Fitting for endotracheal tube apparatus and method of making the fitting

Claim 1

A fitting for endotracheal apparatus to receive an endoscopic tube, or the like, said fitting comprising: an elongated body of soft resilient cellular foam of generally bell, or mushroom shape, and of predetermined length, having, a flat outer end with a laterally extending enlarged lip therearound, an opposite, rounded inner end and an elongated cylindrical shank, of predetermined diameter between said lip and said rounded end; a sleeve having a head with a circular outer end edge, a cylindrical interior recess, an inwardly flared section forming an annular, truncated conical partial closure to said recess and an elongated, hollow tapered stem, said head coaxially encompassing said body in said recess, said lip overlies the circular edge of said sleeve and; a cap having an integral skirt fitting around said head and affixed thereto and having a top with an integral, inwardly extending peripheral rim, defining an opening and said lip is clasped between the circular edge and the peripheral rim; said foam body having a longitudinal slit pre-formed therein from end to end, being under longitudinal compression between said peripheral rim and said flared section, being under radial compression at said flared section and being under a relieved pressure at said opening.

Claim 5

A method of making a fitting for endotracheal tube apparatus to receive, seal and reseal an endoscopic tube, or the like, the fitting having an elongated cellular foam body of generally bell shape having a flat outer end with a laterally extending enlarged lip therearound, an opposite round end and an elongated cylindrical shank therebetween a sleeve having a circular outer end edge, a cylindrical recess, an inwardly flared section forming a shoulder section and an elongated, hollow tapered stem and a cap having a top with an integral, inwardly extending peripheral rim defining a central opening which comprises the steps of: forming the foam body in a circularly symmetrical shape of greater length than said recess; forcing the body into the recess and shoulder section of the sleeve by affixing the cap over the sleeve with the lip of the body clasped between the circular edge of the sleeve and peripheral rim of the cap to hold the body in permanent longitudinal compression between the top rim and shoulder section and permanent radial compression in the area of the shoulder section; and then preslitting the foam body longitudinally with a through slit, by slitting through said opening.

Claim 6

A method of making a fitting for endotracheal tube apparatus to receive, seal and reseal an endoscopic tube, or the like, the fitting having an elongated cellular foam body of generally bell shape having a flat outer end with a laterally extending enlarged lip therearound, an opposite round end and an elongated cylindrical shank therebetween a sleeve having a circular outer end edge, a cylindrical recess, an inwardly flared section forming a shoulder section and an elongated, hollow tapered stem and a cap having a top with an integral, inwardly extending peripheral rim defining a central opening which comprises the steps of: forming the foam body in a circularly symmetrical shape of greater length than said recess; forcing the body into the recess and shoulder section of the sleeve by affixing the cap over the sleeve with the lip of the body clasped between the circular edge of the sleeve and peripheral rim of the cap to hold the body in permanent longitudinal compression between the top rim and shoulder section and permanent radial compression in the area of the shoulder section; and then preslitting the foam body longitudinally with a through slit, by slitting through said opening.