An endotracheal tube is disclosed that allows a patient to speak while intubated. The endotracheal tube includes a balloon for seating against the trachea and a collapsible portion proximal to the balloon that aligns with the vocal cords. The collapsible portion may be held open by an inner tube which translates within the endotracheal tube. Suction and balloon inflation conduits span the collapsible portion so that suction and balloon inflation may be performed while the patient is speaking. A small distal tube that bypasses the balloon provides some airflow while the patient speaks.

A method and apparatus for a smartly controlled dual-cuff endotracheal tube. A fully automatic or manual closed-negative-feedback loop control logic inflates/deflates a dual-cuff mechanism inside a patient's trachea. Separate inflating and deflating units with independent air control functions control the pressure based on signals from the cuff pressure control system. The dual-cuff mechanism comprises an inner and outer cuff connected to pilot balloons with individual pressure sensors to measure pressure and send data to the control system to calculate the delta. The inner cuff has an opening that serves as a pressure equilibrium indicator for the optimal cuff pressure being achieved. The apparatus can be manufactured to be a disposable product after a single use. The disclosure achieves: increased control and ease of use; increased accuracy, range, and control of pressurized airflow; an improved way of determining ideal cuff pressures in real-time; improved hygiene; and decreased costs.

A laryngeal mask airway device (20, 320) is provided including an inflatable balloon (30, 330), which is (a) shaped so as to define at least an inflatable annular cuff (32, 332) and a proximal inflatable pharyngeal portion (34, 334), and (b) insertable through an anterior opening of a patients oral cavity. The inflatable balloon (30, 330) is configured such that when an inflatable chamber (56) thereof is filled with air at a pressure of 10 cm H2O and unconstrained, a volume of the air in a proximal one-third (60) of the inflatable chamber (56) equals at least 200% of a volume of the air in a distal one-third (62) of the inflatable chamber (56). Other embodiments are also described.

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.

Valves and valve systems are provided that are useful for integration with inflatable indwelling medical devices to prevent over-inflation of retention balloon.

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.

A ventilation monitoring system includes one or more processors configured to receive data from a sensor positioned along a breathing circuit during a mechanical ventilation procedure for a patient. The one or more processors are also configured to analyze the data to determine respective concentrations of ions at the sensor and to calculate a detected ratio of the respective concentrations of the ions at the sensor. The one or more processors are also configured to compare the detected ratio to an expected ratio to determine a condition of the patient and to output a notification to indicate the condition of the patient.

A shielded intubation guide for use in an endotracheal intubation procedure, the shielded intubation guide including: an elongate body defining a passageway extending between a proximal opening and a distal opening for receiving a blade portion of an intubation device, the shielded intubation guide being configured for insertion into a mouth of the subject so that the proximal opening is positioned proximate to the mouth and the distal opening is positioned in an airway of the subject; and a shield around the proximal opening for substantially reducing emissions from the mouth, the shielded intubation guide allowing endotracheal intubation to be performed by: inserting the blade portion of the intubation device into the passageway; positioning a distal end of the blade portion proximate to the larynx of the subject; and advancing an endotracheal tube along the blade portion through the passageway into a trachea of the subject.

The invention relates to a device for the dynamically adapting sealing of an organ or a body cavity, e.g. the windpipe (trachea) of an intubated and ventilated patient, wherein the sealing balloon element is produced via particularly rapid shifting of filling medium from an extracorporeal reservoir or an extracorporeal source to the sealing balloon, and wherein, in the dynamic sealing of the trachea according to the example case, a balloon-type foil body preferably formed with residual material in the diameter, i.e. exceeding the tracheal diameter, is in contact with the inner wall of the trachea in a sealing manner and with a pressure that is as constant as possible, wherein fluctuations in the balloon volume, caused by fluctuations in the intrathoracic pressure relating to the mechanics of breathing, are compensated as quickly as possible by supplying volume from an extracorporeal reservoir or an extracorporeal source, and the tracheal secretion sealing of the balloon is thereby kept continuous. This is both made possible by a sufficiently high-volume supply of the balloon filling medium to the cuff, and also prevents steps, gaps or ridges in the supply system, whereby volume flow directed towards the balloon can be minimised, which is crucial for a rapid-as-possible stabilising of the filling volume in the balloon, in particular with small pressure differences between 15 and 30 mbar that are driving the volume flow.

A method for ventilating the lungs of a patient. The method includes a smart tube for intubation comprising a tip and a cuff. The method also includes one or more cameras, coupled with the smart tube, for providing relative positional intubation measurements of the patient and/or providing intubation images of the patient. Further, the method includes one or more sensors, coupled with the smart tube, for sensing the inflation of the cuff and/or sensing pressure of the cuff. The method for ventilating additionally includes a computing method, coupled with the camera, the at least one sensor and the smart tube, for computing programmed feedback based on the relative positional intubation measurements, and/or the intubation images, and/or the inflation of the cuff, and/or the pressure of the cuff.