US3862635A - Smooth tipped endotracheal tube - Google Patents

Abstract

An endotracheal tube including a preformed inflatable plastisol balloon telescopically fitted over and secured to a forward end portion of a dual-lumen tube. The inflatable balloon is formed with an elongated forward collar which is fitted onto the duallumen tube. The tube and collar are simultaneously severed along a biased cut to provide an open front end of the endotracheal tube. The forward collar and dual-lumen tube are then fused into a generally homogeneous mass to provide a smooth exterior sliding surface at the forward end portion of the endotracheal tube.

Description

ll ited States Patent Harautuneian 1 Jan. 28, 1975 [54] SMOOTH TIPPEI) ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE 3,734,100 5/1973 Walker 128/349 B [75} Inventor: Andrew Harautuneian, Westlake OTHER PUBLICATIONS Village Calif Shiley Cuffed Trachcostomy Tube, Sept. 1970,

[73] Assignee: American Hospital Supply I I Corporation, Evdnsmnv L Irnnary IL.\'(UHIHLIAl(lHCh F. Medbery Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Lurry N. Burger; Robert T.

[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 Merrick [52] US. Cl. 128/351, 128/349 B [51] int. Cl A6lm 25/00 [58] Field of Search 128/349 R, 351, 349 B,

128/349 BV, 348, 2.05 R; 156/155, 294

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,292,627 12/1966 Haruutuneian 128/349 B 3,304,353 2/1967 Harautuneian 261/98 3,407,817 10/1968 Galleher, Jr 128/349 B 3,499,435 3/1970 Rockwell et ul. 128/351 3,543,759 12/1970 MeWhorter 128/349 B X [57] ABSTRACT An endotracheal tube including a preformed inflatable plastisol balloon telescopically fitted over and secured to a forward end portion of a dual-lumen tube. The inflatable balloon is formed with an elongated forward collar which is fitted onto the dual-lumen tube. The tube and collar are simultaneously severed along a biased cut to provide an open front end of the endotracheal tube. The forward collar and dual-lumen tube are then fused into a generally homogeneous mass to provide a smooth exterior sliding surface at the forward end portion of the endotracheal tube.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 8 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 SMOOTH TIPPED ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE BACKGROUND When a patient is anesthetized with inhalable gaseous anesthesia various devices are used to direct the anesthesia into the patients lungs. One type device involves a mask that fits over the patients nose and mouth and connects with an anesthesia machine. Another device includes a nasal cannula where the anesthesia is directed through the nasal passage and into the patients lungs. Still another, and becoming more widely used, is an endotracheal tube.

An endotracheal tube is essentially a large-diameter tube inserted in through the patients mouth and fed down through the trachea to where it terminates right above the bronchial branch connected to the lungs. This endotracheal tube is then connected to an anesthesia machine. Many physicians believe that the endotracheal tube method provides a more accurate control of administering the anesthesia to the patient.

When anesthesia is fed through the endotracheal tube in the patients trachea a structure is required to seal the outer surface of the endotracheal tube with the trachea. This is to keep anesthesia gases from escaping back between the endotracheal tube and the trachea. A common structure for sealing the endotracheal tube to the trachea is an inflatable balloon. This is sometimes called the cuff or tracheal ballon of an endotracheal tube. Because the endotracheal tube and balloon are in a tender area of the patients trachea it is desired that the tube and balloon be made of a nonirritating material. Previous rubber cuffs and tubes had the disadvantage of containing accelerators and vulcanizing agents, which could irritate the trachea.

Preferred endotracheal tubes are made of a thermoplastic or plastisol material that do not require vulcanizing agents and cause less irritation to the patient.

