Abstract: A puncture and cut resistant fabric comprised of identical platelets and rivets arranged into an array whereby the tops of adjacent platelets are reversed so that tabs on each platelet slidably engage with tabs of each adjacent platelet and are held in engagement by hooks depending from each tab and the rivets placed through apertures formed by the edges of the tabs. The fabric is twistable, bendable, and stretchable. It is constructed of material that will withstand cutting and piercing forces encountered in medical or other environments and is of thin walled construction to allow ease of use.

Abstract: A plurality of cuff rings for an endotracheal tube for intubation of a trachea. At least one of the cuff rings is inflatable and deflatable independent of the other cuff ring so that at least one of the cuff rings may always remain inflated to maintain an airtight seal between the cannula of the endotracheal tube and a patient's trachea. Each cuff ring is successively inflated and deflated during the period the endotracheal tube is in a patient's trachea, thereby intermittently relieving the trachea of pressure on its inner wall. The intermittent relief of pressure by periodic deflation of each cuff ring reduces damage to the trachea. The cuff rings each have a surface associated therewith to lubricate the area of the trachea in contact with the cuff ring to substantially reduce the occurrence of damage to the trachea from abrasion by the cuff rings.