Device for inserting a nasal tube
OwnerScott D. Augustine, Douglas J. Augustineinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for inserting a nasal tube through the nose into the oropharynx includes an elongate, collapsible sleeve to which is attached an elongate, relatively slender arcuate member extending along a longitudinal dimension of the sleeve for guiding it through the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. The sleeve has openings at its distal and proximal ends. A soft, blunt distal tip is formed at the distal end of the device extending beyond the distal end opening in the sleeve for extending into the oropharynx. Once the device is in place, a tube can be inserted through the sleeve and guided through the nose to the oropharynx. A dilating member formed from a resilient, compressible material may be used to erect the sleeve and dilate the nasal passageway, if necessary.
Claims20
A device for introducing a nasal tube, comprising:
- an elongate, porous sleeve formed from a collapsible material which is non-self-sustaining and tends to collapse without internal support, the sleeve having proximal and distal ends with openings at said proximal and distal ends;
- an elongate, relatively slender arcuate guiding member attached to said sleeve along a longitudinal sleeve dimension extending between said proximal and distal ends;
- and
- a soft, blunt distal tip formed on said guiding member and extending beyond said distal end.
A device for dilating a nasal passageway, comprising:
- an elongate, arcuate dilating member of generally solid construction formed from a resilient, porous material which is compressible when inserted into a nasal passageway, said dilating member having a central axis, a blunt, rounded distal end and a proximal end;
- a stop means formed on said proximal end for preventing the entry of said proximal end into a nasal opening when said dilating member is inserted into a nostril, distal end first;
- and
- an arcuate, relatively slender, pliable shaft embedded substantially in the central axis of said dilating member.
An apparatus for introducing a tube into a dilated nostril, comprising a tube introducer, including:
- an elongate, porous sleeve formed from a collapsible material, and having proximal and distal ends with openings at said proximal and distal ends;
- an elongate, relatively slender arcuate guiding member attached to said sleeve along a longitudinal sleeve dimension extending between said proximal and distal openings;
- a soft, blunt distal tip formed on said guiding member and extending beyond said distal end opening;
- and
- a nostril dilator, including:
- a dilating means formed from a resilient, porous material and insertable into said sleeve for erecting said sleeve from a collapsed, compact configuration into a tubular configuration and for dilating a nasal passageway into which said tube introducer has ben inserted, said dilating means being compressible when inserted, through said sleeve, into a nasal passageway;
- and
- means for conducting fluid from outside a nostril opening to said dilating means when said dilating means is inserted into a nostril.
A device for introducing a nasal tube, comprising:
- an elongate, porous sleeve formed from a collapsible material, the sleeve having opposite proximal and distal ends with openings at said opposite ends;
- an elongate, relatively slender arcuate guiding member attached to said sleeve along a longitudinal sleeve dimension extending between said proximal and distal ends;
- and
- a soft, blunt distal tip formed on said guiding member at the distal end of said sleeve and extending beyond said distal end opening, the distal tip comprising a mass of woven, permeable material for conducting fluid outwardly from said distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.