Endotracheal tubes with improved proximal end connector units

Claim 1

In a permanently bowed endotracheal tube having an inflatable balloon cuff on its distal end, a central major lumen, a secondary minor lumen via which the cuff can be inflated and a proximal end through which the major lumen exits, an improved proximal end connector unit for connection of said tube to external fluid flow equipment which comprises: a straight, rigid, cylindrical distal end portion having an O.D. approximately equal to said lumen of said tube, a straight, rigid, cylindrical proximal end portion having an I.D. larger than said I.D. of said distal end portion, and a central tubular portion joining said distal end portion to said proximal end portion, said central tubular portion being bendable in an arc of at least 180° without any substantial diminution of its effective lumen which is at least equal to the lumen of said tube, said proximal end portion, distal end portion and central tubular portion all being integral and formed of the same thin, plastic material, said central tubular portion comprising a plurality of circumferential, angular segments each consisting of a pair of sides that are of unequal length, said central tubular portion being compressed lengthwise with the shorter side of each of said pair being folded back under the longer side, said connector unit being attached to said endotracheal tube by insertion of said distal end portion in said proximal end of said endotracheal tube.