US4633864A — Speaking endotracheal tube

Claim 1

Independent Claim 207 words

A speaking endotracheal tube for use in ventilating a patient, the endotracheal tube being insertable through a breathing cavity of a patient into a patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube comprising: (a) said endotracheal tube having a distal end adapted to be located within the trachea of a patient and a proximal end adapted to extend from said breathing cavity; (b) cuff means located proximate the distal end of said endotracheal tube for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the endotracheal tube from escaping around the tube upward in the trachea of the intubated patient (c) a primary ventilating channel contained within the endotracheal tube for the delivery of said respiratory gas to the lungs of an intubated patient; and (d) a secondary speaking channel contained within the endotracheal tube, separate from the ventilating channel, said secondary speaking channel having proximate one end thereof at least one tone exit port located between the proximal end of said endotracheal tube and said cuff means and adapter means at the opposite end thereof for interconnection to a tone generating means for the delivery of a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of an intubated patient enabling the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 207 words

A speaking endotracheal tube for use in ventilating a patient, the endotracheal tube being insertable through a breathing cavity of a patient into a patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube comprising: (a) said endotracheal tube having a distal end adapted to be located within the trachea of a patient and a proximal end adapted to extend from said breathing cavity; (b) cuff means located proximate the distal end of said endotracheal tube for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the endotracheal tube from escaping around the tube upward in the trachea of the intubated patient (c) a primary ventilating channel contained within the endotracheal tube for the delivery of said respiratory gas to the lungs of an intubated patient; and (d) a secondary speaking channel contained within the endotracheal tube, separate from the ventilating channel, said secondary speaking channel having proximate one end thereof at least one tone exit port located between the proximal end of said endotracheal tube and said cuff means and adapter means at the opposite end thereof for interconnection to a tone generating means for the delivery of a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of an intubated patient enabling the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 88 words

The speaking endotracheal tube as defined in claim 1 which further comprises: (a) said cuff means comprises an inflatable cuff means located on the distal end of the tube and encircling an exterior wall of the tube; and (b) a cuff filling channel contained within the exterior wall of the tube, separate from the ventilating channel and the speaking channel, in air communication with the interior of the inflatable cuff means, to provide an interior channel along the tube for the delivery of inflation air to the cuff.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 84 words

The speaking endotracheal tube as defined in claim 2 which further comprises: (a) a cuff filling assembly means, connected to and in air communication with the cuff filling channel, to provide air for the inflation of the cuff having a pilot balloon interconnected to the cuff filling channel for indicating the level of inflation of the cuff and a check valve interconnected to the cuff filling channel for maintaining the inflation of the cuff and for releasable connection with a cuff inflation air source.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 220 words

A speaking endotracheal tube system for use in ventilating a patient which comprises: (a) an endotracheal tube being insertable through a breathing cavity of a patient into a patient's trachea, said tube having a proximal end adpated to extend from said breathing cavity and a distal end adapted to be located within the trachea of the patient, said tube having cuff means located proximate the distal end thereof for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the endotracheal tube from escaping around the upward in the trachea of the intubated patient; (b) a primary ventilating channel contained within the endotracheal tube for the delivery of said respiratory gas to the lungs of an intubated patient; (c) a secondary speaking channel contained within the endotracheal tube, separate from the ventilating channel, said secondary speaking channel having proximate one end thereof at least one tone exit port located between the proximal end of said endotracheal tube and said cuff means for the delivery of a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of an intubated patient enabling the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech; and (d) a tone generating means connected to and in air communication with the other end of the speaking channel for the generation of the tone delivered to the patient's posterior oral pharynx.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 220 words

A speaking endotracheal tube system for use in ventilating a patient which comprises: (a) an endotracheal tube being insertable through a breathing cavity of a patient into a patient's trachea, said tube having a proximal end adpated to extend from said breathing cavity and a distal end adapted to be located within the trachea of the patient, said tube having cuff means located proximate the distal end thereof for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the endotracheal tube from escaping around the upward in the trachea of the intubated patient; (b) a primary ventilating channel contained within the endotracheal tube for the delivery of said respiratory gas to the lungs of an intubated patient; (c) a secondary speaking channel contained within the endotracheal tube, separate from the ventilating channel, said secondary speaking channel having proximate one end thereof at least one tone exit port located between the proximal end of said endotracheal tube and said cuff means for the delivery of a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of an intubated patient enabling the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech; and (d) a tone generating means connected to and in air communication with the other end of the speaking channel for the generation of the tone delivered to the patient's posterior oral pharynx.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 89 words

The speaking endotracheal tube system as defined in claim 4 which further comprises: (a) said cuff means comprises an inflatable cuff means located on the distal end of the tube and encircling an exterior wall of the tube; and (b) a cuff filling channel contained within the exterior wall of the tube, separate from the ventilating channel and the speaking channel, in air communication with the interior of the inflatable cuff means, to provide an interior channel along the tube for the delivery of inflation air to the cuff.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 86 words

The speaking endotracheal tube system as defined in claim 5 which further comprises: (a) a cuff filling assembly means, connected to and in air communication with the cuff filling channel, to provide air for the inflation of the cuff having a pilot balloon means interconnected to the cuff filling channel for indicating a level of inflation of the cuff and a check valve interconnected to the cuff filling channel for maintaining the inflation of the cuff and for releasable connection with a cuff inflation air source.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 248 words

