A method for use in an endotracheal intubation procedure, the method including: inserting an intubation guide into a mouth of a subject, the intubation guide including an elongate body defining a passageway configured for receiving a blade portion of an intubation device; covering the mouth of the subject with a ventilation mask including: a ventilation port connected to a ventilator, and an intubation port for receiving the blade portion of the intubation device; ventilating the subject using the ventilation mask; and while ventilation of the subject continues: inserting the blade portion of the intubation device into the passageway through the intubation port; positioning a distal tip of the blade portion proximate to the larynx of the subject; and advancing an endotracheal tube along the blade portion of the intubation device through the intubation port and the intubation guide into a trachea of the subject.

An endotracheal tube with built-in video endoscope function for full-time video monitoring comprises a tubular body and an optical stylet. The tubular body is placed in the trachea of a patient. A front end of the tubular body is connected to a ventilator, and an inflatable bag is provided at a rear end of the tubular body. A primary channel of the tubular body runs through the front and rear ends, so that the ventilator supplies oxygen to the trachea through the primary channel. Each secondary channel of the tubular body includes a front opening located at a side edge of the tubular body and a rear opening arranged at the rear end. The optical stylets run through the secondary channels, respectively. Each optical stylet includes a camera device coupled to a display, which comes out from the rear opening to capture a video in the trachea of the patient.

An endotracheal tube with built-in video endoscope function for full-time video monitoring comprises a tubular body and an optical stylet. The tubular body is placed in the trachea of a patient. A front end of the tubular body is connected to a ventilator, and an inflatable bag is provided at a rear end of the tubular body. A primary channel of the tubular body runs through the front and rear ends, so that the ventilator supplies oxygen to the trachea through the primary channel. Each secondary channel of the tubular body includes a front opening located at a side edge of the tubular body and a rear opening arranged at the rear end. The optical stylets run through the secondary channels, respectively. Each optical stylet includes a camera device coupled to a display, which comes out from the rear opening to capture a video in the trachea of the patient.

A shielded intubation guide for use in an endotracheal intubation procedure, the shielded intubation guide including: an elongate body defining a passageway extending between a proximal opening and a distal opening for receiving a blade portion of an intubation device, the shielded intubation guide being configured for insertion into a mouth of the subject so that the proximal opening is positioned proximate to the mouth and the distal opening is positioned in an airway of the subject; and a shield around the proximal opening for substantially reducing emissions from the mouth, the shielded intubation guide allowing endotracheal intubation to be performed by: inserting the blade portion of the intubation device into the passageway; positioning a distal end of the blade portion proximate to the larynx of the subject; and advancing an endotracheal tube along the blade portion through the passageway into a trachea of the subject.

Several methods of supporting respiratory function of a patient before, during and/or after a medical procedure are disclosed. In certain arrangements, supporting respiratory function while a patient is under general anaesthesia can include providing a high gas flow a high gas flow that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia. In certain arrangements, a method of providing ventilation while a patient is under general anaesthesia involves providing only a gas flow delivered through a nasal interface that is greater than 15 L/min while the patient is under general anaesthesia

One aspect of the present disclosure can include an intubating airway. The intubating airway can include a first having a first guiding surface and a second articulating component that is attached to the first component via a hinge and has a second guiding surface. In a closed configuration, the first and second guiding surfaces can be flush with one another so that the first and second components collectively define a conduit having an interior passage that is dimensioned to direct a fiber-optic scope or an endotracheal tube extending through the interior passage for tracheal intubation. In an open configuration, the first and second guiding surfaces are not flush with one another so that no such conduit is formed.

This document describes a system for determining positioning of an intubation tube in a patient. The system can include a first acoustic sensor configured to be disposed to listen to one of a lung and a stomach of the patient and to provide a first signal. The system includes a signal processing unit, coupled to the first acoustic sensor, configured to analyze spectral components of the first signal and determine whether a frequency of the spectral components of the first signal are characteristic of sounds induced by ventilation via the intubation tube of airflow to the lung or the stomach of the patient.

One aspect of the disclosure includes a respiratory valve apparatus. The respiratory valve apparatus may include: a housing having an inner chamber, an endotracheal tube connection port, a ventilator connection port, and a resuscitation bag connection port; and a piston assembly positioned within the inner chamber and including a piston having a first passageway and a second passageway through the piston, wherein the first passageway provides a first flow pathway between the endotracheal tube connection port and the ventilator or connection port when the piston is in a first position, and wherein the second passageway provides a second flow pathway between the endotracheal tube connection port and the resuscitation bag connection port when in a second position.

To be able to prevent a situation in which, in percutaneous dilational tracheostomy, the guide catheter already inserted into the trachea can kink, a device for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy is disclosed which has a puncture needle, a guide catheter and a guidewire. The puncture needle has a ground tip at its distal end. The maximum external diameter of the puncture needle is smaller than the minimum internal diameter of the guide catheter, and the puncture needle is insertable so far into the guide catheter that the ground tip of the puncture needle protrudes beyond the distal end of the guide catheter. The maximum diameter of the guidewire is smaller than the minimum internal diameter of the puncture needle, with the result that the guidewire can be guided through the puncture needle such that its end protrudes beyond the ground tip of the puncture needle.

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for breaking up mucus in a lung comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a pressure oscillating unit in fluid communication with the chamber for supplying and vacuuming air into/out of the chamber, wherein the pressure oscillating unit creates ultrasound waves; a control unit for selecting a positive air pressure or a negative air pressure from the pressure oscillating unit, a fluid container in fluid communication with the chamber; a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the chamber; and an outlet connected to the chamber to send respiration gas to a patient, ultrasonic waves in the respiration gas are capable of breaking up mucus in the lung.