Patent ID: 7921847

Claim:
A combination intubation device comprising: an endotracheal tube for ventilation of a patient's lungs, said endotracheal tube having an outside diameter, an inside diameter defining an endotracheal ventilation lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, said endotracheal tube capable of defining an arcuate path in a first geometric plane between its proximal end and its distal end to facilitate introduction of said endotracheal tube into the trachea of the patient, said endotracheal tube having a wall thickness defined as the space between said outside diameter and said inside diameter, said arcuate path, when so defined, having a concave side and a convex side substantially opposite said concave side, said endotracheal tube, when so defined in said arcuate path, having a concave side and a convex side substantially opposite said concave side, said outside diameter of said endotracheal tube having a first edge along the concave side of said defined arcuate path and a second edge along the convex side of said defined arcuate path, an inflatable cuff for achieving a seal, when inflated, with said endotracheal tube outside diameter and an inner wall of the trachea of the patient when the distal end of said endotracheal tube is inserted into the patient's trachea, said cuff being positioned generally toward the distal end of said endotracheal tube, said inflatable cuff being in fluid communication with an inflation port positioned generally toward the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, and a catheter capable of receiving an enteral tube therethrough and guiding the path of the enteral tube, said catheter comprising: a length defined by a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter first side capable of being attached to said endotracheal tube along the length of said catheter, the length of said catheter extending along only a portion of the length of said endotracheal tube, a catheter second side substantially opposite said catheter first side, an outside diameter, an inside diameter suitable to facilitate the movement of the enteral tube therethrough, said inside diameter defining an internal catheter conduit space between said catheter proximal and distal ends, the enteral tube having an outside diameter of sufficient size to permit movement of the enteral tube through said internal catheter conduit space, a catheter proximal end opening at said catheter proximal end for receiving the enteral tube into said internal catheter conduit space, a catheter distal end opening at said distal end to permit the enteral tube to enter the esophagus of the patient, and a catheter wall thickness defined as the space between said outside diameter and said inside diameter, said distal end of said catheter being positioned proximate the opening of the patient's esophagus when the distal end of said endotracheal tube is inserted into the patient's trachea.