Intra-tracheal aerosol delivery system and method of using same

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system includes an endotracheal tube with a sub-port having a sufficient diameter to permit the passage of a sub-port tube therethrough. The sub-port tube passes within the interior of the endotracheal tube via the sub-port and includes a passageway that terminates in an atomizer nozzle at the distal end of the sub-port tube. The atomizer nozzle and the endotracheal tube are integrally connected to one another at a distal end base outlet of the endotracheal tube. A delivery conduit having an atomizer connector at its distal end is adapted to be connected to a canister for delivering fluid under pressure. The delivery conduit has a sufficient length to pass within the sub-port tube to lockingly engage the atomizer nozzle atomizer, whereby fluid delivered under pressure from the canister flows to the atomizer nozzle causing an aerosol mist to be dispensed from the endotracheal tube atomizer nozzle.

1 - 4 . (cancelled).  
   
   
       5 . (presently amended) a method of medicating a ventilated patient, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an endotracheal tube having a sub-port tube with an atomizer nozzle disposed at a distal end section thereof said atomizer nozzle being integrally connected to a distal end portion of said endotracheal tube and integrally connected to a distal end portion of said sub-port tube to facilitate securing said atomizer nozzle;    said atomizer nozzle having a seat disposed at a proximal end portion thereof, said seat being adapted to lockingly engage a connector seat disposed at a distal end section of an elongated medication delivery tube to form a fluid tight seal to facilitate delivering medication under pressure as an aerosol mist to the lungs of a patient;    inserting said endotracheal tube into the airway passage of the patient;    passing a delivery conduit having a nozzle connector disposed at its distal end through said sub-port tube a sufficient distance to seat said nozzle connector into said connector seat;    attaching a proximal end of said delivery conduit to a canister of medicated fluid under pressure; and    releasing a sufficient amount of the medicated fluid under pressure from said canister for delivery to the lungs of the ventilated patient through said atomizer nozzle.    
   
   
       6 - 11 . (Cancelled).  
   
   
       12 . In combination with an endotracheal tube having a sub-port tube with an atomizer nozzle disposed at a distal end section thereof, said atomizer nozzle being connected to a distal end portion of the endotracheal tube and to a distal end portion of the sub-port tube to facilitate delivering an aerosol mist to the lung of a patient, a medication delivery device, comprising: 
 a canister having a medication and propellant disposed therein for further facilitating delivering the medication under pressure as the aerosol mist to the lung of the patient.    
   
   
       13 . The medication delivery device according to  claim 12 , wherein said canister includes a thumb lever for actuating the delivery of a sufficient amount of the medication fluid under pressure to facilitate medicating a patient.  
   
   
       14 . The medication delivery device according to  claim 13 , wherein said sufficient amount of medication fluid under pressure is a predetermined dosage amount.  
   
   
       15 . A medication delivery device, comprising; 
 a canister having a medication and propellant disposed therein for facilitating delivery of the medication under pressure as the aerosol mist to the lung of a patient;    an elongated medication delivery tube adapted to be connected at one of its ends to said canister and further adapted to be connected at another one of its ends to a nozzle connector to facilitate coupling the canister to a supported nozzle connector seat and fluid atomizer disposed within the airway passage of the patient.    
   
   
       16 . The medication delivery device according to  claim 15 , wherein said canister includes a thumb lever for actuating the delivery of a sufficient amount of the medication fluid under pressure to facilitate medicating a patient.  
   
   
       17 . The medication delivery device according to  claim 16 , wherein said sufficient amount of medication fluid under pressure is a predetermined dosage amount.