Rigid endotracheal intubation stylet with extended, angulated, tapered, and pliable tip

Abstract

A rigid intubation stylet with an extended tip for use during video laryngoscopic intubations. This tip is hyper angulated from the end of the stylet back towards the stylet body. The shape of the tip is conical and tapers down away from the body of the stylet. The tip is more pliable than the rigid stylet body. The stylet body is longer than traditional rigid stylets to allow the tip to extend past an endotracheal tube during endotracheal intubation.

Claims

1. A rigid intubation stylet comprising: a tip that protrudes past the end of an endotracheal tube when the tube is loaded onto the stylet. The tip protrudes past the endotracheal tube during an endotracheal intubation procedure until the tube is advanced off the stylet.

2. A rigid intubation stylet according to claim 1, wherein the tip is more pliable than the body of the stylet.

3. A rigid intubation stylet according to claim 1, wherein the tip is hyper-angulated back towards the handle of the stylet.

4. A rigid intubation stylet according to claim 1, wherein the tip narrows from the body of the stylet to the termination of the tip.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to increase first-pass success rate in video endotracheal tube intubations by introducing a new rigid stylet with unique, protruding tip. In performing the procedure with this new stylet, the healthcare provider will insert the new rigid stylet into the lumen of an endotracheal tube so that the tip of the stylet protrudes roughly 2 to 3 centimeters past the end of the tube. The pliable tip is the only portion of the stylet that should protrude from endotracheal tube opposite the handle side of the stylet. Once assembled in this fashion, the healthcare provider will hold the tube and stylet so that the handle is external to the patient and the tip is entering the oropharynx. Posterior to the epiglottis, the tube and stylet navigate toward the patient's vocal cords. The combined rigidity of the stylet and the pliability of the tip grants the medical provider maneuverability in an airway while minimizing concern of perforating tracheal walls. Additionally, because of its composition and protrusion from the tube, the tip will act as a hyper angulated director that is thinner than the endotracheal tube to be able to turn anteriorly and slip through the vocal cords to easily direct the tube into the trachea. The pliable, tapered tip of the stylet is then used to pass the vocal cords, dilating the cords as the tip and tube are advanced. Once the tip is successfully past the vocal cords, the endotracheal tube advances into the trachea to be secured and the stylet is backed out of the tube by the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

[0005] The attached drawing in this application titled “Drawing 1” is a drawing of the pliable, tapered tip that extends past the end of a loaded endotracheal tube.