Pharmaceutical endotracheal tube

Claim 2

An endotracheal device coupleable to a syringe with a hypodermic needle comprising: a generally elongated, flexible, tubular member enclosing a main passageway and extending along the length thereof, said tubular member having a distal end positionable at the point where the trachea of a patient divides to form a passageway to each lung and having an opposite end configured for the introduction of a breathable gas; discrete tube means having a termination end adjacent the distal end of said tubular member, said discrete tube means extending along said tubular member for a discrete distance and then separating from said tubular member and ending in a second opening end; puncturable closure means secured to said second end of said discrete tube means; and said discrete tube means being of smaller diameter than said tubular member; whereby, while applying a breathable gas through said opposite end of said tubular member, puncturing said puncturable closure means with the needle end of said hypodermic syringe having a pharmaceutical fluid therein and effecting a pumping action on said syringe, said pharmaceutical is positively forced through said discrete tube means and out said termination end into the lungs of a patient and therefrom absorbed through the walls of the lungs of a patient into the bloodstream of a patient.

Claim 3

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said termination end includes an exit end region comprising a pair of branched passageways terminating on opposite sides of said tubular member, whereby, responsive to the pumping of a pharmaceutical fluid into said discrete tube means, said pharmaceutical fluid flows toward the right and left main stem bronchi, respectively, in a directed fashion.

Claim 4

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discrete tube means is a single tube positioned within the outer surface of said tubular member.

Claim 5

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discrete tube means is a single tube formed in the wall of said tubular member.

Claim 6

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 1 including: an inflatable cuff positioned around said tubular member intermediate the ends thereof and a second discrete tube having one end communicating with said cuff, and then said second tube extending along said tubular member for a discrete distance and then separating from said tubular member; and cuff inflation means coupled to an opposite end of said tube for applying air pressure to said cuff and thereby effecting a holding action on said cuff by engagement of said cuff with a patient.

Claim 7

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said discrete tube means is a single tube positioned within the outer surface of said tubular member.

Claim 8

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said discrete tube means is a single tube formed in the wall of said tubular member.

Claim 9

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 2 including: an inflatable cuff positioned around said tubular member intermediate the ends thereof and a second discrete tube having one end communicating with said cuff, and then said second tube extending along said tubular member for a discrete distance and then separating from said tubular member; and cuff inflation means coupled to an opposite end of said tube for applying air pressure to said cuff and thereby effecting a holding action on said cuff by engagement of said cuff with a patient.

Claim 10

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said discrete tube means includes a pair of discrete tubes, each positioned on opposite sides of said endotracheal tube, said pair of discrete tubes merging into a single tube terminating at said diaphragm closure means.

Claim 11

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said pair of tubes is positioned within the outer surface of said tubular member.

Claim 12

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said pair of tubes is formed in the wall of said tubular member.

Claim 13

An endotracheal device as set forth in claim 9 including: an inflatable cuff positioned around said tubular member intermediate the ends thereof and a second discrete tube having one end communicating with said cuff, and then said second tube extending along said tubular member for a discrete distance and then separating from said tubular member; and cuff inflation means coupled to an opposite end of said tube for applying air pressure to said cuff and thereby effecting a holding action on said cuff by engagement of said cuff with a patient.

Claim 14

An endotracheal device coupleable to a syringe with a hypodermic needle comprising: a generally elongated, flexible, tubular member enclosing a main passageway and extending along the length thereof, said tubular member having a distal end positionable at the point where the trachea of a patient divides to form a passageway to each lung and having an opposite end configured for the introduction of a breathable gas; discrete tube means having a termination end adjacent the distal end of said tubular member, said termination end of said discrete tube means opening exterior to said main passageway, and said discrete tube means extending along said tubular member for a discrete distance and then separating from said tubular member and ending in a second opening end; puncturable closure means secured to said second end of said discrete tube means; and said discrete tube means being of smaller diameter than said tubular member; whereby, while applying a breathable gas through said opposite end of said tubular member, puncturing said puncturable closure means with the needle end of said hypodermic syringe having a pharmaceutical fluid therein and effecting a pumping action on said syringe, said pharmaceutical is positively forced through said discrete tube means and out said termination end into the lungs of a patient and therefrom absorbed through the walls of the lungs of a patient into the bloodstream of a patient.

Claim 15

An endotracheal device coupleable to a syringe with a hypodermic needle comprising: a generally elongated, flexible, tubular member enclosing a main passageway and extending along the length thereof, said tubular member having a distal end positionable at the point where the trachea of a patient divides to form a passageway to each lung and having an opposite end configured for the introduction of a breathable gas; discrete tube means having a termination end adjacent the distal end of said tubular member, said termination end of said discrete tube means opening exterior to said main passageway, and said discrete tube means extending along said tubular member for a discrete distance and then separating from said tubular member and ending in a second opening end; puncturable closure means secured to said second end of said discrete tube means; and said discrete tube means being of smaller diameter than said tubular member; whereby, while applying a breathable gas through said opposite end of said tubular member, puncturing said puncturable closure means with the needle end of said hypodermic syringe having a pharmaceutical fluid therein and effecting a pumping action on said syringe, said pharmaceutical is positively forced through said discrete tube means and out said termination end into the lungs of a patient and therefrom absorbed through the walls of the lungs of a patient into the bloodstream of a patient.

Claim 18

A method of administering medicine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said device further includes an inflatable cuff positioned around said tubular member intermediate the ends thereof and a second discrete tube extending from said cuff along said tubular member and separating from said tubular member a substantial distance along said tubular member from said cuff, and cuff inflation means is connected to an end of said second tube opposite said cuff.