Apparatus for endotracheal and esophageal intubation

Claim 2

Apparatus for endotracheal and esophageal intubation, said apparatus comprising: an elongated tubular body having an open outer and open inner end, said tubular body defining an upper portion and a flexible lower portion and a lumen extending between said outer and inner ends; means in said upper portion for selectively sealing said lumen; and means for selectively providing fluid communication between said outer end and the exterior of said upper portion, said means being spaced between said outer end and said sealing means; means carried about said lower portion of said tubular body for insertion within a body canal to form a seal with the walls thereof; whereby said apparatus is adapted for endotracheal intubation when said lumen is open for fluid communication between said outer end and said inner end and said apparatus is adapted for esophageal intubation when said lumen is sealed and adapted for fluid communication between said outer end and the exterior of said upper portion.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means carried about said lower portion of said tubular body comprises an inflatable member in spaced relation with said lower end for inflation within a body canal to form a seal with the walls thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular body comprises: a flexible, open-ended tube; and a tubular adapter, a portion thereof being received in one end of said tube, said adapter and tube portion receiving said adapter defining said upper portion of said tubular body and the remaining portion of said tube defining said flexible lower portion of said tubular body.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said adapter is removably received in said flexible tube, one end of said adapter and a portion thereof adjacent to said end extending longitudinally outwardly from said flexible tube, said one end being open to define said outer end of said tubular body, the opposite end portion of said adapter being received in said lumen of said flexible tube and adapted to define a fluid tight seal with the inner walls of said tube.

Claim 6

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including: a plurality of discharge openings in the walls of said tube portion receiving said adapter, said openings being in spaced relation with said end portion of said adapter formIng said sealing means; the wall of said portion of said adapter received in said lumen of said tube being provided with at least one opening for fluid communication between said open outer end and said discharge openings; and means carried by said tube for selectively closing said discharge openings.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for selectively closing said discharge openings comprises a sleeve slidably carried on said upper portion for movement between a withdrawn position wherein said discharge openings are unrestricted and a second position overlying said discharge openings thereby to close them.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said discharge openings are located in said end portion of said adapter extending outwardly from said tube and the walls of said tube are continuous.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said end portion of said adapter received in said tube is radially inwardly tapered and the end thereof defines an enlarged plug forming a fluid seal with the walls of said tube, and at least one elongated slot being provided in a wall of said tapered end portion for unrestricted fluid communication between the interior of said adapter and said peripheral openings of said upper portion of said tubular body.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said adapter comprises: a first sleeve having an inner and outer end, the inner end thereof communicating with said lumen of said tube and being provided with a flange extending across a portion of the opening between said first sleeve and said lumen of said tube; a plurality of peripheral slots extending between the inner and outer surfaces of said first sleeves and being in longitudinally spaced relation with said flange; a second sleeve having an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said first sleeve rotatably carried within said first sleeve for rotation between a first and a second position, said second sleeve having an end co-terminus with said inner end of said first sleeve; said second sleeve interior defining the bore of said adapter, an interior wall portion adjacent said co-terminus end being biased inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said second sleeve in a direction toward said co-terminus end, said inwardly biased wall portion cooperating with said flange of said first sleeve to seal said lumen of said tube when said second sleeve is rotated into said first position and to open said lumen when rotated into said second position; a plurality of peripheral slots in said second sleeve being longitudinally aligned with said slots of said first sleeve and being radially aligned therewith when said second sleeve is in said first position, thereby to provide fluid communication from the interior of said adapter to the exterior thereof, and being radially misaligned when said second sleeve is in said second position thereby to seal said slots of said first sleeve.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said first sleeve is integral with said tube.

Claim 12

Apparatus for esophageal intubation comprising: a flexible elongated tube adapted for insertion in the esophagus and having an outer end and an inner end; an inflatable member carried on said tube adjacent said inner end; means for inflating said member communicating therewith; an adapter having an open end, a closed end and a bore extending therebetween being removably inserted in said outer end of said tube so that said closed end and a portion of said adapter adjacent said closed end are disposed within said tube; said closed end of said adapter defining a seal for said tube to prevent fluid flow between said outer and inner ends of said tube; a plurality of openings in said tube wall, said openings being spaced between said outer end of said tube and said closed end of said adapter; a port in the wall of said portion of said adapter disposed within said tube communIcating the bore of said adapter with said openings in said tube wall.

Claim 13

Apparatus for esophageal intubation comprising: a flexible elongated tube adapted for insertion in the esophagus and having an outer end and an inner end; an inflatable member carried on said tube adjacent said inner end; means for inflating said member communicating therewith; an adapter having an open end, a closed end and a bore extending therebetween being removably inserted in said outer end of said tube so that said closed end and a portion of said adapter adjacent said closed end are disposed within said tube; said closed end of said adapter defining a seal for said tube to prevent fluid flow between said outer and inner ends of said tube; a plurality of openings in said tube wall, said openings being spaced between said outer end of said tube and said closed end of said adapter; a port in the wall of said portion of said adapter disposed within said tube communIcating the bore of said adapter with said openings in said tube wall.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 further including a sleeve slidably carried on said tube and movable between position on said tube overlying and closing said openings and a position on said tube wherein said openings are unobstructed.

