Patent ID: 7060135

Claim:
A method of cleaning an interior wall surface of an endotracheal tube while positioned within a patient, said method comprising; inserting an elongate tubular member having a cleaning assembly secured adjacent a distal end thereof within the interior and along at least a majority of the endotracheal tube, forming an irregular outer surface on a periphery of the cleaning assembly, expanding the cleaning assembly outwardly from the tubular member into a cleaning position and positioning the irregular surface of the cleaning assembly in movable, confronting engagement with the interior wall surface of the endotracheal tube, moving the tubular member and the cleaning assembly axially outward of the endotracheal tube, and removing accumulated secretions existing on the interior wall surface by maintaining the irregular outer surface of the cleaning assembly in substantially continuously engaging relation with the interior wall surface during axial movement of the cleaning assembly along the endotracheal tube.