Esophageal temporary occlusion device and method for endotracheal intubation and orogastric tube insertion

A method for intubation of a patient with an endotracheal tube, the method comprising:

• providing a temporary occlusion device, the temporary occlusion device comprising an expandable frame configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein in the expanded state, the frame has a diameter sufficient to span an inner diameter of the esophagus of the patient, a flexible cover connected to and extending over at least a portion of the frame when the frame is in the expanded state to at least partially block flow of fluid and/or solid materials through the esophagus, and an ultrathin metallic guidewire connected to the frame having an outer diameter of about 0.01 mm to about 0.1 mm;
• causing the patient to swallow the temporary occlusion device in the contracted state by the patient's natural swallowing mechanism while the patient is conscious and awake, such that a portion of the guidewire remains external to the patient's mouth;
• deploying the expandable frame at a desired position in the patient's esophagus;
• after deployment of the expandable frame of the occlusion device, inserting a distal end of an endotracheal tube through the patient's mouth and into the patient's trachea or lungs;
• deploying a balloon or cuff of the endotracheal tube to at least partially seal the lungs and/or trachea;
• and
• removing the temporary occlusion device from the esophagus after the endotracheal tube is deployed.

A method for placement of an orogastric tube in a stomach of a patient, the method comprising:

• providing an anchor device comprising an ultrathin metallic guidewire having an outer diameter of about 0.01 mm to about 0.1 mm and a wire frame mounted to a distal end of the guidewire;
• causing the patient to swallow the anchor device by the patient's natural swallowing mechanism, such that a portion of the guidewire remains external to the patient's mouth, wherein the patient is awake and conscious while swallowing the anchor device;
• permitting the frame and guidewire connected thereto to advance to a desired position within the patient's esophagus, wherein the desired position is about 20 cm to 40 cm from the patient's upper teeth;
• and
• advancing the orogastric tube over the guidewire and past the frame to position a distal end of the orogastric tube in the patient's stomach.

A method for deploying a temporary occlusion device in an esophagus of a conscious patient, the method comprising:

• providing the temporary occlusion device, wherein the temporary occlusion device comprises:
• a frame configured to transition between a contracted state, in which it is configured to be swallowed by the patient when the patient is conscious and awake, and an expanded state, wherein in the expanded state, the frame has a maximum outer diameter sufficient to span an inner diameter of the esophagus of the patient;
• a flexible cover connected to and extending over at least a portion of the frame when the frame is in the expanded state to at least partially block flow of fluid and/or solid materials through the esophagus;
• and
• a guidewire attached to the frame, sized to be swallowed by the patient when the patient is conscious and awake along with the frame and having a proximal end portion configured to remain external to the patient's body and a distal end connected to a proximal end of the frame;
• causing the patient to swallow the temporary occlusion device in the contracted state by the patient's natural swallowing mechanism, such that a portion of the guidewire remains external to the patient's mouth, wherein the patient is awake and conscious while swallowing the temporary occlusion device;
• deploying the expandable frame at a desired position in the patient's esophagus, thereby at least partially sealing a portion of the patient's esophagus from gastric fluid from the patient's stomach;
• advancing a catheter tube over the guidewire of the temporary occlusion device to a position adjacent to the frame;
• and
• retracting the frame into the catheter tube and removing the frame and catheter tube from the patient's body through the patient's mouth, wherein retracting the frame comprises exposing the frame to a cold liquid to cause the frame to transition from the expanded state to the contracted state.