APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CUFF PRESSURE IN AN ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE

摘要

Apparatus (1) for controlling pressure in a cuff (2) of an endotracheal tube (3) comprises a pole mountable housing (25) within which an inflating medium supply pump (30) is located for supplying inflating medium to the cuff through a communicating tube (18) integral with the endotracheal tube (3) and a delivery tube (37) from the apparatus (1). A pressure transducer (28) connected to the endotracheal tube (3) by a connecting tube (29) monitors the pressure of the ventilating medium in the endotracheal tube (3) for determining transitions from the inspiratory to the expiratory phases of a breathing cycle. A microcontroller (27) controls the supply pump (30) for supplying the inflating medium to the cuff (2) at a first pressure level during the inspiratory phase of each breathing cycle and at a lower second pressure level during the expiratory phase of each breathing cycle.