Patent ID: 8561605

Claim:
A device comprising: a nasal endotracheal tube having a for being closer to a person inserting the nasal endotracheal tube, and a distal end; and a dilator/introducer comprising an elongated member having a proximal open end and a distal blunt end, wherein the distal end of the elongated member does not have an opening and is unopenable, wherein the distal end of the elongated member comprises a distal-most end wall, and wherein the proximal end of the elongated member comprises a proximal-most side edge, the proximal-most side edge defining the only opening for receiving the endotracheal tube; the elongated member proximal open end comprising mouth having sidewalls for receiving the distal end of the endotracheal tube only through the proximal-most side edge and holding the distal end of the endotracheal tube, wherein a distal end portion of the dilator/introducer has tapered sidewalls and comprises the distal end of the elongated member, wherein the tapered sidewalls increase in effective diameter at least 10% from a first distal location to a first proximal location, wherein the first distal location is within 1 inch of the distal end of the dilator/introducer, wherein the longitudinal distance from the first distal location to the first proximal location is at least 0.5 inches, and wherein the tapered sidewalls increase in effective diameter at least 10% from the first proximal location to a second proximal location which is more proximal than the first proximal location to the proximal end of the dilator/introducer, wherein the longitudinal distance from the first proximal location to the second proximal location is at least 0.5 inches and wherein the hollow mouth is at the proximal-most side edge of the dilator/introducer, wherein the hollow mouth sidewalls for receiving and holding the distal end of the endotracheal tube has a continuous transverse perimeter along the entire perimeter for surrounding the distal end of the endotracheal tube.