A DEVICE FOR HOLDING ENDOTRACHEAL TUBES

Abstract

A device for holding endotracheal tubes includes a bite tube that defines a passage zone for at least one endotracheal tube; a front plate and an adjustable retainer joined to the bite tube, and which form means for limiting displacement of the bite tube in an axial direction towards the interior and exterior of the mouth of the patient, respectively; and means for immobilising at least one endotracheal tube with respect to the bite tube in an axial direction. The device includes a lateral opening along the entire length of the bite tube, the front plate and the adjustable retainer for lateral or transversal introduction of at least one endotracheal tube into the passage zone defined by the bite tube.

Claims

1. A device for holding endotracheal tubes, intended to secure at least one endotracheal tube with respect to a patient's mouth and comprising: a bite tube that defines a passage zone for at least one endotracheal tube, a front plate and an adjustable retainer joined to the bite tube and which form means for limiting displacement of the bite tube in the axial direction towards the interior and exterior of the mouth of the patient respectively; and means for immobilising at least one endotracheal tube with respect to the bite tube in the axial direction, wherein a lateral opening is formed along an entire length of the bite tube, the front plate and the adjustable retainer for lateral or transversal introduction of at least one endotracheal tube into the passage zone defined by the bite tube, and wherein the front plate and the adjustable retainer are arranged externally with respect to the bite tube.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means of immobilisation of the endotracheal tube comprise a pressure clamp attached to the front plate open towards the lateral opening of the device and arranged in parallel to an exterior face of the front plate.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressure clamp comprises an end part attached to the front plate and two elastically flexible arms with toothed concave portions, facing each other, to secure at least one endotracheal tube in the passage zone of the bite tube.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front plate comprises stops for securing the arms elastically bent into an open position of the pressure clamp.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable retainer is constituted by an inflatable balloon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] To supplement this description and facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this description is accompanied by a set of drawings in which the following have been represented with an illustrative rather than limitative character:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the device for holding endotracheal tubes according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a back elevation view of the holding device in the previous figure.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the holding device in the previous figures.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the holding device in the previous figures divided by the horizontal plane shown in FIG. 3.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the holding device in the previous figures with an adjustable retainer, constituted by an inflatable balloon, shown in a deflated position.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the holding device in the previous figures during the introduction of an endotracheal tube in the transversal direction, in its interior and with the pressure clamp held in an open position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In the embodiment example shown the attached figures, the device for holding the endotracheal tubes comprises: a bite tube (1); a front plate (2) and an adjustable retainer (3) arranged externally with respect to the bite tube (1) and substantially perpendicular to said bite tube (1); and a pressure clamp (4) attached to the front plate (2).

[0037] In the example shown, the adjustable retainer (3) is constituted by an inflatable balloon.

[0038] This inflatable balloon (3) is intended to be positioned and inflated inside the patient's mouth, trapping the device against the patient's teeth, preventing the device from moving in an axial direction towards the exterior of the mouth; whilst the front plate (2) is intended to be positioned between the patient's teeth and lips, preventing the axial displacement of the device towards the interior of the mouth.

[0039] As can be observed in the attached figures, this device comprises a lateral opening (5) along the entire length of the bite tube (1), the front plate (2) and the inflatable balloon (3) for lateral or transversal introduction of at least one endotracheal tube (T) into the passage zone (11) defined by the bite tube (1), as shown in FIG. 6.

[0040] The inflatable balloon (3) has an inflation tube (31) for the connection of a pressure syringe that can be actuated manually or any other suitable device for supplying air or fluid under pressure and the inflation thereof.

[0041] The pressure clamp (4) is arranged in parallel to an exterior face of the front plate (2) and comprises: an end part (41) attached to this front plate and two elastically flexible arms (42), which define toothed concave portions (43), facing each other, to secure at least one endotracheal tube (T) in the passage zone (12) of the bite tube (1) as shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] The front plate (2) comprises stops (21) for securing the arms (42) in the open position of the clamp (4) represented in FIG. 6.

[0043] These stops (21) have ramps oriented towards the lateral opening (5) of the device to facilitate the positioning of the arms (42) of the pressure clamp (4) in the open position, it being sufficient to separate the arms (42) in the direction of the opening of the clamp (4) until they pass said stops 21 and are held in the open position represented in FIG. 6 for this purpose.

[0044] To return the clamp (4) to the operational position represented in FIG. 2, the arms (42) simply need to be bent slightly in the front direction for them to be released from the stops (21) and return to said operational position as a result of the action of the elastic energy accumulated therein.

[0045] Once the nature of the invention has been described sufficiently, along with a preferred embodiment example, it is noted that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the parts described may be altered for the appropriate purposes provided that this does not change the essential characteristics of the invention claimed below.