Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and method to facilitate insertion of the endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea.
Claims
1. An apparatus for aiding endotracheal intubation comprises: a funnel with a curved cannulated stem that is configured for oral insertion into a patients throat; a lever arm tucked into a tip of the stem so that a nub of the lever arm is disposed within the curved cannulated stem; an endotracheal tube; and, wherein after the curved cannulated stem is orally inserted into the patients throat the endotracheal tube is (a) passed through the funnel and curved cannulated stem to press the nub and extend the lever arm from the tip into contact with the patient's epiglottis and (b) directed by the curved cannulated stem away from the esophagus and into the trachea.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cannulated stem additionally comprises at least two wings fixed to the straight end of the airway, the wings configured to prevent the airway from slipping further than desired into the patient's mouth.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cannulated stem additionally comprises a ring fixed to the straight end of the airway, the ring configured to prevent the airway from slipping further than desired into the patient's mouth.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lever arm includes a perforated pad disposed over the end of the cannulated stem to be inserted first into the patient's mouth.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the perforated pad has substantially the same diameter as the tip of the cannulated stem to which it is attached.
6. The pad of claim 4, wherein said pad is engaged via an engagement means.
7. The pad of claim 4, wherein said pad has at least one perforation sufficiently large as to allow for adequate air passage should the engagement means fail to engage and the airway remains closed.
8. A blind endotracheal intubation apparatus comprising: a funnel and; a endotracheal tube and; a cannulated stem and; a lever.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cannulated stem comprises wings configured to prevent the over insertion of said cannulated to stem.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the lever is connected by a hinge to a proximal end of the cannulated stem, the lever configured to prevent the epiglottis from occluding said cannulated stem.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lever opens from said cannulated stem to make a 130-135 degree angle relative to a plane parallel to the proximal end of said cannulated stem.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cannulated stem has a hole 14 mm in diameter that travels unimpeded from said proximal end to a distal end.
13. An endotracheal intubation apparatus comprising: a funnel; a curved cannulated stem configured to have a circular shape; a endotracheal tube configured to be guided through said cannulated stem and, a lever stored in said cannulated stem connected by a hinge to deploy said lever
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said funnel when deployed will deposit said lever to contact an epiglottis.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said cannulated stem is configured to form a curved shape.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cannulated stem is configured to allow said endotracheal tube to pass though said cannulated stem.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus is made from metal or plastic.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the planes parallel to both the proximal and the distal ends will have normal vectors that are not parallel.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein a tube clamp is attached by sharing congruent geometries to said endotracheal tube.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cannulated stem is configured to not enter an esophagus.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a fully rendered isometric view of a blind intubation device 1000;
[0034] FIG. 2 is an isometric schematic view of the blind intubation device 1000;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the blind intubation device 1000;
[0036] FIG. 4 is front view of the blind intubation device 1000;
[0037] FIG. 5 is a normal view of the blind intubation device 1000;
[0038] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a lever arm 1300 (also called perforated pad);
[0039] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the lever arm 1300;
[0040] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the lever arm 1300;
[0041] FIG. 9A an isometric schematic view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 tucked into the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0042] FIG. 9B an isometric schematic view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0043] FIG. 10A a side view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 tucked into the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0044] FIG. 10B a side view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0045] FIG. 11A a cross-section of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 tucked into the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0046] FIG. 11B a cross-section of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0047] FIG. 12A a front view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 tucked into the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0048] FIG. 12B a front view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0049] FIG. 13A a normal view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 tucked into the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0050] FIG. 13B a normal view of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200;
[0051] FIG. 14 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 orthogonal to the patient's 2000 trachea 2100;
[0052] FIG. 15 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 turned downstream toward the patient's 2000 trachea 2100;
[0053] FIG. 16 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 turned downstream toward the patient's 2000 trachea 2100 and the lever arm 1300 extended from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200 so that it holds the epiglottis 2110 away from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200;
[0054] FIG. 17 is a fully rendered isometric view of another embodiment of a blind intubation device;
[0055] FIG. 18 is an isometric schematic view of the blind intubation device;
[0056] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the blind intubation device;
[0057] FIG. 20 is front view of the blind intubation device;
[0058] FIG. 21 is a normal view of the blind intubation device;
[0059] FIG. 22 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a lever arm (also called perforated pad);
[0060] FIG. 23 shows a schematic view of the lever arm;
[0061] FIG. 24 shows a schematic view of the lever arm;
[0062] FIG. 25 is a side view of the blind intubation device with the lever arm extended out of the tip of the device's cannulated stem;
[0063] FIG. 26 is a cross-section of the blind intubation device with the lever arm extended out of the tip of the device's cannulated stem;
[0064] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional side view of the blind intubation device;
[0065] FIG. 28 is a normal view of the blind intubation device;
[0066] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a tube clamp 1500;
[0067] FIG. 30 is a normal view of the blind intubation device 1000 with a tube clamp 1500 installed on the canal 1220 and the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200; and,
[0068] FIG. 31 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 turned downstream toward the patient's 2000 trachea 2100, the lever arm 1300 extended from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200 so that it holds the epiglottis 2110 away from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200, a tube clamp 1500 installed on the canal 1220 with a tube 3000 inserted into the canal 1220 and there held fast by the clamp 1500.