An apparatus for use in ventilating a patient, comprising: (a) endotracheal tube means for insertion through a breathing cavity of the patient into a patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube means having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion being accessible from outside the patient when the endotracheal tube means is so inserted into the patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube means having cuff means located proximate the distal end thereof for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the ventilating channel from escaping around the tube upward in the trachea of the intubated patient; (b) the endotracheal tube means including primary ventilating channel means extending from proximate the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the endotracheal tube means for delivery of respiratory gas to the lungs of the patient; and (c) the endotracheal tube means including secondary channel means having one end extending from proximate the proximal end portion of the endotracheal tube means and being separate from the primary ventilating channel means for delivery of a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of the patient enabling the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech, the secondary channel means including at least one exit port at the opposite end thereof located intermediate of the cuff means and the proximal end portion of the endotracheal tube means, and adapter means at said one end of said secondary channel means for interconnection to a tone generating means.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 248 words

An apparatus for use in ventilating a patient, comprising: (a) endotracheal tube means for insertion through a breathing cavity of the patient into a patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube means having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion being accessible from outside the patient when the endotracheal tube means is so inserted into the patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube means having cuff means located proximate the distal end thereof for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the ventilating channel from escaping around the tube upward in the trachea of the intubated patient; (b) the endotracheal tube means including primary ventilating channel means extending from proximate the proximal end portion to the distal end portion of the endotracheal tube means for delivery of respiratory gas to the lungs of the patient; and (c) the endotracheal tube means including secondary channel means having one end extending from proximate the proximal end portion of the endotracheal tube means and being separate from the primary ventilating channel means for delivery of a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of the patient enabling the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech, the secondary channel means including at least one exit port at the opposite end thereof located intermediate of the cuff means and the proximal end portion of the endotracheal tube means, and adapter means at said one end of said secondary channel means for interconnection to a tone generating means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 93 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further comprising: (a) said cuff means comprises inflatable cuff means located proximate the distal end portion of the endotracheal tube means; and (b) cuff filling channel means extending from proximate the proximal end portion of the endotracheal tube means to the inflatable cuff emans for delivery of inflation air to the inflatable cuff means, the cuff filling channel means being in air communication with the inflatable cuff means, the cuff filling channel means being separate from the primary ventilating channel means and the secondary channel means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 93 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, further including cuff filling assembly means interconnected to and in air communication with the cuff filling channel means for providing air for the inflation of the inflatable cuff means, the cuff filling assembly means having pilot ballon means interconnected to the cuff filling channel means for indicating the level of inflation of the inflatable cuff means and check valve means interconnected to the cuff filling channel means for maintaining the inflation of the inflatable cuff means and for releasable connection with a cuff inflation air source.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising tone generating means interconnected to and in air communication with the adapter means for the generation of the tone delivered to the patient's posterior oral pharynx.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said adapter means further comprising tube means integral with the endotracheal tube means for interconnecting the secondary channel means to the tone generating means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the primary ventilating channel is encircled by an exterior wall of the endotracheal tube means, the secondary channel means being positioned in a thickened portion of the exterior wall.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the endotracheal tube means is flexible and assumes a curved configuration when in a relaxed condition.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the secondary channel means includes a plurality of exit ports.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the endotracheal tube means is an extruded one-piece tube.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the secondary channel means is terminated at a point distal to the tone exit port.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 39 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the endotracheal tube means further includes radiopaque line means extending along the endotracheal tube means in an exterior wall of the endotracheal tube means for locating the endotracheal tube means position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the primary ventilating channel means has a larger diameter than the secondary channel means.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 154 words

A method for ventilating a patient and enabling the patient to speak while being so ventilated, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting endotracheal tube means having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion through a breathing cavity of the patient and into the patient's trachea, distal end portion first and sealing the distal end portion to the patient's trachea for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the endotracheal tube means from escaping around the tube means upward in the trachea of the intubated patient; (b) delivering a respiratory gas to the lungs of the patient through a primary ventilating channel of the endotracheal tube means; and (c) delivering a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of the intubated patient through a secondary channel of the endotracheal tube means, separate from the primary ventilating channel, so as to enable the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 154 words

A method for ventilating a patient and enabling the patient to speak while being so ventilated, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting endotracheal tube means having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion through a breathing cavity of the patient and into the patient's trachea, distal end portion first and sealing the distal end portion to the patient's trachea for substantially preventing respiratory gases delivered to the lungs by the endotracheal tube means from escaping around the tube means upward in the trachea of the intubated patient; (b) delivering a respiratory gas to the lungs of the patient through a primary ventilating channel of the endotracheal tube means; and (c) delivering a tone to the posterior oral pharynx of the intubated patient through a secondary channel of the endotracheal tube means, separate from the primary ventilating channel, so as to enable the patient to speak through articulation of the tone into speech.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-01-05	1990-07-07	1991-01-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-01-05	1994-07-07	1995-01-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-01-05	1998-07-07	1999-01-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Speaking endotracheal tube

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag