Endotracheal tube exchanger

A method of exchanging an endotracheal tube, comprising the steps of:

• providing an endotracheal tube exchanger assembly comprising:
• an inner tube including a proximal portion defining a proximal opening, a distal portion defining a distal opening, an internal flow passage extending continuously from the proximal opening to the distal opening, and an intermediate region defining a lateral side opening;
• a top connector secured to the proximal portion of the inner tube;
• a removable cover sealing the lateral side opening;
• and
• a side adapter separate from the inner tube and configured to be received within the lateral side opening;
• disconnecting a ventilator from an existing endotracheal tube;
• connecting the ventilator to the top connector of the provided endotracheal tube exchanger assembly;
• introducing the inner tube inside the existing endotracheal tube and advancing the inner tube inside the existing endotracheal tube;
• sliding the existing endotracheal tube proximally along the inner tube until the existing endotracheal tube reaches the top connector;
• removing the removable cover from the lateral side opening of the inner tube;
• connecting the side adapter to the lateral side opening;
• disconnecting the ventilator from the top connector and connecting the ventilator to the side adapter;
• removing the existing endotracheal tube via a proximal end of the inner tube;
• loading a new endotracheal tube onto the inner tube via the proximal end and sliding the new endotracheal tube until the new endotracheal tube reaches the intermediate region of the inner tube;
• disconnecting the ventilator from the side adapter and reconnecting the ventilator to the top connector;
• removing the side adapter from the lateral side opening;
• advancing the new endotracheal tube until the new endotracheal tube reaches the distal portion of the inner tube;
• removing the inner tube from the new endotracheal tube;
• and
• connecting the ventilator to the new endotracheal tube.

An endotracheal tube exchanger kit comprising:

• an inner tube extending along a longitudinal axis;
• including:
• a proximal portion defining a proximal opening;
• a distal portion defining a distal opening;
• an internal flow passage extending continuously from the proximal opening to the distal opening;
• and
• an intermediate region spaced from the proximal portion and the distal portion, the intermediate region defining a lateral side opening bounded by a wall of the inner tube;
• a top connector secured to the proximal portion of the inner tube, the top connector including a tubular body aligned with the internal flow passage;
• a removable cover comprising a tape element disposed about the intermediate region of the inner tube, wherein the tape element forms a continuous outer wall surface at the intermediate region to seal the lateral side opening;
• and
• a side adapter separate from the inner tube and configured to be received within the lateral side opening, the side adapter including:
• an outer connector portion dimensioned to couple with a ventilator connector;
• and
• an elongate insertion portion extending inwardly from the outer connector portion, the elongate insertion portion defining an internal channel in fluid communication with the outer connector portion, wherein the elongate insertion portion defines an aperture that faces toward the distal direction of the inner tube.