[0069] In the figures, the following reference numerals are associated with the following components of the disclosure; [0070] blind intubation device 1000 [0071] funnel 1100 [0072] cannulated stem 1200 [0073] tip 1210 [0074] airway or canal 1220 [0075] lever arm or perforated pad 1300 [0076] notch 1310 [0077] patient 2000 [0078] trachea 2100 [0079] epiglottis 2110 [0080] esophagus 2200
[0081] It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0082] Generally disclosed are apparatuses and methods to facilitate insertion of the endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea as well as reducing the amount of time taken for intubation (e.g., from 30 seconds to 18 seconds). The disclosed apparatus and technique enables for blind intubation, i.e., intubation without use of a laryngoscope. Hence the device is referred to herein as a blind intubation device. The more specific aspects of the invention are described with reference to the figures.
[0083] FIG. 1 is a fully rendered isometric view of a blind intubation device 1000. FIG. 2 is an isometric schematic view of the blind intubation device 1000. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the blind intubation device 1000. FIG. 4 is front view of the blind intubation device 1000. FIG. 5 is a normal view of the blind intubation device 1000. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 the device 1000 comprises three basic parts: [0084] 1. a funnel 1100, [0085] 2. a curved and cannulated stem 1200 with tip 1210 and airway between the funnel 1100 and tip 1210, and [0086] 3. a lever arm 1300 that is tucked normally tucked into the tip 1210.
Suitably, the device may be 3-D printed or molded of plastic. In a preferred embodiment, the device is molded of plastic in two halves and snapped together as shown in FIG. 3. The device may also be made of metal or carved of wood.
[0087] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a lever arm 1300 (also called perforated pad). FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the lever arm 1300. FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the lever arm 1300. As discussed in greater detail below, the lever arm 1300 may be normally tucked into the tip of a cannulated stem and then extended out of the tip to hold back a patient's epiglottis so that a tube may be passed into the trachea of the patient.
[0088] FIGS. 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A, and 13A are various views of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 tucked into the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200. FIGS. 9B, 10B, 11B, 12B, and 13B are various views of the blind intubation device 1000 with the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200. Suitably, the lever arm 1300 may be spring loaded so that it is biased to a tucked position. As discussed below, the lever arm 1300 may be normally tucked into the tip 1210 of a cannulated stem 1200 and then extended out of the tip 1210 via the force of a tube (not shown) being passed through the airway 1220 of the stem 1200. When the lever arm 1300 is extended out of the tip 1210 it suitably serves to hold back a patient's epiglottis so that a tube may be passed into the trachea of the patient.
[0089] FIG. 16 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 turned downstream toward the patient's 2000 trachea 2100 and the lever arm 1300 extended from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200 so that it holds the epiglottis 2110 away from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200.
[0090] FIGS. 14 through 16 illustrate a preferred method. In accordance with the present method and apparatus 1000 of inserting endotracheal tubes into the patient's 2000 airway 2100, the patient 2000 is first placed in a prone or substantially equivalent position. The patient's 2000 mouth must be accessible to the physician or technician (not shown) inserting an endotracheal tube (not shown). Once the patient 2000 is in the proper position, the mouth is opened and the patient's 2000 head tilted slightly in an attempt to straighten the passageway 2100 from the rear of the mouth to the desired tracheal depth.
[0091] Still referring to FIGS. 14-16, the curved cannulated stem 1200 of the funnel may then be inserted into the mouth of the patient, preferably but not necessarily with the curvature of the cannulated stem (hook) being orthogonal to the inside of the patient's cheek before being rotated into position. FIG. 14 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 orthogonal to the patient's 2000 trachea 2100. The cannulated stem 1200 may have the endotracheal tube (not shown) already partially inserted, or insertion may take place after the airway 2100 has been properly fitted with the device 100 as shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 turned downstream toward the patient's 2000 trachea 2100. During rotation of the device into position (e.g., from FIGS. 14 to 15), the hook, i.e. curved cannulated stem 1200, may be downstream so that the tip 1210 of the stem is toward the patient's lungs. Ultimately, the endotracheal tube (not shown) may be guided past the soft palate and pharynx until it rests fully inserted into the patient's throat 2100.
