# US 10,765,825 B2 · Endotracheal tube drainage system and methods

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- Number: US 10,765,825 B2
- Document ID: US10765825B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/692,813
- Filed: 2017-08-31
- Published: 2019-02-28
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-31
- Assignees: Corestone Biosciences (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Corestone Biosciences (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Chunyuan Qiu; Weiping Yang; Fei Cao; Bing Xu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765825B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/0434: {Cuffs}
- A61M 16/0402: {Special features for tracheal tubes not otherwise provided for}
- A61M 16/0445: {Special cuff forms, e.g. undulated}
- A61M 16/0459: {one cuff behind another}
- A61M 16/0463: {combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections}
- A61M 16/0477: {with incorporated means for delivering or removing fluids}
- A61M 16/0479: {above the cuff, e.g. giving access to the upper trachea}
- A61M 16/0486: {Multi-lumen tracheal tubes}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

An endotracheal tube (ETT) system and methods are provided. In at least one example, an ETT system may comprise, a tube, inflatable cuff coupled to the tube, and a restrictor. In at least one example the restrictor may comprise one more cavities. In a further example, a restrictor drainage assembly may be coupled to the restrictor, the restrictor drainage assembly configured to drain secretions that may be collected at a collection point formed by the restrictor when the ETT system is positioned in an airway of a patient and in an inflated state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endotracheal tube (ETT) system, comprising:
a tube;
an inflatable cuff coupled to the tube; and
a restrictor comprising one or more cavities, the restrictor surrounding the tube, wherein the inflatable cuff is positioned between the restrictor and the tube, and wherein the restrictor restricts the inflatable cuff to form a valley positioned between two protruding regions of the inflatable cuff upon inflation of the inflatable cuff.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the two protruding regions of the inflatable cuff is configured to contact a trachea wall to form a first sealed region and a second sealed region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a restrictor drainage bulb coupled to the restrictor via a restrictor drainage line.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein a wall of the tube surrounds at least a portion of the restrictor drainage line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising another inflatable cuff coupled to the tube, wherein the restrictor is positioned between the inflatable cuffs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein each of the inflatable cuffs is configured to form a sealed region within an airway of a patient upon inflation of both of the inflatable cuffs.

### Claim 7

An endotracheal tube (ETT) system, comprising:
a tube;
an inflatable cuff surrounding the tube;
a restrictor surrounding an exterior surface of the inflatable cuff; and
a restrictor drainage assembly coupled to the restrictor,
wherein the restrictor is a band,
wherein each of one or more openings included in the band open into an interior space of the band and wherein, when the inflatable cuff is in an inflated state,
a diameter of a first protruding region of the inflatable cuff that is upstream of the restrictor is greater than a diameter of the restrictor, and
a diameter of a second protruding region of the inflatable cuff that is downstream of the restrictor is greater than the diameter of the restrictor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the restrictor drainage assembly includes a restrictor drainage bulb and a restrictor drainage line, where a first end of the restrictor drainage line is coupled to the restrictor drainage bulb, and where a second end of the restrictor drainage line is coupled to the restrictor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein expansion of the inflatable cuff is restricted by the restrictor upon inflation of the inflatable cuff.

### Claim 10

An endotracheal tube (ETT) system, comprising:
a first tube;
an inflatable cuff surrounding the first tube;
a restrictor surrounding an exterior surface of the inflatable cuff comprising one or more cavities; and
a restrictor drainage assembly coupled to the restrictor, the restrictor drainage assembly comprising a restrictor drainage bulb,
wherein the inflatable cuff is positioned between the restrictor and the first tube, and wherein the restrictor restricts the inflatable cuff to form a valley positioned between two protruding regions of the inflatable cuff upon inflation of the inflatable cuff.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The ETT system of claim 10, wherein the restrictor drainage bulb is fluidly coupled to the restrictor via a restrictor drainage line, the restrictor drainage line directly coupled to the restrictor drainage bulb.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The ETT system of claim 11, wherein the restrictor drainage line is further coupled to a tail, wherein the tail is a second tube coupled to the restrictor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The ETT system of claim 12, wherein the restrictor drainage line is housed in a restrictor drainage line port formed into a wall of the first tube, and wherein the restrictor drainage line is directly coupled to the tail.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The ETT system of claim 11, wherein the restrictor drainage line is coupled to a restrictor drainage line port.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The ETT system of claim 14, wherein the restrictor drainage line port is further coupled to a tail of the restrictor drainage assembly, wherein the tail is a second tube coupled between the restrictor and the restrictor drainage line port.