Patent ID: 7503328

Claim:
A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising: an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end; a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube; said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more distally or inwardly facing holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and a cap with a proximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal cap end has an annular space into which the distal end of said endotracheal tube is received and wherein said distal cap end is perforated with a plurality of holes.