A catheter body (210) defines a distal-most suction orifice (444) and an outer lateral wall (592), which defines a lateral opening (448) therethrough into a suction lumen (530). An inflatable-element outer wall (590) of an inflatable element (588) is mounted to the catheter body (210). An inner membrane (589) is positioned within the inflatable element (588) and is mounted to the catheter body (210) around the lateral opening (448) along a seal perimeter (583) around the lateral opening (448), so as to define a collapsible membrane portion (596) that (a) covers the lateral opening (448), and (b) together with the inflatable-element outer wall (590), defines an inflatable chamber (587) between the inflatable-element outer wall (590) and the collapsible membrane portion (596). The inner membrane (589) entirely surrounds the catheter body (210).

Medical devices which are compatible with a camera for ventilating, intubating, and extubating a patient under continuous visualization. Methods for ventilating, intubating and extubating a patient with the medical devices.

A lung isolation tube assembly comprising a control valve that is adapted to be moved between a left lumen position, a right lumen position, and a both lumens position, a connector that is in fluid communication with the control valve and having a port, and a tube that is in fluid communication with the connector. The tube comprises a left lumen that is in fluid communication with the connector and a right lumen that is in fluid communication with the connector. The assembly also comprises a first cuff that is disposed around a portion of the right lumen and the left lumen and a second cuff that is disposed around the left lumen. The assembly is adapted to convey airflow or oxygen to a human lung via at least one of the left lumen and the right lumen. A method for isolating a human lung.

The volume of a hyperinflated lung compartment is reduced by sealing a distal end of the catheter in an airway feeding the lung compartment. Air passes out of the lung compartment through a passage in the catheter while the patient exhales. A one-way flow element associated with the catheter prevents air from re-entering the lung compartment as the patient inhales. Over time, the pressure of regions surrounding the lung compartment cause it to collapse as the volume of air diminishes. Residual volume reduction effectively results in functional lung volume expansion. Optionally, the lung compartment may be sealed in order to permanently prevent air from re-entering the lung compartment.

An expandable inter-vivos tube that allows for the use in medical procedures while limiting known complications arising from conventional inter-vivos tubes is presented, wherein the expandable inter-vivos tube comprises a slit formed longitudinally within a tube and a plurality of nipples extending from an outer surface of the tube that are insertable within a corresponding one of a plurality of slides within an outer slidable element that is slidable within the slit. A position of the nipples within the slots causes a distance between the edges of the to increase; thus, increasing a circumference of the inter-vivos tube as the outer element is slide from a proximal end of the tube element to a distal end of the tube.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic sinusitis, including cystic fibrosis, interstitial fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and neoplasia. The method involves administration, preferably oral, nasal or pulmonary administration, of anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative drugs (rapamycin or paclitaxel and their analogues) and an additive.

Monitors for evaluating airway procedures, particularly in a pre-hospital environment, are described herein. In an example method, an airway parameter of an individual receiving assisted ventilation is detected by an airway sensor. A monitor determines a metric based on the airway sensor. Further, the monitor performs an action based on the metric.

A ventilator conduit for a reversible airway device (RAD) is provided. The RAD can include a supra-glottic support member connected to a tubular guide (TG) having oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and TG lumen, which extends between the ends and is defined by an inner surface. The RAD can be physically free of an endotracheal tube. The ventilator conduit can include a hollow tube having first and second ends, and a ventilator conduit lumen extending between the ends. The first and second ends can be adapted for connection to a ventilator circuit and insertion into the TG lumen, respectively. At least the second end of the hollow tube can be sized and dimensioned so that, upon insertion into the TG, an outer surface of the second end is brought into direct contact with a portion of the inner surface to form an air-tight seal therebetween.

The present invention provides an improved visual laryngeal mask comprising a snorkel, an end of the snorkel is provided with a fixing seat. The fixing seat is provided with an airbag, and the fixing seat has a recess which is provided with an airway opening. The inner wall of the snorkel longitudinally extends an imaging cavity and a cleaning channel. The imaging cavity has a built-in imaging device, and the imaging cavity and the cleaning channel protrude forward relative to the airway opening to form a stopper which prevents an epiglottis from blocking the imaging device.

Systems, devices, and techniques are described to position a tube in a trachea of a patient as part of an intubation procedure. An intubation system may include a stylet configured to position a tube in the trachea of the patient. The stylet may include an articulating segment and a support segment. The articulating segment may be configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to input received by the support segment. The movement of the articulating segment may be controllable by a caregiver. The intubation system may include a handle configured to receive an input from the caregiver and cause the stylet to move in response to the input.