Nasal Right Angle Endotracheal (RAE) Tube Protective Tip and Method of Use

Abstract

A tube protective sheath or tip is provided for use with a nasal RAE tube in order to minimize bleeding and trauma often associated with passage of a nasal RAE tube through the nasal cavity. The tube protective sheath or tip includes a hollow cylindrical portion that extends and fits snugly over the tube tip of the nasal RAE tube. A tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion is connected to the hollow cylindrical portion. As the nasal RAE tube is inserted through the patient's nasal cavity, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip spreads the passages gently and smoothly, allowing the nasal RAE tube to follow it into the pharynx. Strings or extensions are attached to the tube protective sheath or tip and are used to prevent loss of the protective tip in the patient's nasal cavity, pharynx, or trachea during the intubation process.

Claims

1. A Tube Protective Sheath or Tip for use with a Nasal Right Angle Endotracheal (RAE) Tube, comprising: a hollow cylindrical portion configured to extend and fit snugly over a tube tip of a nasal RAE tube; a tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion connected to the hollow cylindrical portion; and at least one string or extension attached to one of the hollow cylindrical portion and the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion.

2. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the hollow cylindrical portion is between 1 and 2 centimeters long; and the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion is between 1 and 3 centimeters long.

3. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the Tube Protective Sheath or Tip being provided in different colors coded to indicate the size or diameter of nasal RAE tube with which the Tube Protective Sheath or Tip is configured to engage; and each of the different colors chosen for color coding being chosen to provide color contrast with blood.

4. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion being solid, hollow, or a combination of solid and hollow.

5. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 4, wherein: a hollow space within the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion being in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion.

6. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the hollow cylindrical portion being further configured to extend partially or fully over a cuff of the nasal RAE tube.

7. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the Tube Protective Sheath or Tip being made from silicone, rubber, or plastic.

8. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the hollow cylindrical portion having one or more separation features; and the at least one string or extension being attached to the hollow cylindrical portion or the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion asymmetrically.

9. The Tube Protective Sheath or Tip of claim 1, wherein: the Tube Protective Sheath or Tip being provided pre-lubricated in a package.

10. A Nasal RAE Tube having a Tube Protective Sheath or Tip, comprising: a tube; an air supply connection connected to the tube; a tube tip for insertion into the trachea of a patient by way of the patient's nasal cavity; a cuff for inflatably sealing against the patient's trachea; a cuff inflator valve connected to the cuff by way of a cuff inflator tube; and a tube protective sheath or tip having: a hollow cylindrical portion configured to extend and fit snugly over the tube tip; a tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion connected to the hollow cylindrical portion; and at least one string or extension attached to one of the hollow cylindrical portion and the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion.

11. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 10, wherein: the hollow cylindrical portion is between 1 and 2 centimeters long; and the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion is between 1 and 3 centimeters long.

12. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 10, wherein: the tube protective sheath or tip being provided in a color being chosen to provide color contrast with blood.

13. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 10, wherein: the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion being solid, hollow, or a combination of solid and hollow.

14. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 13, wherein: a hollow space within the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion being in fluid communication with the interior of the hollow cylindrical portion.

15. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 10, wherein: the hollow cylindrical portion being further configured to extend partially or fully over the cuff.

16. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 10, wherein: the tube protective sheath or tip being made from silicone, rubber, or plastic.

17. The Nasal RAE Tube of claim 10, wherein: the hollow cylindrical portion having one or more separation features; and the at least one string or extension being attached to the hollow cylindrical portion or the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion asymmetrically.

18. A method of using a Nasal RAE Tube having a Tube Protective Tip, comprising the steps of: providing a nasal RAE tube with a tube protective sheath or tip, the tube protective sheath or tip having: a hollow cylindrical portion extending and fitting snugly over the tube tip; a tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion connected to the hollow cylindrical portion; and at least one string or extension attached to one of the hollow cylindrical portion and the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion. introducing the nasal RAE tube with the tube protective sheath or tip into the nasal cavity of a patient; manipulating the nasal RAE tube with the tube protective sheath or tip until the tube protective sheath or tip is visible in the pharynx at the back of the patient's oral cavity, while a distal end of the at least one string or extension remains outside of the patient's nasal cavity; inserting a Magill's forceps by way of the patient's mouth; and removing the tube protective sheath or tip from the nasal RAE tube using the Magill's forceps and withdrawing it from the patient.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step(s) of: severing the at least one string or extension from the hollow cylindrical portion or the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion prior to withdrawing the tube protective sheath or tip from the patient.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step(s) of: providing the tube protective sheath or tip with one or more separation features; attaching the at least one string or extension to the hollow cylindrical portion or the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion asymmetrically; manipulating the nasal RAE tube with the tube protective sheath or tip until the tube protective sheath or tip advances past the patient's vocal cords into the patient's trachea; pulling on the at least one string or extension using the Magill's forceps until the one or more separation features separate; and withdrawing the tube protective sheath or tip from the patient.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above-mentioned and other features of embodiments of the RAE tube protective tip and method of use thereof will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the RAE tube protective tip and method of use thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] FIGS. 1A and 18 are side views of a known nasal RAE tubes, as described herein;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of a known nasal RAE tube being inserted by way of a patient's nasal passages, as described herein;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of a known nasal RAE tube inserted into a patient's trachea, with its cuff inflated, as described herein;