In the past these endotracheal tubes have been made by preforming a plastisol cuff or balloon and then securing this balloon to a flexible tube. One of the major problems in securing the balloon to the tube involved the joint between the balloon and the tube. Because the endotracheal tube must slide down past the vocal cords it is important to make the forward end of the endotracheal tube as smooth as possible. One of the main problems with previous endotracheal tubes was the annular ridge formed at the forward juncture of the inflatable sleeve and the dual-lumen tube. It is to this tube and inflatable balloon joint that this invention relates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the problems of joining a plastisol preformed inflatable balloon to a dual-lumen thermoplastic insertion tube to create a smooth sliding external surface. The inflatable plastisol sleeve or balloon of this invention is formed with an enlarged inflatable center portion and an elongated forward collar portion. Rearwardly of the large center portion there is also a rear collar portion. The dual-lumen tube is inserted in through the rear collar, the enlarged center portion and into the elongated forward collar portion. Next, the forward collar and dual-lumen are simultaneously out along a diagonal bias plane surface to develop an open forward end of the endotracheal tube. Finally, the forward end of the endotracheal tube with the coterminous forward collar of the balloon and dual-lumen tube are heat fused in an induction heating die. The endotracheal tube is then removed from the heating die to provide a generally homogeneous rounded forward end portion of the endotracheal tube. There is no visible joint or ridge between the forward collar and the insertion tube, but only a smooth sliding surface.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the endotracheal tube showing it complete and ready for attachment to an anesthesia machine;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the inflatable sleeve portion of the endotracheal tube;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing a step in forming the plastisol inflatable sleeve with its elongated forward collar;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the combined inflation sleeve and thermoplastic insertion sleeve showing how they are simultaneously severed at the elongated front collar portion; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged. section view of the preformed inflationsleeve and the dual-lumen thermoplastic tube immediately before they are assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to these above-mentioned drawings, the completed endotracheal tube shown in FIG. 1 includes a dual-lumen thermoplastic insertion tube 1 that extends between a forward tip portion 2 and arearward end 3. Atrear end 3 is attached anadapter 4 which connects with anelbow element 5. Thiselbow 5 is adapted to connect directly to an anesthesia machine (not shown) that feeds anesthesia gas into the endotracheal tube at a precisely controlled rate and concentration.

Adjacent a forward end of the dual-lumen tube is an inflatable tracheal balloon 6. This balloon extends from a forward tip 2 of the endotracheal tube, where it is integrally fused with the dual-lumen insertion tube, to a rear end 7 of the tracheal balloon. The tracheal balloon has a preformed enlargedcentral portion 8 that is spaced from the dual-lumen tube 1 in its normal uninflated condition. To further inflate the enlargedcentral portion 8, air or liquid is injected through avalve member 9, a pilot balloon l0, and through a side arm 11 that connects to an inflation lumen. This inflation lumen communicates with an interior of the enlargedcentral portion 8 of the inflation sleeve. Thus, as air or liquid is forced in through thecheck valve 9 thecenter portion 8 of the tracheal balloon is inflated. The pilot balloon l0 likewise swells and gives a visual indication that the enlargedcentral portion 8 is inflated. Pilot balloon 10 is outside the patient and readily visible at all times while inflatedcentral portion 8 is in the patients trachea and not readily visible.

In the perspective view of FIG. 2, the enlarged inflatable tracheal balloon is shown in more detail. The endotracheal tube terminates in the forward tip portion 2 that extends rearwardly to aheel portion 12 of the endotracheal tube. This tip 2 andheel portion 12 lie along a bias plane surface at anannular lip 13 that surrounds an open forwardly facingend port 14.End port 14 communicates with amain lumen 15 that extends longitudinally through the dual-lumen tube 1. Anesthesia gas entering throughelbow connector 5 from an anesthesia machine passes throughmain lumen 15 and exits throughforward port 14. If the physician desires to suction the trachea and bronchial area of the patient, he can readily insert a suction catheter or the like through the main lumen and cause it to protrude throughforward port 14.

When the endotracheal tube is inserted into the trachea, the forward end portion includesopen port 14 that can direct the anesthesia gas. There is also aside port 16 immediately forward of the enlarged central inflatable section of the sleeve.Port 16 provides a safety port for anesthesia gases to exit shouldforward port 14 become clogged with mucos, etc. Also it is believed thatports 14 and 16 in FIG. 2 each help direct the anesthesia gases to the individual lungs.

