Sealing device for tubing

A medical sealing device for sealing tracheal tubing, said device comprising:

• a tubular central core of generally U-shaped cross section having opposed ends and sidewalls defining laterally spaced longitudinal edges, said central core having a degree of elasticity to deformation of its shape in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal direction;
• a membrane disposed around said central core having opposed ends, said membrane being made of a flexible and elastic material having a much higher coefficient of elasticity than said central core, the opposed ends of said membrane being sealed to the outer periphery of the U-shaped cross section central core and said membrane further being sealed at the side wall edges of said central core to form an external, closed deformable chamber of substantially crescent-shaped cross section;
• resilient traction means interconnecting the longitudinal edges of said central core of U-shaped section;
• and
• means for admitting a fluid under pressure to the inside of said chamber, whereby when said device is inserted within a tracheal tube of a diameter in excess of the diameter of the U-shaped cross section central core, pressurization of the chamber causes the membrane to stretch and the central core to deform so that its longitudinal edges tend to move apart and apply tension to the resilient membrane tending to cause the edge of the central core to contact with the inside surface of the tube and under further increased pressurization, the membrane is subjected to further deformation and spreads itself evenly over the entire facing area of the inside surface of the tube for closing off any leaks within the tube by surface contact therewith.