[0022] FIG. 4A is a partial side view of a known nasal RAE tube, as described herein;

[0023] FIGS. 4B and 4C are partial side views of Nasal RAE Tubes having Protective Tips according to embodiments of the present invention, as described herein;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of a Nasal RAE Tube having a Protective Tip according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described herein;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view of a Nasal RAE Tube having a Protective Tip according to an embodiment of the present invention being inserted by way of a patient's nasal passages, as described herein; and

[0026] FIG. 7 is a partial side view of a Nasal RAE Tube having a Protective Tip according to an embodiment of the present invention, as described herein.

[0027] Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the RAE tube protective tip and method of use thereof, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The following detailed description and appended drawing describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of any methods disclosed and illustrated, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical.

[0029] Turning now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, two examples of known nasal Right Angle Endotracheal (RAE) tubes 30 are shown. Each is provided with an air supply connection 32 that is used to connect the nasal RAE tubes 30 to machines that ensure an adequate supply of air to a patient's lungs. At the distal ends, tube tips 34 are proximate to cuffs 36 that are used to seal the nasal RAE tubes 30 within the trachea of the patient. To accomplish this, the cuffs 36 are connected to cuff inflator valves 40 by way of cuff inflator tubes 38 in known fashion. When the cuffs 36 are to be inflated, a syringe (not shown) is connected to the cuff inflator valve 40, so that air is pushed through the cuff inflator valve 40, through the cuff inflator tube 38, and into the cuff 36.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an instance of a known nasal RAE tube 30 being inserted by way of a patient's nose 12 and nasal cavity 14. FIG. 3 shows an instance of a known nasal RAE tube 30 having been inserted by way of the nose 12 and nasal cavity 14, such that the tube tip 34 has passed beyond the vocal cords 18 into the trachea 16. The cuff 36 has been inflated using a syringe (not shown) connected to the the cuff inflator valve 40, which is connected to the cuff 36 by way of the cuff inflator tube 38, so that the tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 is secure within the trachea 16. The patient's air is thereby supplied by a machine to which the air supply connection 32 is connected. In the process of inserting the nasal RAE tube 30, it is again necessary for the tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 to pass through the patient's nasal cavity 14, as well as through the patient's pharynx, larynx, and/or vocal cords 18, where the excessively rigid, wide, blunt, and/or flared tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 may traumatize tissue and cause bleeding. As is known, Magill's forceps (not shown) may sometimes be inserted through the patient's mouth and oral cavity 10 for the purpose of guiding the tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 past the vocal cords 18 and into the trachea 16. As noted previously, excessive bleeding caused by the excessively rigid, wide, blunt, and/or flared tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 passing through the nasal cavity 14, as well as through the patient's pharynx, larynx, and/or vocal cords 18 may make guiding the tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 past the vocal cords 18 and into the trachea 16 difficult or impossible, as well as possibly causing harm to the patient.

[0031] FIG. 4A shows a partial detail view of a known nasal RAE tube 30 having a tube tip 34 and cuff 36. The tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 can be seen to be excessively rigid, wide, blunt, and/or flared. FIGS. 48 and 4C, then, each shows an embodiment of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 of the present invention installed on a nasal RAE tube 30 having a tube tip 34 and cuff 36. The nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is provided with a hollow cylindrical portion 52 that extends over the tube tip 34 and fits snugly thereto. The nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is further provided with a distal portion 54 that is tapered, pointed, or rounded in aspect. As noted previously, the distal portion 54 of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 may be solid or hollow, or a combination of both, as needed to provide the level of stiffness and resiliency required. In this way, as the nasal RAE tube 30 is inserted through the patient's nasal cavity, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 spreads the passages gently and smoothly, allowing the nasal RAE tube 30 to follow it into the pharynx, and minimizing trauma and bleeding of the nasal passages.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4C, strings or extensions 56 may be attached to the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 and extend along the nasal RAE tube 30. At their distal ends, the strings or extensions 56 may be provided with loops 58. As noted previously, the strings or extensions 56 and loops 58 are used to ensure that the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 does not get lost in the patient's nasal passages if the nasal RAE tube 30 is withdrawn, and/or to ensure that the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 does not inadvertently obstruct the trachea during the removal process.

