Medical devices and methods of use

1 . A medical device, comprising:

a breathing tube apparatus having a proximal end and a distal end, and further comprising

a ventilation tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the ventilation tube is configured to be inserted into an airway of a human body;

a connection fitting body connected to the ventilation tube, wherein the connection fitting body is disposed adjacent the proximal end of the ventilation tube, and wherein the connection fitting body provides the proximal end of the breathing tube apparatus;

a ventilation passageway, wherein the ventilation passageway is disposed in the connection fitting body and disposed in the ventilation tube;

an exhaled gas(es) sampling port, wherein the exhaled gas(es) sampling port is configured to be connected to an exhaled gas(es) sampling device configured to detect a presence of carbon dioxide in an exhaled gas(es) sample;

wherein the exhaled gas(es) sampling port comprises an elastically deformable tube having a tube passageway and at least one sample inlet to the tube passageway, the tube passageway in fluid communication with the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body via the at least one sample inlet;

wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body;

wherein the elastically deformable tube is sufficiently elastically deformable to elastically deform when contacted by an elongated medical instrument in the ventilation passageway to provide clearance for the elongated medical instrument to pass by the elastically deformable tube.

2 . The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising the elongated medical instrument.

3 . The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the elongated medical instrument is a guide, an introducer, a bougie, a stylet or a catheter.

4 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body has a longitudinal axis;

wherein the elastically deformable tube has a longitudinal axis; and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the elastically deformable tube is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body.

5 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the elastically deformable tube is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body.

6 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance of at least 0.5 mm.

7 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube is elastically deformable towards at least one of the distal end of the breathing tube apparatus, the proximal end of the breathing tube apparatus, or a sidewall which forms the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body.

8 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube is moveable from a first position in the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body to a second position in the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body by elastic deformation of the elastically deformable tube; and

wherein the elastically deformable tube is moveable from the second position in the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body towards the first position in the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body by elastic recovery of the elastically deformable tube.

9 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube is elastically deformable in the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body at a deformation distance; and

wherein the deformation distance is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.

10 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube is elastically deformable in the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body at a deformation angle; and

wherein the deformation angle is greater than or equal to 5 degrees.

11 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body has a longitudinal axis;

wherein the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body has a total cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the total cross-sectional area has an inner cross-sectional area region and an outer cross-sectional area region;

wherein the outer cross-sectional area region forms an enclosed ring around the inner cross-sectional area region;

wherein the inner cross-sectional area region is in a range of 5% to 95% of the total cross-sectional area;

wherein the at least one sample inlet is disposed in the inner cross-sectional area region.

12 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body has a longitudinal axis;

wherein the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body has a cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the elastically deformable tube and/or the at least one sample inlet extends into the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body at a distance in a range of 5% to 95% of the cross-sectional dimension of the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body.

13 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube is extruded tubing.

14 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube has an outer diameter in a range of 0.50 mm to 3 mm; and/or

wherein the tube passageway has a diameter of in a range of 0.25 mm to 2 mm.

15 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube is formed of a thermoplastic polymer composition.

16 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube has a Shore A durometer hardness, as measured by ASTM D2240-15 (2021), in a range of 40-95 Shore A durometer hardness.

17 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube and the connection fitting body are connected as to form a hermetic seal.

18 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube and the connection fitting body are at least one of interference fit, bonded or welded together.

19 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube has a circular, annular wall which surrounds the tube passageway; and

wherein the circular, annular wall of the elastically deformable tube extends through a bore in the connection fitting body.

20 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the breathing tube apparatus is an endotracheal breathing tube apparatus, an extraglottic breathing tube apparatus or a supraglottic breathing tube apparatus.

21 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance of at least 1 mm.

22 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance of at least 2 mm.

23 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance in a range of 0.5 mm to 8 mm.

24 . A method, comprising:

obtaining a breathing tube apparatus having a proximal end and a distal end, and further comprising

a ventilation tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the ventilation tube is configured to be inserted into an airway of a human body;

a connection fitting body connected to the ventilation tube, wherein the connection fitting body is disposed adjacent the proximal end of the ventilation tube, and wherein the connection fitting body provides the proximal end of the breathing tube apparatus;

a ventilation passageway, wherein the ventilation passageway is disposed in the connection fitting body and disposed in the ventilation tube;

an exhaled gas(es) sampling port, wherein the exhaled gas(es) sampling port is configured to be connected to an exhaled gas(es) sampling device configured to detect a presence of carbon dioxide in an exhaled gas(es) sample;

wherein the exhaled gas(es) sampling port comprises an elastically deformable tube having a tube passageway and at least one sample inlet to the tube passageway, the tube passageway in fluid communication with the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body via the at least one sample inlet;

wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body;

inserting an elongated medical instrument into the ventilation passageway in the connection fitting body;

contacting the elastically deformable tube with the elongated medical instrument; and

moving the elastically deformable tube with the elongated medical instrument when the elongated medical instrument is disposed in the ventilation passageway of the connection fitting body.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein, during moving of the elastically deformable tube with the elongated medical instrument, the elastically deformable tube moves from a first position to a second position; and

wherein, as the elastically deformable tube moves from the first position to the second position, the elastically deformable tube undergoes elastic deformation.

26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising:

moving the elastically deformable tube from the second position towards the first position.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein, as the elastically deformable tube moves from the second position towards the first position, the elastically deformable tube undergoes elastic recovery.

28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein moving the elastically deformable tube from the second position towards the first position occurs during and/or after withdrawing the elongated medical instrument from the breathing tube apparatus.

29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein moving the elastically deformable tube from the second position towards the first position occurs upon and/or after removing the elongated medical instrument from contact with the elastically deformable tube.

30 . The method of claim 24 , wherein, as the elastically deformable tube moves, the elastically deformable tube moves laterally in the ventilation passageway.

31 . The method of claim 24 , wherein, as the elastically deformable tube moves, the elastically deformable tube moves distally in the ventilation passageway.

32 . The method of claim 24 , wherein, as the elastically deformable tube moves, the elastically deformable tube moves proximally in the ventilation passageway.

33 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

moving the elastically deformable tube a distance greater than or equal to 0.5 mm.

34 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

moving the elastically deformable tube a distance greater than or equal to 1 mm.

35 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

moving the elastically deformable tube a distance greater than or equal to 2 mm.

36 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

moving the elastically deformable tube a distance in a range of 0.5 mm to 8 mm.

37 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance of at least 0.5 mm.

38 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance of at least 1 mm.

39 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance of at least 2 mm.

40 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the elastically deformable tube extends into the ventilation passageway from the connection fitting body at a distance in a range of 0.5 mm to 8 mm.

41 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the elongated medical instrument is a guide, an introducer, a bougie, a stylet or a catheter.