Endotracheal tube having irrigation means

Claim 1

An endotracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, to enable mechanical ventilation of the lungs of the patient, said endotracheal tube comprising: a main body comprising a tube having a wall surrounding and defining a single lumen tube, said main body comprising means to supply ventilating gases from an external source to the lungs of the patient and said main body having a proximal end and a distal end; an inflatable cuff sealed to and surrounding said main body, at a location near the distal end of said main body, such that when said endotracheal tube is properly located within the patient, said inflatable cuff may be inflated to seal the trachea of the patient; means to inflate and deflate said inflatable cuff; and double lumen evacuating means for irrigation and/or for suction removal of secretions which may pool in the trachea around the endotracheal tube and above the inflatable cuff; wherein said double lumen evacuating means comprises a first lumen and a second lumen formed within said wall of said main body, and extending parallel and in close proximity to each other, from the proximal end of said main body to a suction eye formed through a portion of said wall of said main body, said suction eye being located proximal to said inflatable cuff; wherein said first lumen and said second lumen are separated by a separation wall along the majority of their lengths, from the proximal end of said main body to a position proximal to the beginning of said suction eye, such that said first lumen and said second lumen are connected at a position corresponding approximately to the location of said suction eye.