# US 10,478,578 B2 · Bougie with a controllable tip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,578 B2 - Document ID: US10478578B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/034,890 - Filed: 2014-11-03 - Published: 2016-09-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-06 - Assignees: Construct Medical Pty, Ltd. - Applicants: Construct Medical Pty, Ltd. - Inventors: Philip Stuart Esnouf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478578B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0488: {Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes (guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02)} - A61M 16/0418: {with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation} - A61B 2017/003: {Steerable} - A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits} - A61B 2017/00323: {Cables or rods} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - A61M 2205/587: Lighting arrangements - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A bougie for insertion in a patient, the bougie including: (i) a main shaft having proximal and distal ends and a bore extending axially therein; (ii) a movable tip having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the movable tip being connected to the distal end of the main shaft; (iii) a control member having proximal and distal ends, the control member being mounted for sliding movement in the bore of the main shaft; and (iv) the distal end of the control member being coupled to the distal end of the movable tip, the arrangement being such that an operator can slide the control member relative to the main shaft so as to cause displacement of the tip relative to the axial direction of the main shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bougie for insertion in a patient, the bougie including: (i) a main shaft in the form of a tube having a proximal end and a distal end and a bore extending axially therein; (ii) a longitudinally extending recess formed in the main shaft between the proximal and distal ends thereof, and closer to the distal end; (iii) a movable tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the movable tip being connected to the distal end of the main shaft; (iv) a control member having a proximal end and a distal end, the control member being mounted for sliding movement in the bore of the main shaft; (v) lateral projections provided on the control member which are located in the region of said recess; the distal end of the control member being coupled to the distal end of the movable tip, the arrangement of the main shaft and lateral projections being such that an operator is able to grip said lateral projections so that the operator is able to slide the control member relative to the main shaft so as to cause displacement of the tip relative to the bore of the main shaft; and the arrangement of the main shaft and lateral projections being such that an operator is able to pass the movable tip into the trachea of a patient and then mount the distal end of an endotracheal tube over the proximal end of the main shaft so that the endotracheal tube is able to be correctly located in the trachea of the patient and thereafter the bougie is able to be removed from the endotracheal tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A bougie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control member is a control rod. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A bougie as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distal end of the control member is coupled to the distal end of the movable tip by means of a control wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A bougie as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main shaft and movable tip are generally tubular in shape and have a common longitudinal axis when the tip is in a neutral position and wherein the control wire extends in a longitudinal direction but is laterally offset relative to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A bougie as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tip includes a passageway through which the control wire passes, wherein the control wire is adapted to transmit tensile and compressive forces to the distal end of the tip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A bougie as claimed in claim 4, wherein the tip includes a tip body with lateral formations which, when the tip body is subject to pulling or pushing by the control rod, causes lateral displacement of the tip in anterior and posterior directions respectively, wherein the tip body is tubular and the lateral formations comprise slots extending laterally through the tubular tip body along one side of the tubular tip body, wherein the control wire is offset towards said one side of the tip body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A bougie as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tip includes a tip body with lateral formations which, when the tip body is subject to pulling or pushing by the control rod, causes lateral displacement of the tip in anterior and posterior directions respectively. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A bougie as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tip body is tubular and the lateral formations comprise slots extending laterally through the tubular tip body along one side of the tubular tip body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A bougie as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control rod extends through the tubular tip body and the control rod's distal end is coupled to the distal end of the tubular tip body so that: (i) when the operator slides the control rod in a proximal direction relative to the main shaft the tip is displaced in the anterior direction; and (ii) when the operator slides the control rod in a distal direction relative to the main shaft the tip is displaced in the posterior direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A bougie as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tip includes a sheath which covers the tip body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A bougie as claimed in claim 10, wherein the sheath is formed from resilient material and has a closed distal end and a proximal end which is joined to the distal end of the main shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) A bougie as claimed in claim 7, wherein in a relaxed position of the tip, the tip is axially aligned with the axis of the main shaft, and wherein the tip body is made from resilient material which causes the tip body to return to a position in which the tip body is aligned with the main shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) A bougie as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bougie further comprises a tip body and a sheath. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A bougie as claimed in claim 13, wherein the tip body is integrally formed at the distal end of the main shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A bougie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main shaft and control member are flexible. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A bougie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip is adapted to be displaced through up to 190° relative to the axial direction of the main shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A bougie as claimed in claim 16, wherein the tip is adapted to be displaced through up to 100° in the anterior direction and up to 90° in the posterior direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A bougie as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a relaxed position of the tip, the tip is axially aligned with the axis of the main shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A bougie as claimed in claim 1, including a first port near the proximal end of the main shaft and a second port adjacent to the distal end of the main shaft or in the tip so that, in use, fluids is able to pass into the first port and out of the second port or vice versa. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A bougie as claimed in claim 19, wherein the main shaft includes a partition so as to form a first chamber and a second chamber, the control member being movable in the first chamber and wherein the first and second ports are in fluid communication with the second chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A bougie as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip is made from coloured material and/or includes fluorescent pigment.