Fitting for endotracheal tube apparatus and method of making the fitting

• US 4,475,548 A
• Filed: 06/01/1982
• Issued: 10/09/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rudolph Muto
• Original Assignee: Rudolph Muto
• Inventors: Muto, Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reichle, Karin M.
• Application Number:
  US06/383,968
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 604/175, 604/167, 604/256, 604/44, 604/43, 604/99, 604/86, 604/148, 604/244, 128/207.14, 128/633, 128/634, 128/912, 215/247, 215/DIG. 3, 277/237
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0825 with ball-sockets
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0222 Materials for reducing friction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

A fitting for endotracheal apparatus to receive an endoscopic tube or the like comprises a sleeve in which a slit through foam body is encompassed and seized under longitudinal compression, radial compression at the inner end and partially relieved pressure at the outer end. The foam body is normally of bell, or mushroom, shape with an elongated cylindrical shank rounded inner end, flat outer end and an enlarged diameter lip at the outer end. The sleeve includes a head joined to a tapered stem by a truncated conical, inward flared section, the head having a circular outer edge. A cap having an annular top rim defining a central opening, has an integral skirt fitted tightly around the head so that the foam body is compressed longitudinally between the annular rim of the cap and the inward flared section of the sleeve. It is compressed radially by the inward flared section and the pressure is relieved at the opening in the cap by the foam protruding into the opening and into the space between the cap rim and the edge of the head.

Claims

1. A fitting for endotracheal apparatus to receive an endoscopic tube, or the like, said fitting comprising:

an elongated body of soft resilient cellular foam of generally bell, or mushroom shape, and of predetermined length, having, a flat outer end with a laterally extending enlarged lip therearound, an opposite, rounded inner end and an elongated cylindrical shank, of predetermined diameter between said lip and said rounded end;

a sleeve having a head with a circular outer end edge, a cylindrical interior recess, an inwardly flared section forming an annular, truncated conical partial closure to said recess and an elongated, hollow tapered stem, said head coaxially encompassing said body in said recess, said lip overlies the circular edge of said sleeve and;

a cap having an integral skirt fitting around said head and affixed thereto and having a top with an integral, inwardly extending peripheral rim, defining an opening and said lip is clasped between the circular edge and the peripheral rim;

said foam body having a longitudinal slit pre-formed therein from end to end, being under longitudinal compression between said peripheral rim and said flared section, being under radial compression at said flared section and being under a relieved pressure at said opening.

2. A fitting as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said head of said sleeve includes a circumferential ridge extending therearound and the skirt of said cap includes a cooperating groove extending therearound and arranged to clamp said cap on said head under predetermined longitudinal pressure.

3. A fitting as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said foam body is of physiologically inert, open cell, surgical rubber and said sleeve is of inflexible material.

4. A method of making a fitting for endotracheal tube apparatus to receive, seal and reseal an endoscopic tube, or the like, the fitting having an elongated cellular foam body of generally bell shape having a flat outer end with a laterally extending enlarged lip therearound, an opposite round end and an elongated cylindrical shank therebetween a sleeve having a circular outer end edge, a cylindrical recess, an inwardly flared section forming a shoulder section and an elongated, hollow tapered stem and a cap having a top with an integral, inwardly extending peripheral rim defining a central opening which comprises the steps of:

forming the foam body in a circularly symmetrical shape of greater length than said recess;

forcing the body into the recess and shoulder section of the sleeve by affixing the cap over the sleeve with the lip of the body clasped between the circular edge of the sleeve and peripheral rim of the cap to hold the body in permanent longitudinal compression between the top rim and shoulder section and permanent radial compression in the area of the shoulder section; and

then preslitting the foam body longitudinally with a through slit, by slitting through said opening.