In FIG. 2 there is also shown in dotted line the inflation lumen 17 that communicates with the side branch tube 11. It is noted that this inflation lumen 17 is closed off at aforward end portion 18. Also this inflation lumen 17 includes a port 19 that connects the lumen 17 with an interior portion of the inflatable enlarged central portion of the tracheal balloon. Therefore, the enlarged inflatable center section can be inflated or deflated by means of a hypodermic syringe connected to checkvalve 9.

A very important feature of this invention is best illustrated in FIG. 2, and includes the smoothly contoured external slide zone extending from the forward angularly biasedannular lip 13 to the enlarged inflatable central portion of the tracheal balloon. This smooth slide zone includes no abrupt interruption across the forward collar portion of the tracheal balloon.

The tracheal balloon and how it is formed is very critical to this invention. As shown in FIG. 3 the inflatable tracheal balloon is made by dipping a mandrel with an enlarged body segment conforming to the desired internal contour of the inflatable enlarged central portion of the balloon. This mandrel 20 is dipped into a plastisol bath 21. The plastisol begins to build up on the mandrel 20 until the desired thickness of the balloon is obtained.

Next, the mandrel is removed from the polyvinyl chloride plastisol 21. The formed inflatable plastisol sleeve is then cured. Then, the inflatable sleeve is stripped from the mandrel and the preformed balloon has an internal and external configuration shown generally in the enlarged cross-sectional view in FIG. 5. Here is shown the enlargedcentral portion 8 connected to anelongated forward collar 22 and arearwardly extending collar 23. Theelongated collar 22 is closed at its forward end and includes asmall drip portion 24 formed when removing the mandrel from the plastisol dip bath.

The dual-lumen thermoplastic tube is made from an extruded polyvinyl chloride thermoplastic and a forward section is shown in FIG. 5. Here the tube 1 includes an annular wall that defines amain lumen 14; located withinwall 25 is a much smaller inflation lumen 17.

Having formed the inflatable plastisol tracheal balloon and the dual-lumen extruded thermoplastic tube, the two units are telescopically fitted together by inserting the dual-lumen tube 1 in through therear collar 23, enlargedinflatable section 8 and intoforward collar 22. Preferably thecollars 23 and 22 have an internal diameter slightly smaller than the external diameter of the dual-lumen tube 1. This is so the tracheal balloon will tightly grip the dual-lumen tube. If desired thecollars 22 and 23 can be expanded over a tubular mandrel while inserting tube 1 or they can be wetted with a solvent or lubricant.

When the dual-lumen tube 1 and inflatable sleeve 6 are assembled they appear as in FIG. 4. The next step in the production of the novel endotracheal tube is to simultaneously sever both theforward collar 22 and the tube 1 along a biased plane indicated at 28 in FIG. 4.Plane 28 forms an angle in the range of 30 to relative to the longitudinal axis of the dual-lumen tube. This leaves both theforward collar 22 and dual-lumen tube 1 with coterminous biasly cut forward end surfaces.

At this time the twocollars 22 and 23 can be permanently bonded with air tight joints to the dual-lumen tube 1 by heat fusion such as by induction heating or bonded by solvent adhesive. Preferably the rear end portion ofrear collar 23 is rounded and smoothly contoured to the tube at this time. Alsoside port 16 can now be punched out of the wall of the insertion tube and the overlying tracheal balloons forward collar.

To form the smooth slide zone shown in FIG. 2 the combined tube 1 and inflatable sleeve section 6 are in-- serted into a heating mold. This fuses the forward tip into a thermoplastic mass which also fuses shut theforward end 18 of the inflation lumen. When the endotracheal tube is fused, theforward collar 22 becomes integral and generally homogeneous with the dual-lumen tube 1. This creates a smooth roundedforward lip 13 and prevents delamination of theforward collar 22 and thewall 25 of the dual-lumen tube. It forms an externally smooth slide zone as shown in FIG. 2. There is no interruption at a forward end of the collar where it joins to the dual-lumen tube. Thus the endotracheal tube can smoothly slide past a patients vocal cords with reduced chance of injuring the vocal cords.

