Apparatus for controlling cuff pressure in an endotracheal tube

An apparatus for supplying an inflating medium to a cuff of an endotracheal tube and for controlling a pressure of the inflating medium in the cuff, the apparatus comprising:

• an inflating medium supply means for supplying the inflating medium to the cuff for inflating thereof;
• a control means for controlling the pressure of the inflating medium being supplied to the cuff at a first pressure level and a second pressure level during an inspiratory and an expiratory phase, respectively, of each breathing cycle of a subject, the inflating medium for inflating the cuff being derived from a ventilating medium being supplied to the subject, and from the inflating medium supply means;
• and
• the control means further comprising a valving means for supplying inflating medium to the cuff for inflating thereof, the valving means deriving the inflating medium from the ventilating medium and the inflating medium supply means during the inspiratory phase of each breathing cycle of the subject, and from the inflating medium supply means during the expiratory phase of each breathing cycle.