Pediatric endotracheal tube with bronchial blocker and method for selectively blocking respiratory airflow to a pediatric patient's lung

Claim 2

Apparatus for selectively blocking respiratory air flow to a pediatric lung or a single lobe thereof, comprising: a. a flexible endotracheal tube adapted for passage of a fiber optic bronchoscope therethrough; b. a second flexible tube having an outer diameter less than said endotracheal tube, parallel with and fixedly contacting said endotracheal tube; c. a bronchial blocker assembly insertable into and movable along the length of said second flexible tube, having a pair of axial passageways therethrough; d. a stylet insertable into and movable along the length of one of said axial passageways in said bronchial blocker assembly, said stylet being rotatable within said axial passageway and sufficiently stiff to maintain the stylet in a generally straight configuration but which is easily flexed to guide said endotracheal tube and said bronchial blocker assembly along a pediatric patient's windpipe by lateral movement of an end of said stylet within said bronchial blocker assembly responsively to manual force applied to a second end of said stylet outside of said bronchial blocker assembly when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident within and occupied substantially the length of said second flexible tube and said stylet is resident within and occupied substantially the length of said bronchial blocker assembly; and e. means for axially fixing said bronchial blocker assembly relative to said second axial passageway when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident therewithin.

Claim 3

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said endotracheal tube and said second flexible tube are formed as a unitary member.

Claim 4

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second flexible tube fixedly contacts said endotracheal tube over the axial length thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said endotracheal tube and said second flexible tube are a single extrusion.

Claim 6

Apparatus of claim 4 wherein there is a continuous bond between said flexible endotracheal tube and said second flexible tube over the axial length of contact therebetween.

Claim 7

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of said endotracheal tube is not more than about 6.9 mm.

Claim 8

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said endotracheal tube is not more than about 5.5 mm.

Claim 9

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stylet is braided substantially over the axial length thereof.

Claim 10

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stylet has a solid cross section.

Claim 11

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said endotracheal tube is greater than about 4.0 millimeters.

Claim 12

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said endotracheal tube is between about 4.0 millimeters and about 5.5 millimeters.

Claim 13

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bronchial blocker assembly includes an expandable cuff.

Claim 14

Apparatus of claim 12 wherein said cuff is inflatable.

Claim 15

Apparatus of claim 13 wherein said cuff has a capacity of between about 1 and about 2 cubic centimeters.

Claim 16

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein a distal end of said endotracheal tube projects distally beyond a distal end of said second flexible tube.

Claim 17

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said endotracheal tube has a beveled, open distal end.

Claim 18

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said endotracheal tube comprises a side port provided in the wall of the endotracheal tube near the distal end of the endotracheal tube.

Claim 19

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said endotracheal tube comprises a series of depth markers along the length of the endotracheal tube.

Claim 20

Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bronchial blocker assembly comprises: a. an air vent penetrating into the second axial passageway near a first end of the bronchial blocker assembly and b. an inflatable cuff having a first and a second open end, the first end of the inflatable cuff being sealed around the bronchial blocker assembly near the first end of the bronchial blocker assembly and the second end of the inflatable cuff being sealed around the bronchial blocker assembly proximally to the first end of the inflatable cuff so that the inflatable cuff is positioned to cover the air vent.

Claim 23

The method of claim 20 wherein said lateral manipulation of said end of said stylet is performed while visually guiding the endotracheal tube and associated equipment within said tracheal structure using a fiber optic bronchoscope resident within said endotracheal tube.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20 wherein the step of laterally maneuvering an end of said stylet to navigate said tracheal structure comprises the step of positioning a middle set of lines in a series of depth markers along the length of the endotracheal tube at the vocal cords of the patient to facilitate proper positioning of the endotracheal tube within the patient.