[0092] Referring now to FIG. 16, the endotracheal tube (not shown) depresses outward as it moves through the tip 1210 of the stem 1200 a perforated pad or lever arm 1300. When so depressed outward, the pad or lever arm 1300 holds the epiglottis 2110 in place as to reduce the likelihood of esophageal insertion. The cannulated stem 1200 may be constructed with a curve to safely direct the tube away from the esophagus 2200 and into the trachea 2100 at a reduced risk of damage to other part of the anatomy and respiratory function. A ventilating means, such as an external bladder or machine lung (not shown), is attached the exposed end and funnel portion 1100 of the device 1000.
[0093] The manner in which the cannulated stem 1200 is inserted greatly reduces the risk of esophageal insertion of the endotracheal tube and thus the risks associated with improper respiration. Some of the associated risks include brain damage, cardiac arrest, and death. Use of the cannulated stem and method at hand likewise reduces the risk of aspiration of the stomach or improper lung aspiration and associated risks. Additionally, the simplicity of the apparatus typically allows for intubation in substantially less time than traditional methods.
[0094] FIG. 17 is a fully rendered isometric view of another embodiment of a blind intubation device. FIG. 17 shows a perforated pad fitted to the hooked end of the cannulated stem in the engaged position and funnel with wings fitted to the opposite end of the stem. FIG. 18 is an isometric schematic view of the blind intubation device. FIG. 18 shows the perforated pad in the disengaged position. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of the blind intubation device. FIG. 19 shows that the stem tucks away the perforated pad. FIG. 19 also shows the perforated pad in the disengaged position as well as the general contour and dimensions of the cavities within the airway associated with a particular embodiment. FIG. 20 is front view of the blind intubation device. FIG. 20 shows the perforated pad in the disengaged position and the funnel's dimensions and respective positions in this embodiment. FIG. 21 is a normal view of the blind intubation device. FIG. 21 is a schematic normal to the plane on which the funnel of this particular embodiment of cannulated stem lie. This view of FIG. 21 shows an embodiment in which the fitting means employed to fix the perforated flap is a traditional hinge utilizing a spring as an engagement means.
[0095] FIG. 22 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a lever arm (also called perforated pad). FIG. 23 shows a schematic view of the lever arm. FIG. 24 shows a schematic view of the lever arm. This particular embodiment uses a pad with two large holes. Other embodiments may employ a different number or different shapes of holes. FIG. 25 is a side view of the blind intubation device with the lever arm extended out of the tip of the device's cannulated stem. FIG. 26 is a cross-section of the blind intubation device with the lever arm extended out of the tip of the device's cannulated stem.
[0096] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional side view of another alternate embodiment of a blind intubation device. FIG. 28 is a normal view of the blind intubation device.
[0097] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a tube clamp 1500. Suitably, the clamp 1500 may be installed over the canal 1220 of a blind intubation device 1000 to ensure a tube 3000 (FIG. 31) is not accidentally provided too deep into a trachea 2100 during installation or afterward. FIG. 30 is a normal view of the blind intubation device 1000 with a tube clamp 1500 installed on the canal 1220 and the lever arm 1300 extended out of the tip 1210 of the device's 1000 cannulated stem 1200. FIG. 31 is an environmental view of the blind intubation device 1000 inserted into a patient's 2000 throat with the curved cannulated stem 1200 turned downstream toward the patient's 2000 trachea 2100, the lever arm 1300 extended from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200 so that it holds the epiglottis 2110 away from the tip 1210 of the stem 1200, a tube clamp 1500 installed on the canal 1220 with a tube 3000 inserted into the canal 1220 and there held fast by the clamp 1500.
[0098] Other assembly methods may be practiced depending on the use of alternative embodiments described herein, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0099] In one preferred embodiment, the engagement means comprises a spring or spring-like feature which pushes on the perforated pad, causing said pad to swivel and make contact with the epiglottis.
[0100] In some preferred embodiments, the eccentricity of the airway's curvature will vary as to allow for use on patients with varying throat dimensions.
[0101] Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.
[0102] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term including should be read as meaning including, without limitation or the like, the term example is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms a or an should be read as meaning at least one, one or more, or the like, and adjectives such as conventional, traditional, normal, standard, known and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.
[0103] The presence of broadening words and phrases such as one or more, at least, but not limited to or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term assembly does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.
[0104] Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.
[0105] All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.
