# US 2019/0167984 A1 · Device to induce electrical muscle relaxation for airway management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167984 A1 - Document ID: US20190167984A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/211,192 - Filed: 2018-12-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05 - Inventors: David Buck; Mor Mordechai Peretz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167984A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/3601: {of respiratory organs} - 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)} - A61N 1/0452: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]} - A61N 1/36034: {specified by the stimulation parameters} - H02M 1/08: Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters - H02M 3/157: with digital control - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00) - A61M 16/0434: {Cuffs} - A61M 2205/054: with electrotherapy - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - H02M 1/0009: {Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter} - H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)} - H02M 7/4815: {Resonant converters (H02M7/4811 and H02M7/4826 take precedence)} - Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - 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)} - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A system to induce electrical muscle relaxation for airway management. The illustrative system includes a power control system targeted to relax muscles associated with an airway channel, and more particularly, to assist in human intubation by placement of an endotracheal tube within the trachea of a patient, mask ventilation, and/or resolution of laryngospasm. The relaxation of the muscles is achieved through external stimulation of nerves through the skin by an output electrical current pattern applied by the power control system. The illustrative system is configured to independently regulate an output current frequency and an output current amplitude of the output electrical current pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airway management system for use with a patient, the airway management system comprising: a first electrode configured to be operably coupled to muscle proximate the trachea of a patient; and a power control system operably coupled to a power supply and the first electrode, the power control system configured to generate an output electrical current pattern to the first electrode, the electrical current pattern including a first current to induce muscle relaxation and a second current to maintain muscle relaxation, the first current being greater than the second current. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airway management system of claim 1, wherein the power control system provides sinusoidal current waveforms to the first electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The airway management system of claim 2, wherein the power control system includes a resonant converter operably coupled to the first electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The airway management system of claim 3, wherein the power control system further includes a power supply regulator operably coupled to the resonant converter for regulating the output current amplitude. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The airway management system of claim 4, wherein the power control system further includes a buck converter operably coupled to the resonant converter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The airway management system of claim 4, wherein the power control system further includes a controller operably coupled to the power supply regulator, and a current sensing device operably coupled to the resonant converter and the controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The airway management system of claim 1, further comprising an endotracheal tube for positioning within the trachea of the patient. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The airway management system of claim 1, further comprising a second electrode operably coupled to the power control system and configured to be coupled to skin proximate the trachea of the patient in spaced relation to the first electrode. ### Claim 9 An airway management system for use with a patient, the airway management system comprising: a first electrode configured to be coupled to skin proximate a trachea of a patient; a second electrode configured to be coupled to the skin proximate the trachea of the patient in spaced relation to the first electrode; and a power control system operably coupled to a power supply, the first electrode and the second electrode, the power control system configured to generate an output electrical current pattern to the first electrode, the power control system independently regulating an output current frequency and an output current amplitude of the output electrical current pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The airway management system of claim 9, wherein the power control system includes a waveform generator operably coupled intermediate the power supply and the first electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The airway management system of claim 10, wherein the waveform generator comprises a resonant converter, the resonant converter generating sinusoidal current waveforms to the first electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The airway management system of claim 10, wherein the power control system further includes a power supply regulator operably coupled to the waveform generator for regulating the output current amplitude. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The airway management system of claim 12, wherein the power supply regulator comprises a buck converter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The airway management system of claim 9, further comprising an endotracheal tube for positioning within the trachea of the patient. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The airway management system of claim 12, wherein the power control system further includes a controller operably coupled to the power supply regulator, and a current sensing device operably coupled to the waveform generator and the controller. ### Claim 16 A method of airway management comprising the steps of: coupling a first electrode to skin proximate the trachea of a patient; coupling a power control system to the first electrode and a power supply; and applying an output electrical current to the first electrode to excite nerves and cause muscle relaxation, thereby opening the trachea. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of inserting an endotracheal tube within the trachea of the patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of coupling a second electrode to the skin proximate the trachea of the patient in spaced relation to the first electrode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of independently regulating an output current frequency and an output current amplitude of the output electrical current. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the step of independent regulating includes generating sinusoidal current waveforms to the first electrode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the step of independent regulating includes generating a first current to induce muscle relaxation and a second current to maintain muscle relaxation, the first current being greater than the second current.