Abstract: An apparatus is provided and, in one example embodiment, includes a catheter coupled to a channel. The catheter includes a first set of holes in which materials may pass. The channel defines a pathway that extends along a portion of the catheter. The channel can interface with a second set of holes that are different from the first set of holes and access to the channel occurs via the second set of holes and not the first set of holes. The channel receives a substance that is delivered to an area close to or at the area in which the channel resides and the substance is delivered via the second set of holes. In more specific embodiments, the catheter includes a distal end that is rounded. In still other embodiments, the second set of holes are spaced equidistant from one another, and the channel interfaces with a syringe that delivers the substance.

Abstract: A tracheal T-tube stent is formed from a flexible, resiliently yieldable material and has a hollow, open-ended tubular body portion which is coaxially insertable into the trachea through a suitable neck incision, and a transverse tubular portion which projects outwardly through the incision and has a small side wall opening therein. The distal end portion of a small inflation lumen having an air inlet check valve fitting at its proximal end is extended inwardly through the side wall opening, runs inwardly along the interior side surface of the transverse tube portion and upwardly along the interior side surface of the top end of the body portion, and is connected at its distal end to an inflation balloon disposed within the top end of the T-tube body. With the T-tube in place within the trachea, and the balloon deflated, the T-tube functions as an ordinary tracheal stent to hold the trachea open and permit normal patient breathing.