Intubation tubes

Claim 2

An intubation tube for establishing communication through and for sealingwise engaging a body canal; said intubation tube comprising a tubular portion adapted to telescopically fit within said body canal; a bulbous cuff mounted on and encircling said tubular portion; said cuff normally having a bulbous shape and being formed from an elastic compressible material which when compressed or distorted seeks to revert to its original configuration; said cuff having an outer skin which is smooth and substantially cavity free so as to prevent the passage of air through said cuff; said cuff being free from communication with means for inflating it; and said cuff being larger than said body canal so that when confined within said canal it yieldably distorts to the cross-sectional size and shape of said canal, thereby forming a fluidtight seal between said tubular portion and said canal.

Claim 3

An intubation tube according to claim 1 wherein said skin is a thin covering surrounding said cuff.

Claim 4

An intubation tube according to claim 1 wherein said skin is formed by the application of heat to the outer surface of said cuff.

Claim 5

An intubation tube according to claim 1 wherein said tubular portion includes at least one end which extends from said bulbous cuff, said end being free for grasping and manipulation of said tube.

Claim 6

An incubation tube according to claim 1 in which the cuff is formed from a cellular material.

Claim 7

An intubation tube according to claim 1 in which the cuff is formed from a trabeculated material.

Claim 8

An intubation tube according to claim 1 in which the cuff possesses a spongy consistency.

Claim 9

An intubation tube according to claim 1 for use as an endotracheal tube wherein the cuff is substantially circular in transverse cross-sectional configuration concentriC about the axis of the tubular portion and of a diameter sufficient in size to sealingwise engage a patient''s tracheal lining caudad to the larynx, and wherein the cuff is further elongated in longitudinal cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 10

An intubation tube according to claim 1 for use as an endotracheal tube wherein the cuff is adhesively secured to the external surface of the tubular portion.

Claim 11

An intubation tube according to claim 1 for use as an endotracheal tube wherein said tubular portion extends through a longitudinally extending bore in said cuff, said bore being located offcenter with respect to the outer periphery of said cuff, said cuff being sized to engage a patient''s tracheal lining caudad to the larynx; said offcenter location of said bore permitting visual inspection of said cuff, said tubular portion, and said larynx during insertion of said endotracheal tube into a patient''s trachea.

Claim 12

An intubation tube according to claim 1 for use as an endotracheal tube wherein said cuff is provided intermediate its ends with a diametrally reduced center portion which divides said cuff into forward and rear cuff portions, said center portion being sized to accommodate the patient''s larynx; at least one of said forward and rear cuff portions being larger than the patient''s trachea so that it yieldably distorts to the cross-sectional size and shape of said trachea, the elasticity of said one cuff portion causing it to expand outwardly against said trachea to form a fluidtight seal therewith.

Claim 13

An intubation tube according to claim 11 wherein both of said forward and rear cuff portions are larger than the patient''s trachea so as to fit snugly therein, thereby providing a fluidtight seal above and below the patient''s larynx when said center portion is positioned within said trachea adjacent said larynx.

Claim 14

An intubation tube for establishing communication through and for sealingwise engaging a body canal; said intubation tube comprising a tubular portion adapted to telescopically fit within said body canal; a bulbous cuff mounted on and encircling said tubular portion; said cuff normally having a bulbous shape and being formed from an elastic compressible material which when compressed or distorted seeks to revert to its original configuration; said cuff being elongated, having an enlarged diameter intermediate its ends, having reduced diameters at its ends, and normally having a rounded contour tapering toward said ends from said enlarged diameter; said cuff being free from communication with means for inflating it; and said enlarged diameter being larger than said body canal so that when said cuff is within said canal it yieldably distorts to the cross-sectional size and shape of said canal.

Claim 15

An intubation tube for establishing communication through and for sealingwise engaging a body canal; said intubation tube comprising a tubular portion adapted to telescopically fit within said body canal; a bulbous cuff mounted on and encircling said tubular portion; said cuff normally having a bulbous shape and being formed from an elastic compressible material which when compressed or distorted seeks to revert to its original configuration; said cuff being elongated, having an enlarged diameter intermediate its ends, having reduced diameters at its ends, and normally having a rounded contour tapering toward said ends from said enlarged diameter; said cuff being free from communication with means for inflating it; and said enlarged diameter being larger than said body canal so that when said cuff is within said canal it yieldably distorts to the cross-sectional size and shape of said canal.