[0033] FIG. 5, then, shows a complete nasal RAE tube 30 having an embodiment of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50. The nasal RAE tube 30 is again provided with an air supply connection 32 and a tube tip 34 for insertion into the trachea of a patient. A cuff 36 is again connected to a cuff inflator valve 40 by way of a cuff inflator tube 38, and is used to seal the nasal RAE tube 30 against the patient's trachea in the intubated position. The nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is again provided with a hollow cylindrical portion 52 that extends over the tube tip 34 and fits snugly thereto. The nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is again provided with a distal portion 54 that is tapered, pointed, or rounded in aspect, and strings or extensions 56 having loops 58 connected to the hollow cylindrical portion 52 and/or to the tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion 54.

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a method of using the nasal RAE tube 30 having an embodiment of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 of the present invention with its hollow cylindrical portion 52 snugly engaged with the tube tip 34 and its tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion 54. The nasal RAE tube 30 is again provided with an air supply connection 32. The tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 with the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 in place is introduced into the nasal cavity 14 of the patient by way of the patient's nose 12. The nasal RAE tube 30 with the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 in place is then manipulated until the tube tip 34 appears in the pharynx at the back of the patient's oral cavity 10. If it becomes necessary to withdraw the nasal RAE tube 30, as noted previously, then the strings or extensions 56 that extend along the nasal RAE tube 30 and loops 58 are used to ensure that the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is withdrawn along with the nasal RAE tube 30, or minimally subsequent to withdrawal of the nasal RAE tube 30.

[0035] As noted previously, once the tube tip 34 appears in the pharynx at the back of the patient's oral cavity 10, the surgeon inserts Magill's forceps 42 by way of the patient's mouth. At this point, the surgeon may decide to remove the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 from the tube tip 34. If so, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 may then be withdrawn by way of the patient's oral cavity 10, in which case the strings or extensions 56 and loops 58 follow through the patient's nasal cavity 14. Alternately, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 may then be withdrawn by way of the patient's nasal cavity 14, so that the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 travels back through the patient's nasal cavity 14. Still alternately, once the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is secured using the Magill's forceps 42, the surgeon may decide to sever the strings or extensions 56 so that they are removed back through the patient's nasal cavity 14, and the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is removed through the patient's oral cavity 10.

[0036] As noted previously, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 may be left in place on the tube tip 34 of the nasal RAE tube 30 until the tube tip 34 passes the vocal cords 18 and enters the trachea 16. Prior to inflation of the cuff 36 using a syringe (not shown), the cuff inflator valve 40, and the cuff inflator tube 38, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is withdrawn using the strings or extensions 56 and loops 58. In order to facilitate this, as noted previously, an embodiment of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 may, for non-limiting example, be provided with one or more perforations or similar separation features 60, positioned longitudinally along the hollow cylindrical portion 52 as shown in FIG. 7 or otherwise. The strings or extensions 56 in an embodiment of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 may, for non-limiting example, also be attached to of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 offset to one side as shown in FIG. 7. In this way, when the strings or extensions 56 and loops 58 are pulled, using the Magill's forceps 42 or otherwise, the hollow cylindrical portion 52 of the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 splits, and the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 is withdrawn. In any such embodiment, the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 remains intact with its hollow cylindrical portion 52 and its tapered, pointed, or rounded distal portion 54 all connected to the strings or extensions 56, thereby ensuring that the nasal RAE tube protective sheath or tip 50 does not obstruct the trachea 16.

[0037] While the RAE tube protective tip and method of use thereof has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the RAE tube protective tip and method of use thereof can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as demonstrated previously. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the RAE tube protective tip and method of use thereof using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

REFERENCE NUMBER LISTING

[0038] 10 Oral cavity/Mouth [0039] 12 Nose [0040] 14 Nasal cavity [0041] 16 Trachea [0042] 18 Vocal cords [0043] 30 Nasal Right Angle Endotracheal (RAE) tube [0044] 32 Air supply connection [0045] 34 Tube tip [0046] 36 Cuff [0047] 38 Cuff inflator tube [0048] 40 Cuff inflator valve [0049] 42 Magill's forceps [0050] 50 RAE tube protective sheath/tip [0051] 52 Hollow cylindrical portion [0052] 54 Distal portion [0053] 56 Strings/Extensions [0054] 58 Loops [0055] 60 Perforation or separation feature