Claim 25

Apparatus for selectively blocking respiratory air flow to a pediatric lung or a single lobe thereof, comprising: a. a flexible endotracheal tube adapted for passage of a fiber optic bronchoscope therethrough, the endotracheal tube having a beveled, open distal end, the endotracheal tube comprising: i. a side port provided in the wall of the endotracheal tube near the distal end of the endotracheal tube and ii. a series of depth markers along the length of the endotracheal tube; b. an endotracheal tube adaptor attached near a proximal end of the endotracheal tube; c. a second flexible tube having an outer diameter less than said endotracheal tube, parallel with and fixedly contacting said endotracheal tube; d. a bronchial blocker assembly insertable into and movable along the length of said second flexible tube, the bronchial blocker assembly having a first and a second axial passageway therethrough, the second axial passageway having an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of said first axial passageway, the bronchial blocker assembly comprising: i. an air vent penetrating into the second axial passageway near a first end of the bronchial blocker assembly and ii. an inflatable cuff having a first and a second open end, the first end of the inflatable cuff being sealed around the bronchial blocker assembly near the first end of the bronchial blocker assembly and the second end of the inflatable cuff being sealed around the bronchial blocker assembly proximally to the first end of the inflatable cuff so that the inflatable cuff is positioned to cover the air vent; e. a bronchial blocker adaptor attached near a proximal end of the bronchial blocker; f. a stylet insertable into and movable along the length of said first axial passageway in said bronchial blocker assembly, said stylet being rotatable within said axial passageway and sufficiently flexible to guide said endotracheal tube and said bronchial blocker assembly along a pediatric patient's windpipe by lateral movement of an end of said stylet within said bronchial blocker assembly responsively to manual force applied to a second end of said stylet outside of said bronchial blocker assembly when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident within and occupied substantially the length of said second flexible tube and said stylet is resident within and occupied substantially the length of said bronchial blocker assembly; and g. means for axially fixing said bronchial blocker assembly relative to said second axial passageway when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident therewithin.

Claim 26

Apparatus for selectively blocking respiratory air flow to a pediatric lung or a single lobe thereof, comprising: a. a flexible endotracheal tube adapted for passage of a fiber optic bronchoscope therethrough, the endotracheal tube having a beveled, open distal end, the endotracheal tube comprising: i. a side port provided in the wall of the endotracheal tube near the distal end of the endotracheal tube and ii. a series of depth markers along the length of the endotracheal tube; b. an endotracheal tube adaptor attached near a proximal end of the endotracheal tube; c. a second flexible tube having an outer diameter less than said endotracheal tube, parallel with and fixedly contacting said endotracheal tube; d. a bronchial blocker assembly insertable into and movable along the length of said second flexible tube, the bronchial blocker assembly having a first and a second axial passageway therethrough, the second axial passageway having an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of said first axial passageway, the bronchial blocker assembly comprising: i. an air vent penetrating into the second axial passageway near a first end of the bronchial blocker assembly and ii. an inflatable cuff having a first and a second open end, the first end of the inflatable cuff being sealed around the bronchial blocker assembly near the first end of the bronchial blocker assembly and the second end of the inflatable cuff being sealed around the bronchial blocker assembly proximally to the first end of the inflatable cuff so that the inflatable cuff is positioned to cover the air vent; e. a bronchial blocker adaptor attached near a proximal end of the bronchial blocker; f. a stylet insertable into and movable along the length of said first axial passageway in said bronchial blocker assembly, said stylet being rotatable within said axial passageway and sufficiently flexible to guide said endotracheal tube and said bronchial blocker assembly along a pediatric patient's windpipe by lateral movement of an end of said stylet within said bronchial blocker assembly responsively to manual force applied to a second end of said stylet outside of said bronchial blocker assembly when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident within and occupied substantially the length of said second flexible tube and said stylet is resident within and occupied substantially the length of said bronchial blocker assembly; and g. means for axially fixing said bronchial blocker assembly relative to said second axial passageway when said bronchial blocker assembly is resident therewithin.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein the step of laterally maneuvering an end of said stylet to navigate said tracheal structure comprises the step of positioning a middle set of lines in a series of depth markers along the length of the endotracheal tube at the vocal cords of the patient to facilitate proper positioning of the endotracheal tube within the patient.