# US 10,953,177 B2 · Endotracheal tube-inserting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,953,177 B2 - Document ID: US10953177B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/469,122 - Filed: 2017-12-13 - Published: 2020-01-23 - Granted: 2021-03-23 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-14 - Assignees: Allytec AB - Applicants: Allytec AB - Inventors: Annette Arnsäter Karlsson; Måns Collner; Hannes Daniel Ulvegard; Ronny Brakhya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10953177B2 ## 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)} - A61B 1/0051: {with controlled bending of insertion part} - A61B 1/267: for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes or bronchoscopes - A61M 25/0133: {Tip steering devices} - A61M 16/0418: {with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation} - A61M 25/0102: {Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod} - A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor} - A61M 2025/015: {Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means} - 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 An endotracheal tube-inserting device of the kind comprising a stylet part and a handle part for operating the stylet part is provided. The stylet part has a proximal stylet end part with a proximal stylet end and an opposite distal stylet end part with a distal stylet end; the proximal stylet end is situated at the handle part, and the distal stylet end has an extension in form of a bendable tip part with a free end; a tip part operating member includes at least a first string member and a second string member arranged along the length of at least a length of the stylet part, and the handle part has an actuator means for operating at least the tip part operating member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) comprising a stylet part (3;3′) and a handle part (2;2′) for operating the stylet part (3;3′), the stylet part (3;3′) has a proximal stylet end part (8a;8a′) with a proximal stylet end (8;8′) and an opposite distal stylet end part (7a;7a′) with a distal stylet end (7;7′), at least a part of the proximal stylet end part (8a;8a′) is situated at or inside the handle part (2;2′), and the distal stylet end (7;7′) has an extension in the form of a bendable tip part (6;6′) with a free distal tip (97;97′) at the free end of the bendable tip part (6:6′), a tip part operating member (16;16′) includes at least a first string member (10) and a second string member (11) arranged along the length of at least a length of the stylet part (3;3′), and the handle part (2;2′) has an actuator (15;15′) for operating at least the tip part operating member (16;16′), wherein the first string member (10) has a first proximal string end (30a;30a′) connected to a first string-operating member (18;18′) of the actuator (15;15′) and an opposite first distal string end (30b;30b′) secured at a first string-securing location (93;93′) at the bendable tip part (6;6′), the second string member (11) has a second proximal string end (38a;38a′) connected to a second string-operating member (19;19′) of the actuator (15;15′) and an opposite second distal string end (38b;38b′) secured at a second string-securing location (94;94′) at the bendable tip part (6;6′), which second string-securing location (94;94′) is different from the first string-securing location (93;93′), the stylet part (3;3′) comprises an elongate guide member (4;4′) that extends into the bendable tip part (6;6′), which elongate guide member (4;4′) and bendable tip part (6;6′) lengthwise encases or supports at least a part of the first string member (10) and at least a part of the second string member (11), the bendable tip part (6;6′) includes a tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″), and at least a distal part of said tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) is accommodated inside a flexible tubular cover (12), the first string-securing location (93;93′) and the second string-securing location (94;94′) are situated lengthwise offset at the bendable tip part (6;6′), and the first distal string end (30b;30b′) and the second distal string end (38b;38b′) are individually attached to the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″), wherein the endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) further comprises an endotracheal tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) returns to a relaxed start position when the actuator (15;15′) is relaxed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the elongate guide member (4;4′) is hollow. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) has a first end (95;95′) and an opposite second end (96;96′). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 4, wherein a length of the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) extending from the second end (96;96′) extends inside the elongate guide member (4;4′). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) includes at least one elongate spring member (5″). