Endotracheal cuff and technique for using the same

Abstract

A multi-layer inflatable balloon cuff may be adapted to seal a patient's trachea when associated with an endotracheal tube. The outer layer and the inner layer of the balloon cuff may have different material properties that may enhance a cuff's mechanical pressure seal by reducing wrinkles or folds that may form against a patient's tracheal walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 a tracheal tube comprising a ventilation lumen; and   an inflatable cuff coupled to the tracheal tube, wherein the inflatable cuff comprises:
 an inner layer comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end; and 
 an outer layer adjacent to the inner layer and comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end, wherein the second proximal end of the outer layer is inverted to directly couple to an exterior wall of the tracheal tube, and wherein the first proximal end is coupled to the second proximal end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first proximal end is inverted. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , comprising a suction lumen disposed within the exterior wall of the tracheal tube and terminating in an opening proximal to the first proximal end or the second proximal end. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a material that is configured to be elongated less than 200% of its length. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the material comprises polyethylene teraphthalate (PETP), low density polyethylene (PETP), low-density polyethylene 9LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone, neoprene, polyisoprene, or polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , comprising an inflation lumen disposed within a wall of the tracheal tube and terminating in an opening below the first and second proximal ends, wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the inner layer. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the second distal end is inverted to directly couple to the exterior wall. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first distal end is inverted. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first proximal end or the first distal end does not directly contact the exterior wall. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is more elastic than the inner layer. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer has a smaller surface area than the inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . A tracheal tube, comprising:
 a double-layer inflatable cuff coupled to an exterior wall of the tracheal tube, wherein the inflatable cuff comprises:
 an inner layer comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end; and 
 an outer layer comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end, wherein one or both of the second proximal end or the second distal end is inverted to directly couple to the exterior wall of the tracheal tube. 
   
     
     
         13 . The tracheal tube of  claim 12 , wherein one or both of the first proximal end or the first distal end does not directly contact the exterior wall. 
     
     
         14 . The tracheal tube of  claim 12 , comprising a suction lumen disposed within the exterior wall of the tracheal tube and terminating in an opening formed in the exterior wall. 
     
     
         15 . The tracheal tube of  claim 12 , wherein the inner layer comprises a material that is configured to be elongated less than 200% of its length before breaking. 
     
     
         16 . The tracheal tube of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer comprises a material that is configured to be elongated at least 500% of its length before breaking. 
     
     
         17 . The tracheal tube of  claim 12 , comprising an inflation lumen disposed within a wall of the tracheal tube and terminating in an opening below the first and second proximal ends, wherein the inflation lumen is in fluid communication with an interior of the inner layer. 
     
     
         18 . The tracheal tube of  claim 17 , wherein a majority of an exterior wall surface of the inner layer is in contact with an interior wall surface of the outer layer when the inner layer is inflated using the inflation lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The tracheal tube of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer is more elastic than the inner layer. 
     
     
         20 . The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the outer layer has a smaller surface area than the inner layer.