A catheter such as an endotracheal tube is rendered resistant to laser beam impaction by coating the cuff and/or the tube with a laser-reflective compound which is preferably comprised of one to three parts of powdered aluminum to one part silicone rubber solution. The laser-reflective compound may be permanently bonded to the cuff and/or the tube by first dipping the cuff and/or the tube in a bath of the compound to form a smooth outer coating on the cuff and/or the tube and then baking the cuff and/or the tube to cure the coating.
During certain medical procedures and especially during surgery, it may be necessary to admit or remove fluids (either liquids or gases) from the patient and a catheter is often employed carrying such fluids. For example during surgery of thethroat, a mixture of oxygenoxygen maskand anesthesia usually must be carried into the lungs and a special type of catheter, known as an endotracheal tube, is employed for this purpose.
Although present day silicone rubber, latex rubber and polyvinyl chloride tracheostomy tube have proven safe and reliable, use of silicone rubber, latex rubber and polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tubes often presents a serious risk of hazard ifused during laser surgery unless the tube is protected against inadvertent laser impaction. In the past, endotracheal tubes used during laser surgery have been protected against inadvertent laser impaction by wrapping the tube with a self-adhering metal foil whichthus serves to reflect the laser beam should the laser inadvertently impact the endotracheal tube. However, several disadvantages are believed to be associated with this method of protecting the endotracheal tube. Firstly, a certain amount ofpreparation time is consumed in wrapping a standard endotracheal tube with relfective foil.
In contrast to the feeding tubes of the prior art, the present invention concerns an improved laser-resistant endotracheal tube which is not subject to the above enumerated disadvantages.
It is an object of the present laryngeal mask airway to provide an improved laser-resistant endotracheal tube;
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved laser-resistant endotracheal tube having a smooth exterior surface to facilitate endotracheal tube intubation;
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved laser-resistant endotracheal tube which requires no special preparation for use during laser surgery.
