Endotracheal tube with positive check valve air seal

Claim 1

An endotracheal device for insertion into the trachea or other passage to ventilate the lungs during operations and prolonged treatments, comprising: a tubular base means for transmitting fluids to place a positive pressure on the lungs by inserting one end of said tubular base into the trachea, a flexible annular lip surrounding said base means adjacent said one end and having a free edge extending toward said one end, said lip being movable from a first position to a second radially expanded position and in said first position being radially retracted away from the trachea, said lip in said second position being radially expanded to provide sealing between the outer surface of said lip and the interior walls of said trachea whereby fluid pressure from the lungs acts only on the inner surface of said lip thereby preventing the flow of compressible fluid along said trachea from said one end to said other end, and means for moving said lip from said first position to said second position when a positive pressure is placed on the lungs, said means including a hollow inflatable member connected to said lip along the edge thereof opposite said free edge and surrounding said tubular base means at a location axially adjacent said lip and having axially facing ports in communication with the lungs, said member being inflated and radially expanded by the flow of fluid under positive pressure from the lungs.