Self-sizing adjustable endotracheal tube

Abstract

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.

1 . A system comprising:
 a tracheal tube comprising a lumen adapted to pneumatically expand or contract a diameter of at least a portion of the tracheal tube; and   a medical monitor adapted to be operatively coupled to a tracheal tube, the medical monitor comprising instructions for:
 increasing pressure to the lumen to expand a portion of the tracheal tube to substantially conform to the contours of the tracheal walls during a period of patient expiration; and 
 decreasing pressure to the lumen to contract a portion of the tracheal tube so that at least a portion of the tracheal tube has an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the tracheal walls during a period of patient inspiration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tracheal tube comprises an expandable backbone. 
     
     
         3 . The system, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the expandable backbone comprises stainless steel or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The system, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the expandable backbone comprises polyethylene terephthalate (PETP), polyurethane or an acrylate composition. 
     
     
         5 . The system, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the expandable backbone is physically attached to the intermediate portion of the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         6 . The system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tracheal tube comprises an endotracheal tube or a tracheostomy tube. 
     
     
         7 . The system, as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a ventilator to which the endotracheal tube is operatively connected at its proximal end. 
     
     
         8 . A method for sealing a patient's trachea comprising:
 inserting a tracheal tube into a patient's trachea;   expanding a portion of the tracheal tube to substantially conform to the contours of the tracheal walls during a period of patient expiration; and   contracting a portion of the tracheal tube so that the tracheal tube has an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the tracheal walls during a period of patient inspiration.   
     
     
         9 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the expanding comprises a mechanical method. 
     
     
         10 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the expanding comprises a pneumatic method. 
     
     
         11 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the expanding comprises a temperature method. 
     
     
         12 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the expanding comprises expanding an expandable backbone. 
     
     
         13 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the expanding comprises applying pressure through a lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the contracting comprises a mechanical method. 
     
     
         15 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the contracting comprises a pneumatic method. 
     
     
         16 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the contracting comprises a temperature method. 
     
     
         17 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the contracting comprises contracting an expandable backbone. 
     
     
         18 . The method, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the contracting comprises decreasing pressure through a lumen. 
     
     
         19 . A computer readable medium comprising:
 code for increasing pressure to the lumen of an expandable-diameter tracheal tube to expand a portion of a tracheal tube to substantially conform to the contours of the tracheal walls during a period of patient expiration; and   code for decreasing pressure to the lumen of an expandable-diameter tracheal tube to contract a portion of the tracheal tube so that at least a portion of the tracheal tube has an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the tracheal walls during a period of patient inspiration.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium, as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein increasing pressure to the lumen comprises increasing the pressure so that the pressure of the tracheal tube against the tracheal walls is at least 20 cm H 2 O.