Patent ID: 8505533

Claim:
Apparatus for oxygenating the airway of a patient comprising: a device for delivering an oxygen-carrying gas into the airway; a fire detection system configured to detect indications of an imminent or incipient fire in the airway; and a fire suppression system configured to suppress the imminent or incipient fire in the airway in response to detection of the imminent or incipient fire in the airway by the fire detection system; wherein the device for delivering an oxygen-carrying gas is an endotracheal tube or a breathing tube used as a conduit for oxygen delivery to the lung; and wherein: the fire detection system is configured to detect indications of an imminent or incipient fire within the lumen of the endotracheal or breathing tube; the fire suppression system is configured to suppress the imminent or incipient fire within the lumen of the endotracheal or breathing tube in response to detection of the imminent or incipient fire in the lumen of the endotracheal or breathing tube by the fire detection system; and the apparatus includes: an elbow connector having a substantial right-angle bend which provides an oxygen-carrying gas inlet at a proximal end thereof; and an elongated tube at the other end of the elbow having a longitudinal axis which makes an approximately 90 degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gas inlet; and the fire detection and suppression systems are configured to both receive access to the lumen of the elongated rube at approximately the bend of the elbow; or the fire detection system is configured to detect indications of an imminent or incipient fire outside of the endotracheal or breathing tube; and the fire suppression system is configured to suppress the imminent or incipient fire outside of the endotracheal or breathing tube in response to detection of the imminent or incipient fire outside of the endotracheal or breathing tube by the fire detection system; and the fire detection system includes a thermistor system embedded within the outer wall of the endotracheal or breathing tube and the thermistor system includes a set of spaced-apart and stacked rings of thermistor wire; or the fire suppression system includes a plurality of fluid outlets spaced from one another along a length and circumference of the outer wall of the endotracheal tube.