Endotracheal tube cleaning device

An endotracheal tube cleaning device to be used in an endotracheal tube including a flow through passage having an interior wall surface which defines an interior diameter of the endotracheal tube, said endotracheal tube cleaning device comprising:

• an elongate, tubular member having a length at least equivalent to a length of the endotracheal tube and a diameter smaller than the interior diameter of the endotracheal tube,
• said elongate tubular member including a first end and a second end,
• a channel defined in said elongate tubular member and extending from a vicinity of said first end of said elongate tubular member towards said second end of said elongate tubular member,
• said channel terminating in an outlet port defined in said elongate tubular member, at said vicinity of said second end thereof,
• a resilient material bladder secured to said elongate tubular member, at said vicinity of said second end thereof, and structured to be inflated to at least approximately said interior diameter of the endotracheal tube,
• said resilient material bladder being disposed in fluid flow communication with said outlet port of said channel such that fluid exiting said channel through said outlet port inflates said resilient material bladder, and
• an expandable, exterior sheath disposed about and structured to completely encase said resilient material bladder so as to contain said resilient material bladder in case of rupture,
• said exterior sheath being structured and disposed to substantially conform to said resilient material bladder, upon inflation thereof, and thereby engage the interior wall surface of the endotracheal tube so as to define an exterior, abrasive surface which affirmatively engages the interior wall surface of the endotracheal tube, under an outward, inflated pressure of said resilient material bladder, and thereby applies cleaning pressure to the interior wall surface of the endotracheal tube upon said elongate tubular member being removed from an inserted orientation within the flow though passage of the endotracheal tube.