Claim 15

Apparatus for esophageal intubation comprising: a flexible elongated tube adapted for insertion in the esophagus and having an outer end and an inner end; an inflatable member carried on said tube adjacent said inner end; means for inflating said member communicating therewith; an adapter having an open end, a closed end and a bore extending therebetween being removably inserted in said outer end of said tube so that said closed end and a portion of said adapter adjacent said closed end are disposed in said tube and the remaining portion of said adapter extends beyond said outer end of said tube; a mask for covering the nose and mouth of a patient carried by said adapter portion extending beyond said tube; and a plurality of openings disposed about the periphery of said adapter portion extending beyond said tube, said openings being in spaced relation within said mask for fluid communication between the bore of said adapter and the patient''s respiratory tract.

Claim 16

Apparatus for esophageal intubation comprising: a flexible elongated tube adapted for insertion in the esophagus and having an outer end and an inner end; an inflatable member carried on said tube adjacent said inner end; means for inflating said member communicating therewith; an adapter having an open end, a closed end and a bore extending therebetween being removably inserted in said outer end of said tube so that said closed end and a portion of said adapter adjacent said closed end are disposed in said tube and the remaining portion of said adapter extends beyond said outer end of said tube; a mask for covering the nose and mouth of a patient carried by said adapter portion extending beyond said tube; and a plurality of openings disposed about the periphery of said adapter portion extending beyond said tube, said openings being in spaced relation within said mask for fluid communication between the bore of said adapter and the patient''s respiratory tract.

Claim 17

Apparatus for esophageal intubation comprising: a flexible elongated tube adapted for insertion in the esophagus and having an outer end and an inner end; an inflatable member carried on said tube adjacent said inner end; means for inflating said member communicating therewith; an adapter having an open end, a sealable inner end and a bore extending therebetween being connected at said inner end to said outer end of said tube, at least a portion of said adapter extending beyond said outer end of said tube, a mask for covering the nose and mouth of a patient carried by said extending portion; said adapter further including a first sleeve defining a bore and an inner end, a flange adjacent said inner end extending normal to said bore and blocking a portion thereof to define a restricted, eccentrically disposed opening between said bore and said lumen of said tube, and a plurality of radially spaced openings disposed about the periphery of said first sleeve in spaced relation between said mask and said outer end of said tube; a second sleeve co-axially mounted in said first sleeve for rotation between a first position and a second portion, said second sleeve having a bore, one end substantially co-terminus with said flange of said first sleeve and an interior wall portion adjacent said co-terminus end biased inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said second sleeve in a direction toward said co-terminus end to define an eccentrically disposed opening at said co-terminus end of said second sleeve, a plurality of openings disposed about the periphery of said second sleeve in longitudinal alignment with said openings of said first sleeve and spaced for radial alignment therewith when said second sleeve is in said first position and for misalignment when said inner sleeve is in said second position, whereby in said first position said eccentrically disposed openings at the ends of said first and second sleeves are misaligned, said flange of said first sleeve and said wall portion of said second sleeve cooperating to close said inner end of said adapter and said openings of first and second sleeves are aligned, and in said second position said eccentrically disposed openings are aligned for fluid communication with said tube and said peripheral openings of said first and second sleeves are misaligned.

Claim 18

Apparatus for esophageal intubation comprising: a flexible elongated tube adapted for insertion in the esophagus and having an outer end and an inner end; an inflatable member carried on said tube adjacent said inner end; means for inflating said member communicating therewith; an adapter having an open end, a sealable inner end and a bore extending therebetween being connected at said inner end to said outer end of said tube, at least a portion of said adapter extending beyond said outer end of said tube, a mask for covering the nose and mouth of a patient carried by said extending portion; said adapter further including a first sleeve defining a bore and an inner end, a flange adjacent said inner end extending normal to said bore and blocking a portion thereof to define a restricted, eccentrically disposed opening between said bore and said lumen of said tube, and a plurality of radially spaced openings disposed about the periphery of said first sleeve in spaced relation between said mask and said outer end of said tube; a second sleeve co-axially mounted in said first sleeve for rotation between a first position and a second portion, said second sleeve having a bore, one end substantially co-terminus with said flange of said first sleeve and an interior wall portion adjacent said co-terminus end biased inwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of said second sleeve in a direction toward said co-terminus end to define an eccentrically disposed opening at said co-terminus end of said second sleeve, a plurality of openings disposed about the periphery of said second sleeve in longitudinal alignment with said openings of said first sleeve and spaced for radial alignment therewith when said second sleeve is in said first position and for misalignment when said inner sleeve is in said second position, whereby in said first position said eccentrically disposed openings at the ends of said first and second sleeves are misaligned, said flange of said first sleeve and said wall portion of said second sleeve cooperating to close said inner end of said adapter and said openings of first and second sleeves are aligned, and in said second position said eccentrically disposed openings are aligned for fluid communication with said tube and said peripheral openings of said first and second sleeves are misaligned.