of said cuff in response to inspiration through said tube and for maintaining said cuff inflated during expiration therethrough, the portion of said tube extending through said cuff being constructed to prevent flow of air from within said cuff to the interior of said tube when the pressure in said cuff is higher, said means comprising openings in the vicinity of the distal end of said cuff adapted to receive a backflow of air flowing along the outside of said tube and said cuff being of thin film material and sized and shaped to permit it to fold upon itself when inflated in the trachea into a substantial teardrop configuration with the large end of the teardRop near the proximal end.

Claim 7

A self-inflating endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible, open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and distal end, an inflatable cuff secured to said tube adjacent the distal end thereof, and means for automatically causing inflation of said cuff in response to inspiration through said tube and for maintaining said cuff inflated during expiration therethrough, the portion of said tube extending through said cuff being constructed to prevent flow of air from within said cuff to the interior of said tube when the pressure in said cuff is higher, said means comprising openings in the vicinity of the distal end of said cuff adapted to receive a backflow of air flowing along the outside of said tube and said cuff being of thin film material and sized and shaped to permit it to fold upon itself when inflated in the trachea into a substantial teardrop configuration with the large end of the teardRop near the proximal end.

Claim 8

The endotracheal tube of claim 5 wherein said openings comprise, at least in part, passages defined beneath the distal end of the cuff.

Claim 9

The endotracheal tube of claim 6 further characterized in that said passages comprise grooves in the outer surface of the distal end of the endotracheal tube.

Claim 10

The endotracheal tube of claim 7 wherein said grooves are distributed around the circumference of the tube, a reduced diameter hub portion of the cuff secured about said grooves, the grooves being longer than the axial length of the hub and having portions lying beyond said hub on both sides thereof.

Claim 11

A self-inflating endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible, open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and distal end, and an inflatable cuff secured to said tube adjacent the distal end thereof, said cuff having at least one slit therein, said slit located in the distal portion of said cuff for entry of air from the trachea, the portion of said tube extending through said cuff being imperforate.

Claim 12

A self-inflating endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible, open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and distal end, and an inflatable cuff secured to said tube adjacent the distal end thereof, said cuff having at least one slit therein, said slit located in the distal portion of said cuff for entry of air from the trachea, the portion of said tube extending through said cuff being imperforate.

Claim 13

The endotracheal tube of claim 9 further characterized in that said cuff is of thin, flexible film material.

Claim 14

The endotracheal tube of claim 10 further characterized in that the said cuff is generally tubular in configuration and has a diameter substantially larger than that of the trachea in which the tube is adapted to be inserted.

Claim 15

The endotracheal tube of claim 9 wherein said slits are elongated and extend generally parallel to the axis of the hollow tube.

Claim 16

The endotracheal tube of claim 9 wherein said slits are elongated and extend generally perpendicular to the axis of the hollow tube.

Claim 17

An endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and a distal end, said tube being provided with a generally radially extending aperture therethrough adjacent the distal end thereof, an inflatable cuff overlying said aperture and sealed to the tube at its ends on either side of the aperture whereby to form a fluid chamber intermediate the walls of the tube and cuff, and a flexible sheet secured over said opening and having a slit therein in registry with said opening, said flexible sheet being oriented so that when the pressure of the fluid within the hollow tube increases above that in the chamber, the slit in the flexible sheet will open and the fluid will flow into the chamber, thereby inflating the cuff, said flexible sheet thereafter operating to restrict fluid flow out of the cuff.

Claim 18

An endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and a distal end, said tube being provided with a generally radially extending aperture therethrough adjacent the distal end thereof, an inflatable cuff overlying said aperture and sealed to the tube at its ends on either side of the aperture whereby to form a fluid chamber intermediate the walls of the tube and cuff, and a flexible sheet secured over said opening and having a slit therein in registry with said opening, said flexible sheet being oriented so that when the pressure of the fluid within the hollow tube increases above that in the chamber, the slit in the flexible sheet will open and the fluid will flow into the chamber, thereby inflating the cuff, said flexible sheet thereafter operating to restrict fluid flow out of the cuff.

Claim 19

An endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and a distal end, said tube being provided with a generally extending aperture therethrough adjacent the distal end thereof, an inflatable cuff overlying said aperture and sealed to the tube at its ends on either side of the aperture whereby to form a fluid chamber intermediate the walls of the tube and cuff, a flexible check valve on the hollow tube and normally covering the aperture, an air scoop member positioned to divert air moving toward the distal end into said aperture and thus through said check valve into said cuff, said flexible check valve being oriented so that when the pressure of the fluid within the hollow tube increases above that in the chamber, the flexible check valve will open and the fluid will flow into the chamber, thereby inflating the cuff, said check valve thereafter operating to restrict fluid flow out of the cuff.

Claim 20

An endotracheal tube comprising an elongated, flexible open-ended hollow tube having a proximal and a distal end, said tube being provided with a generally extending aperture therethrough adjacent the distal end thereof, an inflatable cuff overlying said aperture and sealed to the tube at its ends on either side of the aperture whereby to form a fluid chamber intermediate the walls of the tube and cuff, a flexible check valve on the hollow tube and normally covering the aperture, an air scoop member positioned to divert air moving toward the distal end into said aperture and thus through said check valve into said cuff, said flexible check valve being oriented so that when the pressure of the fluid within the hollow tube increases above that in the chamber, the flexible check valve will open and the fluid will flow into the chamber, thereby inflating the cuff, said check valve thereafter operating to restrict fluid flow out of the cuff.