Endotracheal tube cap with pressure relief valve

A method comprising:

• providing an ET tube cap that comprises:
• a tubular housing defined by a cylindrical wall that extends between a first end and a second end, wherein a closed top surface covers said first end, and an ET tube receiving aperture, which is configured to receive the ET tube, is at said second end,
• said cylindrical wall defining a cylinder interior surface and a cylinder exterior surface, said cylindrical wall further defining a cylinder interior volume bounded by said cylinder interior surface from said first end to said second end,
• said closed top surface permanently blocking all access to said interior volume from said first end,
• wherein access points to said interior volume through said cylindrical wall consist of a first element and a second element that each extend from said cylinder exterior surface,
• wherein said first element is an intake tube that extends from the cylinder exterior surface, the intake tube comprising an unobstructed passageway between a proximal tube end and a distal tube end;
• and
• said second element is a pressure relief valve configured to open when pressure inside of the ET tube cap exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold;
• inserting an ET tube into the ET tube receiving aperture;
• flowing oxygen through the ET tube from an oxygen source connected to the intake tube;
• intubating a patient while the oxygen is flowing through the ET tube;
• and
• replacing the ET tube cap with a ventilator cap that connects the ET tube to a ventilator.

An ET tube arrangement comprising:

• an ET tube;
• an ET tube cap for connecting the ET tube to a pressurized oxygen source, wherein the pressurized oxygen source is configured to flow oxygen through the ET tube cap and out from a distal end of the ET tube;
• a ventilator cap for replacing the ET tube cap on the ET tube for alternatively connecting the ET tube to a ventilator;
• the ET tube cap comprising:
• a tubular housing defined by a cylindrical wall that extends between a first end and a second end, wherein a closed top surface covers said first end, and an ET tube receiving aperture, which is configured to receive the ET tube, is at said second end,
• said cylindrical wall defining a cylinder interior surface and a cylinder exterior surface, said cylindrical wall further defining a cylinder interior volume bounded by said cylinder interior surface from said first end to said second end,
• said closed top surface permanently blocking all access to said interior volume from said first end,
• wherein access points to said interior volume through said cylindrical wall consist of a first element and a second element that each extend from said cylinder exterior surface,
• wherein said first element is an intake tube that extends from the cylinder exterior surface, the intake tube comprising an unobstructed passageway between a proximal tube end and a distal tube end;
• and
• said second element is a pressure relief valve that is configured to open when pressure inside of the ET tube cap exceeds a predetermined pressure threshold.