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Abstract

A compound with topical anesthetic properties is incorporated in polymeric material making up the wall of a tube of intubation devices for introduction into body passages of an animal. A hydrophobic anesthetic compound is used which is more soluble in the polymeric wall material of the tube than in water. Because of the hydrophobic properties of the anesthetic compound, a quantity of anesthetic compound can be stored in solution in the polymeric wall material of the tube and this stored anesthetic compound is not washed out by the aqueous fluid which is present in the body passage. As a result, the anesthetic compound is transferred only to the contiguous tissue of the body passage and not disseminated systemically through the aqueous fluids. When the tube is in place within a body passage the anesthetic compound diffuses to the surface of body tissue touched by the tube where its anesthetic effect suppresses discomfort and undesired rejection reactions. Since the anesthetic compound is thus dispensed only to the contiguous tissue of the body passage, the quantity of anesthetic compound stored in the tube wall is sufficient to maintain effective anesthesia of the body passage for hours or days, and undesired effects of a general dissemination through the body are avoided.

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First Claim