In the foregoing specification a specific embodiment has been used to describe the invention. However it is understood by those skilled in the art that certain modiflcations can be made to this embodiment Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a medical endrotracheal tube comprising: a preformed theremoplastic balloon with a permanently enlarged central portion integrally connected by front and rear collars that respectively define front and rear ends of the balloon; and a dual-lumen theremoplastic tube within and secured to each of the balloon collars, said central portion being spaced from said tube, the tube having a main lumen, an inflation lumen, and a port that connects the inflation lumen with the interior of the enlarged central portion of the balloon; means for providing for safe insertion of the tube into a patients tracheal passage and deterring inadverten trauma to the patient comprising said tube having a front end that terminates at the front end of the fron collar, an opening having a smooth annular reliever. edge lip portion, the combined tube and overlying collars being homogeneously fused and forming a smooth continuous uninterrupted slide zone surface having a smooth seamless slide zone extending from the annular lip at the open forward end of the tube to the central portion of the balloon so that the tube can smoothl slide into the tracheal passage in a patient, said fused forward ends of the collar and tube comprising a bonded homogeneous mass of thermoplastic material for resisting delamination of the collar and the dual lumen tube, the said enlarged central portion of the thermoplastic balloon and the dual lumen tube, in the normal uninflated condition, forming an annular space therebetween, said inflation lumen being fused shut at a forward end portion, forwardly of the inflation lumens communication with the enlarged central portion of the balloon.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tube has a longitudinal axis and the forward end of the tube is biased at an angle relative to this longitudinal axis.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic dual-lumen tube is of a plasticized polyvinyl chloride material.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic balloon is formed of apolyvinyl chloride plastisol 5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rear collar has its rearward end smoothly rounded and blended into the exterior surface of the dual-lumen thermoplastic tube.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the forward portion of the medical tube includes a side port having a relieved margin through the combined front collar and dual-lumen tube into the main lumen of this dual-lumen tube.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dual-lumen tube is an extruded thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride tube having a wall defining its main lumen and its inflation lumen is located in the main lumen wall.

Claims (7)

1. In a medical endrotracheal tube comprising: a preformed theremoplastic balloon with a permanently enlarged central portion integrally connected by front and rear collars that respectively define front and rear ends of the balloon; and a dual-lumen theremoplastic tube within and secured to each of the balloon collars, said central portion being spaced from said tube, the tube having a main lumen, an inflation lumen, and a port that connects the inflation lumen with the interior of the enlarged central portion of the balloon; means for providing for safe insertion of the tube into a patient''s tracheal passage and deterring inadvertent trauma to the patient comprising said tube having a front end that terminates at the front end of the front collar, an opening having a smooth annular relieved edge lip portion, the combined tube and overlying collars being homogeneously fused and forming a smooth continuous uninterrupted slide zone surface having a smooth seamless slide zone extending from the annular lip at the open forward end of the tube to the central portion of the balloon so that the tube can smoothly slide into the tracheal passage in a patient, said fused forward ends of the collar and tube comprising a bonded homogeneous mass of thermoplastic material for resisting delamination of the collar and the dual lumen tube, the said enlarged central portion of the thermoplastic balloon and the dual lumen tube, in the normal uninflated condition, forming an annular space therebetween, said inflation lumen being fused shut at a forward end portion, forwardly of the inflation lumen''s communication with the enlarged central portion of the balloon.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tube has a longitudinal axis and the forward end of the tube is biased at an angle relative to this longitudinal axis.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic dual-lumen tube is of a plasticized polyvinyl chloride material.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic balloon is formed of a polyvinyl chloride plastisol

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rear collar has its rearward end smoothly rounded and blended into the exterior surface of the dual-lumen thermoplastic tube.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the forward portion of the medical tube includes a side port having a relieved margin through the combined front collar and dual-lumen tube into thE main lumen of this dual-lumen tube.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dual-lumen tube is an extruded thermoplastic polyvinyl chloride tube having a wall defining its main lumen and its inflation lumen is located in the main lumen wall.

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