# US 12,214,131 B2 · Lower jaw and tongue thrusting, endotracheal tube and flexible fiberoptic endoscope intubation oral airway device

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- Number: US 12,214,131 B2
- Document ID: US12214131B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/297,926
- Filed: 2019-11-27
- Published: 2022-01-27
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-27
- Assignees: Wedge Therapeutics, LLC
- Applicants: Wedge Therapeutics, LLC
- Inventors: Totada R Shantha; Robert Wieden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214131B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/0495: {with tongue depressors}
- A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion}
- A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/24: for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth
- A61M 16/0493: {with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block}
- A61M 2205/0238: the material being a coating or protective layer
- A61M 2205/588: by olfactory feedback, i.e. smell
- 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 lower jaw and tongue thrusting endotracheal tube and flexible fiberoptic endoscope intubation oral airway device having an elongated body including, a mandible flange with a lingual flat portion transversely disposed on a ventral surface of a tongue plate. The device having an open top toward the palate like a rectangular trough. The trough extends through the device from the proximal end to the front middle part of the tongue plate. The device includes an L-shaped insert that slideably couples between the upper lip flanges and acts also as dorsal surface of the bite block. The distal end of the tongue plate end comprises a curved surface which tapers to a narrow distal edge. A pair of upstanding walls attach to the tongue faceplate ventral surface edges which taper as they extend posteriorly. The walls ensure protection for medical instruments disposed within the flexible fiberoptic endoscope guide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lower jaw and tongue thrusting endotracheal tube and flexible fiberoptic endoscope intubation (LJT-ET-FO) oral airway device, comprising
an elongate member having a distal end and a proximal end, the elongate member sized for insertion in the mouth of a patient and facilitation of air and medical instrument passage between the proximal and distal ends, including:
a flange assembly located at the proximal end of the elongate member including a lower lip flange, a pair of upper lip flanges, and a sliding insert that removably couples the pair of upper lip flanges, the sliding insert including a maxillary engagement surface that defines an upper cover of a passageway extending into the elongate member;
a tongue plate extending to the distal end of the elongate member;
a trough extending between the flange assembly and the tongue plate;
a mandibular flange projecting downwardly and transversely disposed at a first proximal end of the trough;
wherein the mandibular flange has a proximally facing surface that is located proximal to the maxillary engagement surface of the sliding insert but distal to the lower lip flange.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oral airway device of claim 1, wherein the trough has a generally U-shaped cross section with a bottom and a pair of vertically extending sidewalls that taper as they extend distally, the trough providing an upward opening and protection for any medical instruments inserted therein.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The oral airway device of claim 2, wherein the trough partially surrounds the passageway as it extends through the device from an opening in the flange assembly to a front middle part of the tongue plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The oral airway device of claim 1, wherein the passageway provides an opening extending through the flange assembly and through the interior of the trough for placement of at least one of: an endotracheal tube; and flexible fiberoptic endoscope.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The oral airway device of claim 1, wherein the sliding insert is generally L-shaped.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The oral airway device of claim 1, wherein the tongue plate at the distal end of the elongate member provides a curved surface which tapers to a narrow distal edge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The oral airway device of claim 1, wherein the tongue plate has a curved ventral surface including a notch and a plurality of transversely disposed ridges shaped to provide downward and inferior tongue pressure on the patient.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The oral airway device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of upper lip flanges contains an aperture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The oral airway device of claim 8, wherein the aperture is sized for delivery of oxygen through a nasal oxygen delivery catheter or entry point for a suction catheter during an endoscopic procedure.

### Claim 10

A lower jaw and tongue thrusting endotracheal tube and flexible fiberoptic endoscope intubation (LJT-ET-FO) oral airway device, comprising:
a semi-rigid, semi-rectangular, elongate member with two lateral walls extending from a flat ventral base with an open top lumen, the elongate member extending from a proximal end that includes an upper lip flange, a lower lip flange, and a bite block to a distal end having structure for location adjacent the root of the tongue of a patient including a tongue plate;
wherein the bite block partially defines a passageway between a pair of spaced apart lip flange projections that comprise the upper lip flange and the lower lip flange;
wherein the bite block has a ventral surface with a mandibular flange in vertical alignment with the upper lip flange but distal to the lower lip flange, the mandibular flange configured to be placed behind mandibular incisor teeth of the patient to hold the lower mandibular jaw and the tongue of the patient as the lower jaw is thrust forward into position;
wherein the bite block has a resilient, teeth and lip engaging part on the ventral surface between the lower lip flange and the mandibular flange for placing lower incisor teeth and lower lip for maintaining a protracted mandibular position; and
wherein the ventral surface of the bite block angles inferiorly towards the lower lip flange.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The oral airway device of claim 10, wherein the passageway between the upper lip flange is covered by a sliding insert which is removably coupled between the pair of lip flange projections of the upper lip flange, and extends backwards with a dorsal surface for engagement by maxillary teeth, the sliding insert configured to be easily removed to facilitate removal of the oral airway device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The oral airway device of claim 11, wherein one of the lateral walls and upper lip flange include an aperture to hold a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) in position during flexible fiberoptic endoscope procedures to maintain oxygenation and air movement.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The oral airway device of claim 10, wherein a plurality of transverse ridges are included on a ventral surface of the tongue plate that is configured to position and maintain the tongue of the patient in a forward position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The oral airway device of claim 10, wherein a nub is provided on a ventral surface at the end of the tongue plate and configured to prevent the movement of the tongue on the epiglottis by pulling the root of the tongue away from a epiglottis.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The oral airway device of claim 10, wherein the tongue plate is large, curved and includes a plurality of transverse bars configured to prevent the movement of the tongue from side to side and backwards during the flexible fiberoptic endoscope and endotracheal tube placement procedures.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The oral airway device of claim 10, wherein the oral airway device includes a generally flat open end and a trough through which a flexible fiberoptic endoscope and an endotracheal tube can be placed, thus permitting manipulation of a tip of an inserted medical instrument.