Patent ID: 8636009

Claim:
A method for endotracheal intubation, the method comprising the steps of: inserting at least a distal end of an airway assembly in an air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of a patient, wherein the airway assembly comprises: a first elongated tubular conduit with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit is positionable within one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of the patient and the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit remains outside the patient's body, and wherein the first elongated tubular conduit is configurable to deliver gas to the patient's lungs; a stent having at least a proximal end that is fixedly coupled to the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the stent is formed from a material that is less flexible than the first tubular conduit and is configurable to expand into contact with and to inhibit collapse of at least a portion of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus; and a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit and at least a portion of the stent are positionable in the sleeve, and wherein the sleeve inhibits the stent from expanding until the sleeve is removed from the stent; retracting at least a portion of the sleeve substantially surrounding the stent; and delivering fluids through the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit into the air passage.