Intubation assembly and method of inserting same having a balloon to indicate the position of tube inside of the patient

Claim 1

An intubation assembly comprising an endotracheal tube having proximal and distal ends and a balloon adapter attached to said proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said balloon adapter comprising means for indicating the position of said distal end of said endotracheal tube inserted into a patient, said means comprising an elastic, thin-walled inflatable balloon portion and a connector portion, said connector portion being the sole means for entry of air into said balloon portion, said connector portion comprising a hollow cylindrical member having a first end circumferentially sealed to said balloon portion and a second end adapted for connection to said proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said balloon adapter indicating the location of said distal end of said endotracheal tube by the expansion and contraction of said balloon portion with the expiration and inspiration, respectively, of the patient upon insertion of said distal end of said endotracheal tube into the opening of the patient's trachea, said balloon portion indicating placement of said distal end of said endotracheal tube past the vocal cords and within the trachea upon increased intensity of the inflation and deflation of said balloon portion.

Claim 8

A method of blind intubation comprising: (a) providing an endotracheal tube having proximal end distal ends and an elastic, thin-walled balloon detachably affixed to the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said balloon being visibly responsive to the pressure variations within the air passages of a patient coincident with the inspiratory and expiratory phases of the patient's respiration; (b) inserting said endotracheal tube by its distal end into the air passages of a patient; (c) observing movements of said balloon to determine the location of the distal end of said endotracheal tube wherein the periodic distention and collapse of said balloon is a visual indication of impending tracheal placement; (d) after observing said visual indication of impending tracheal placement of said endotracheal tube, further inserting said endotracheal tube into the trachea of the patient during the collapsed phase of said balloon, which collapse is coincident with the inspiratory phase of the patient's respiration and opening of the patient's epiglottis and vocal cords; and (e) verifying the position of the endotracheal tube past the vocal cords and within the trachea of the patient as evidenced by a visible increase in the intensity of the characteristic movements of said balloon.

Claim 9

A method of blind intubation comprising: (a) providing an endotracheal tube having proximal end distal ends and an elastic, thin-walled balloon detachably affixed to the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said balloon being visibly responsive to the pressure variations within the air passages of a patient coincident with the inspiratory and expiratory phases of the patient's respiration; (b) inserting said endotracheal tube by its distal end into the air passages of a patient; (c) observing movements of said balloon to determine the location of the distal end of said endotracheal tube wherein the periodic distention and collapse of said balloon is a visual indication of impending tracheal placement; (d) after observing said visual indication of impending tracheal placement of said endotracheal tube, further inserting said endotracheal tube into the trachea of the patient during the collapsed phase of said balloon, which collapse is coincident with the inspiratory phase of the patient's respiration and opening of the patient's epiglottis and vocal cords; and (e) verifying the position of the endotracheal tube past the vocal cords and within the trachea of the patient as evidenced by a visible increase in the intensity of the characteristic movements of said balloon.