Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
An endotracheal tube and holder comprising an elongated tubular member having a first outer end and a second insertable end to insert into the trachea of a patient, a holding member to hold said elongated tubular member in place when so inserted, said holding member including first elongated retaining means to frictionally engage an elongated peripheral wall portion of said elongated tubular member to hold it against any substantial lateral movement relative to said holding member, and second retaining means to hold said tubular member against any substantial longitudinal movement relative to said holding member, wherein said first elongated retaining means of said holding member comprises a tubular sleeve portion, said elongated tubular member being slidably received in said tubular sleeve portion, wherein said elongated tubular member includes an elongated gear rack positioned on its outer wall, longitudinally thereof, extending from a point inwardly of said first outer end toward said first outer end, and wherein said second retaining means includes a pinion gear rotatably mounted along the outer wall of said tubular sleeve portion of said holding member, an opening in said outer wall to permit gear teeth of said pinion gear to extend through said opening into the tubular passageway of said tubular sleeve portion to engage the gear teeth of said gear rack when said elongated tubular member is inserted through said passageway with its said gear rack positioned to face and engage said gear teeth of said pinion gear, said pinion gear thereby holding said tubular member against any substantial longitudinal movement relative to said holding member until rotated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
An endotracheal tube and holder comprising an elongated tubular member having a first outer end and a second insertable end to insert into the trachea of a patient, a holding member to hold said elongated tubular member in place when so inserted, said holding member including first elongated retaining means to frictionally engage an elongated peripheral wall portion of said elongated tubular member to hold it against any substantial lateral movement relative to said holding member, and second retaining means to hold said tubular member against any substantial longitudinal movement relative to said holding member, wherein said first elongated retaining means of said holding member comprises a tubular sleeve portion, said elongated tubular member being slidably received in said tubular sleeve portion, wherein said elongated tubular member includes an elongated gear rack positioned on its outer wall, longitudinally thereof, extending from a point inwardly of said first outer end toward said first outer end, and wherein said second retaining means includes a pinion gear rotatably mounted along the outer wall of said tubular sleeve portion of said holding member, an opening in said outer wall to permit gear teeth of said pinion gear to extend through said opening into the tubular passageway of said tubular sleeve portion to engage the gear teeth of said gear rack when said elongated tubular member is inserted through said passageway with its said gear rack positioned to face and engage said gear teeth of said pinion gear, said pinion gear thereby holding said tubular member against any substantial longitudinal movement relative to said holding member until rotated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
An endotracheal tube and holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pinion gear includes hand grasp means connected thereto for a user to manually grasp and rotate said pinion gear in engagement with said rack of said elongated tubular member, whereby said elongated tubular member may be moved longitudinally in the direction outwardly of a patient's trachea when said pinion gear is rotated in one direction and in the opposite direction inwardly of said patient's trachea when said pinion gear is rotated in the opposite direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endotracheal tube and holder as set forth in claim 2, including markings on said elongated tubular member adjacent said gear rack to measure and indicate the distance said elongated tubular member may be moved longitudinally relative to said tubular sleeve portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
An endotracheal tube and holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated tubular member is made of a relatively soft, flexible polymeric material, said gear rack is made of a relatively hard rigid polymeric material, said rack being bonded to the outer side wall of said elongated tubular member.