Endotracheal tube with cuffs that self-inflate during inspiration and remain inflated during expiration. Shown are distal openings on the outside of the tube into the cuff volume. Also shown is a tube having an opening through its wall into the cuff volume, and a flutter valve to restrict the flow of air. The cuffs shown are substantially larger than the trachea and are of thin film material.
The present laryngeal mask airway relates generally to medical and surgical equipment and is more particularly concerned with the provision of means for maintaining normal breathing of of the patient during surgical operations and the like.
A primary object of the instant oxygen mask is the provision of a novel and improved endotracheal tube.
is the provision of an endotracheal tube having a self-inflating cuff.
Another object of this invention is the provision of an endotracheal tube having a self-inflating cuff that automatically inflates during inspiration through the tube and which remains inflated during expiration therethrough.
Another object is the provision of an endotracheal tube having a self-inflating cuff that makes a good seal with the wall of the trachea but which nevertheless minimizes the likelihood of trauma at the area of the trachea wall where the seal is made.
A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a self-inflating endotracheal tube having novel and improved structural means for automatically causing inflation of the inflatable cuff during inspiration of the patient and for maintaining the cuff inflated during expiration.
Another object is the provision of an endotracheal tube of the character described that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which therefore may be disposable after use.
Other object, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
As will be seen, all forms of the present Endotracheal tube provide for automatic inflation of the cuff during the inspiratory phase of the respiration cycle, and at the same time, the cuff is maintained sufficiently inflated during expiration to retain an effective seal. The simplicity of construction of the various forms of the instant invention hereinbefore described make it feasible for the tubes to be disposable after each use.
