# US 12,376,740 B2 · Airway manipulator devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,376,740 B2 - Document ID: US12376740B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/621,612 - Filed: 2019-06-25 - Published: 2022-12-15 - Granted: 2025-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-25 - Assignees: Airway Medical Innovations Pty Ltd - Applicants: Airway Medical Innovations Pty Ltd - Inventors: Julio Miguel Alonso Babarro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12376740B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/267: for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes or bronchoscopes - A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)} - 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 2210/0656: Epiglottis - A61M 2210/1028: Larynx - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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)} ## Abstract A device for insertion into an airway of a subject, the device including: an arm defining a distal end and a proximal end, the arm including: an elongate handle portion at the proximal end, the handle portion extending substantially towards the distal end, and an offset portion located between the distal end and the handle portion, the offset portion being offset dorsally relative to the handle portion and the distal end; and a tip at the distal end of the arm, wherein the arm is configured to allow a user to hold the handle portion outside of a mouth of the subject and move the handle portion to move the tip through the mouth and pharynx of the subject to thereby position the tip proximate to a larynx of the subject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for insertion into an airway of a subject, the device including: a) an arm defining a distal end and a proximal end, the arm including: i) an elongate handle portion at the proximal end, the handle portion extending substantially towards the distal end; and ii) an offset portion located between the distal end and the handle portion, the offset portion being offset dorsally relative to the handle portion and the distal end; iii) an angled portion between the handle portion and the offset portion, the angled portion being oriented at an angle relative to the handle portion; iv) a proximal bend between the handle portion and the angled portion; v) an intermediate bend between the angled portion and the offset portion; and vi) a distal bend between the offset portion and the insertion portion; and b) a tip at the distal end of the arm, wherein the arm is configured to allow a user to hold the handle portion outside of a mouth of the subject and move the handle portion to move the tip through the mouth and pharynx of the subject to thereby position the tip proximate to a larynx of the subject. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes an elongate insertion portion at the distal end, wherein the insertion portion is oriented at an obtuse angle relative to the handle portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the offset portion includes an elongate section and wherein the handle portion and the elongate section of the offset portion extend along respective frontal planes that are approximately parallel to and offset from one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the tip includes a tip member protruding from the distal end of the arm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein the tip member protrudes distally and laterally from the distal end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein the tip member is configured for manipulating an anatomical structure in the larynx, and wherein the tip member includes an engaging surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A device according to claim 6, wherein a) the engaging surface is convexly curved; and b) the tip member includes an opposing surface that opposes the engaging surface and that is concavely curved. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of: a) the engaging surface is for engaging with a glottis of the subject; and b) the engaging surface is for urging a posterior edge of the glottis posteriorly relative to the subject to thereby open the glottis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A device according to claim 6, wherein the engaging surface is for engaging with an epiglottic vallecula of the subject, and wherein at least one of: a) the engaging surface is for urging the epiglottic vallecula posteriorly relative to the subject; b) the engaging surface faces dorsally; c) the engaging surface is for urging the epiglottic vallecula anteriorly relative to the subject to thereby open the larynx; and d) the engaging surface faces ventrally. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein the tip member is configured for guiding movement of another device inserted into the larynx. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device according to claim 10, wherein the tip is configured for guiding movement of at least one of: a) an endotracheal tube being inserted into the larynx; b) an endotracheal tube being inserted by another device into the larynx; and c) a tip of an endotracheal tube being inserted by another device into the larynx. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) A device according to claim 4, wherein at least one of: a) the tip member is one of paddle shaped and spoon shaped; b) the tip member includes a notch in a distal edge of the tip member; and c) the tip member is laterally tapered. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes a laterally expanded section extending between the tip and the offset portion, and wherein at least one of: a) the laterally expanded section extends at least partially along the offset portion; b) the laterally expanded section includes a convexly curved surface; and c) at least one surface of the laterally expanded section is for engaging with tissue in a pharynx of the subject. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A device according to claim 1, wherein the arm includes a moveable arm portion at the distal end, and wherein the device includes a movement interface proximate to the handle for allowing a user to cause the moveable arm portion to move using the movement interface. ### Claim 15 A device for insertion into an airway of a subject, the device including: a) a first arm defining a distal end and a proximal end, the first arm including: i) an elongate handle portion at the proximal end, the handle portion extending substantially towards the distal end; and ii) an offset portion located between the distal end and the handle portion, the offset portion being offset dorsally relative to the handle portion and the distal end; and iii) a first tip at the distal end of the first arm, wherein the arm is configured to allow a user to hold the handle portion outside of a mouth of the subject and move the handle portion to move the tip through the mouth and pharynx of the subject to thereby position the tip proximate to a larynx of the subject; b) a second arm pivotally attached to the first arm at a pivot point located between the first tip and the handle portion, and wherein the second arm defines a distal end and a proximal end, the second arm including: i) an elongate second handle portion at the proximal end; ii) an second offset portion located between the distal end and the second handle portion, the second offset portion being offset ventrally relative to the second handle portion; and iii) a second tip at the distal end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A device according to claim 15, wherein at least one of: a) the respective handle portions of the first arm and the second arm each include a loop for receiving a digit of a hand of a user; and b) the pivot point is located between the respective tips and offset portions of the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A device according to claim 15, wherein the first arm and the second arm are moveable about the pivot point between a closed position and an open position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A device according to claim 17, wherein the first arm and the second arm are configured to move from the closed position to the open position when the respective first and second handle portions are one of: a) urged together; and b) urged apart. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of: a) when the first arm and the second arm are in the closed position, the respective tips and offset portions of the first arm and the second arm are substantially collocated; and b) wherein when the first arm and the second arm are in the closed position, the second handle portion extends substantially parallel to the first handle portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A device according to claim 17, wherein the tip of each arm includes a respective tip member protruding from the distal end of the arm, and wherein the respective tip members of the first arm and the second arm have opposing shapes. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A device according to claim 20, wherein the respective tip members are configured for engaging anterior and posterior edges of the glottis and opening the glottis by urging the anterior edge anteriorly and posterior edge posteriorly when the first arm and the second arm are moved from the closed position to the open position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A device according to claim 20, wherein when the first arm and the second arm are in the closed position, a passageway is defined between the respective tip members of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein one of: a) the passageway defined by the respective tip members of the first arm and the second arm is distally tapered; b) the passageway defined by the respective tip members of the first arm and the second arm is cylindrical; and c) the respective tip members of the first arm and the second arm include a textured surface within the cylindrical passageway. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) A device according to claim 15, wherein each of the first arm and the second arm includes, respectively: a) an angled portion between the handle portion and the offset portion, the angled portion being oriented at an angle relative to the handle portion; b) a proximal bend between the handle portion and the angled portion; c) an intermediate bend between the angled portion and the offset portion; and d) a distal bend between the offset portion and the insertion portion. ### Claim 24 A device for insertion into an airway of a subject, the device including: a) an arm defining a distal end and a proximal end, the arm including: i) an elongate handle portion at the proximal end, the handle portion extending substantially towards the distal end; and ii) an offset portion located between the distal end and the handle portion, the offset portion being offset dorsally relative to the handle portion and the distal end, wherein the distal end and the offset portion extend along a sagittal plane and the handle portion extends laterally outwardly from the sagittal plane at an angle that is at least one of: (1) between 0° and 90°; (2) between 15° and 45°; (3) between 25° and 30°; and (4) about 27°; and b) a tip at the distal end of the arm, wherein the arm is configured to allow a user to hold the handle portion outside of a mouth of the subject and move the handle portion to move the tip through the mouth and pharynx of the subject to thereby position the tip proximate to a larynx of the subject.