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) includes at least two elongate plate springs (5a) arranged at least partly overlapping each other, or the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) is a solid member having different thicknesses along sections of its length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the tip-shaping member (5;5′;5′″) includes a spring member (5″) of spring steel or a plastic material having similar bending properties as spring steel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 6, wherein the tip-shaping member (5′″) includes at least one pulley wheel (100;103;104;105) having an axle fixed to the at least one elongate spring member (5″) at a string-securing location or fixed to the distal stylet end (7) of the elongate guide member (4;4′). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one pulley wheel (100;103;104;105) comprises a distal pulley wheel (100) provided on a first side of the at least one spring member (5″) at a first pulley wheel location (W1) at the free distal tip (97;97′) at the end of the bendable tip part (6;6′), a proximal pulley wheel (103) provided on a second side of the at least one spring member (5″) opposite the first side at a second pulley wheel location (P2) spaced apart from the first pulley wheel location (W1), a distal intermediate pulley wheel (104) and a proximal intermediate pulley wheel (105) provided adjacent each other on opposite sides of the at least one spring member (5″) at an intermediate pulley wheel location (W3) between the first pulley wheel location (W1) and the second pulley wheel location (P2), which distal intermediate pulley wheel (104) is provided on the first side of the at least one spring member (5″) and the proximal intermediate pulley wheel (105) is provided on the second side of the at least one spring member (5″). ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the first string member (10) and at least a part of the second string member (11) runs inside a common lumen of the elongate guide member (4;4′). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first string member (10) and at least a part of the second string member (11) runs alongside the elongate guide member (4;4′), and the flexible tubular cover (12) is extended to cover said string members. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein an exterior face of the tubular cover (12) has a coefficient of friction that is lower than the coefficient of friction of an endotracheal tube (86) to be mounted on the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the stylet part (3;3′) has a first center of curvature above said stylet part (3;3′), and at least a proximal length (L2) of the bendable tip part (6;6′) has a second center of curvature above said bendable tip part (6;6′). ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the stylet part (3;3′) has a first center of curvature below said stylet part (3;3′) and at least a proximal length of the bendable tip part (6;6′) has a second center of curvature above said bendable tip part (6;6′). ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the handle part (2;2′) comprises a housing (9;9′). ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 16, wherein the housing (9;9′) curves the same way as the hollow guide member (4;4′). ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 16, wherein the housing (9;9′) is a curved tubular body having a circumferential exterior wall (109). ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the first string-securing location (93;93′) and the second string-securing location (94;94′) are situated laterally offset at the bendable tip part (6;6′). ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) according to claim 16, wherein the first string-operating member (18) of the actuator (15) includes a first lever body (20) arranged about a first pivot axis (P1), and the second string-operating member (19) of the actuator (5) includes a second lever body (22) pivotably arranged about a second pivot axis (P2), said first lever body (20) has at least one first actuator lever arm (23) extending from the first pivot axis (P1) to a first actuator (24), and at least one opposite first string-operating lever arm (25) at which the first proximal string end (30a) is operatively connected to change the position of the first distal string end (30b) relative to at least the distal stylet end (7) in response to actuating the first actuator (24), said second lever body (22) has at least one second actuator lever arm (31) extending from the second pivot axis to a second actuator (32), and at least one opposite second string-operating lever arm (33) to which the second proximal string end (38a) is operatively connected to change the position of the second distal string end (38b) relative to at least the distal stylet end (7) in response to actuating the second actuator (32). ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) according to claim 20, wherein the housing accommodates at least the first lever body (20) and the second lever body (22), which housing (9) has a first opening (63) for making the first actuator (24) accessible to pivot the first lever body (20) from outside the housing (9), and a second opening (64) for making the second actuator (32) accessible to pivot the second lever body (22) from outside the housing (9). ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) according to claim 20, wherein the first lever body (20) is pivotably suspended to move a first string-securing member (29) of the housing (9) and the second lever body (22) is pivotably suspended to move a second string-securing member (37) of the housing (9), and wherein the first string-securing member (29) is arranged spaced from the first pivot axis (P1), and the second string-securing member (37) is arranged spaced from the second pivot axis (P2). ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) according to claim 20, wherein the endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) further includes a suspension body (17) inside the housing (9) and being configured with the first pivot axis (P1) and the second pivot axis (P2) for pivotally suspending of the first lever body (20) and the second lever body (22), respectively, the first proximal string end (30a) is operatively connected to the end of the first string-operating lever arm (25) opposite the first pivot axis (P1) to displace the first string member (10) along the elongate guide member (4), the second proximal string end (38a) is operatively connected to the end of the second string-operating lever arm (33) opposite the second pivot axis (P2) to displace the second string member (11) along the elongate guide member (4), and wherein the first string-securing member (29) and the second string-securing member (37) are arranged below the suspension body (17) opposite the respective first actuator (24) and second actuator (32). ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) according to claim 20, wherein the first lever body (20) is a first bifurcated lever body having opposite first legs (L1a;L1b) joined by the first actuator (24), which opposite first legs (L1a;L1b) extend from the first actuator (24) into opposite first actuator lever arm (23) that extend further via the first pivot axis (P1) into opposite first string-operating lever arms (25), and the second lever body (22) is a second bifurcated lever body having opposite second legs (L2a;L2b) joined by the second actuator (32), which opposite second legs (L2a;L2b) extend from the second actuator (32) into opposite second actuator lever arms that (31) extend further via the second pivot axis (P2) into opposite second string-operating lever arms (33). ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1) according to claim 24, wherein the suspension body (17) is inserted between the opposite first legs (L1a;L1b) of the first bifurcated lever body (20) and between the opposite second legs (L2a;L2b) of the second bifurcated lever body (22). ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1′) according to claim 20, wherein the housing (9;9′) is a curved tubular body having a circumferential exterior wall (109), and wherein the first actuator (24′) of the first string-operating member (18′) and the second actuator (32′) of the second string-operating member (19′) are hinged to the circumferential exterior wall (109) of the curved tubular body (108) of the housing (5′) to pivot between a relaxed position wherein any of the first actuator (24′) and the second actuator (32′) protrude spaced from the circumferential exterior wall (109) and an actuated position wherein the second actuator (32′) are closer to the circumferential exterior wall (109) than in the relaxed position. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1′) according to claim 20, wherein the first actuator (24′) and the second actuator (32′) are flaps (110;111). ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1′) according to claim 27, wherein the flap (110;111) is provided by a cross-sectional segment of the circumferential exterior wall (109) or the flap (110;111) is a separate part pivotably secured to the circumferential exterior wall (109). ### Claim 29 (depends on 3) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 3, wherein the handle part (2;2′) comprises a housing (9;9′), and wherein the proximal stylet end of the hollow guide member (4;4′) is located inside the housing. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the free distal tip (97;97′) at the end of the distal tip part (6;6′) is soft and flexible. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the endotracheal tube (68) is sheathed on the stylet part (3;3′). ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein a conical tube connector (83) is provided at the proximal stylet end (8;8′) of the elongate guide member (4;4′). ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 1, wherein the endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) further has a tube ejecting mechanism (65). ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 33, wherein the handle part (2;2′) comprises a housing (9;9′), and wherein the tube ejecting mechanism (65) comprises a ratchet mechanism (66) comprising a rack part (68) extending along the length of the housing (9;9′) and being arranged opposite a wedge part (69) having a tube connector (83) in order to engage the rack part (68). ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The endotracheal tube-inserting device (1;1′) according to claim 34, wherein the rack part (68) has a first stationary rack part (70), a second stationary rack part (71), and a moveable third rack part (72) arranged lengthwise between the first stationary rack part (70) and the second stationary rack part (71), which moveable third rack part (72) has a third actuator (67) arranged to protrude from the housing (9;9′), wherein the moveable third rack part (72) is suspended inside the housing (9;9′) by means of a resilient means, and a proximal end (82) of the wedge part (69) is provided with opposite lateral wedge parts (80;81) and a center wedge part (79) located between said lateral wedge parts (80;81).