Tracheal intubation guide

A method of inserting a tube into a patient's trachea, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a tracheal intubation guide having a curved anterior guide surface means into the patient's mouth so that the guide surface follows the rear surface of the tongue into the throat, the guide surface means having a leading edge comprising a concave indentation means and the guide comprising a tubular member for receiving an endotracheal tube;
• advancing the guide until the concave indentation means engages the front of the epiglottis and fits over the midline of the hyo-epiglottic ligament;
• detecting accurate positioning of the guide by palpating the sides of the neck above the hyoid bone to determine whether any lateral edges of the guide are palpable;
• positioning of the guide until the lateral edges of the guide are not detected on palpation of the sides of the neck above the hyoid bone and the center of the indentation means is seated on top of the ligament to act as a stop preventing further insertion of the guide with the lateral edges of the indentation means engaging on each side of the ligament for centering the guide surface means relative to the mid-line of the vallecula;
• elevating the epiglottis anteriorly to open the larynx;
• and
• guiding an endotracheal tube through the guide into the trachea.

A tracheal intubation guide, comprising:

• a rigid tubular member with a curved forward end, a rear end, and a through bore connecting said rear end to said forward end;
• a continuous, serpentine opening in said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end;
• a continuous, unbroken underside on said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end;
• and
• an anterior guide surface means on said underside extending along at least part of the length of said tubular member, the guide surface means being curved to follow the curvature of said forward end and including a leading edge with concave means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament.

A tracheal intubation apparatus, comprising:

• a tracheal intubation guide, including:
• a rigid tubular member with a curved forward end, a rear end, and a through bore connecting said rear end to said forward end;
• a continuous, serpentine opening in said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end;
• and
• an anterior guide surface means on said underside extending along at least part of the length of said tubular member, the guide surface means being curved to follow the curvature of said forward end and including a leading edge comprising a concave indentation means having a center at the mid-point of said leading edge and opposite lateral edges extending from the center of the indentation means the indentation means comprising means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and fitting transversely over the hyo-epiglottic ligament with the center of the indentation means seated directly on top of the hyo-epiglottic ligament to act as a stop preventing further insertion of the guide, and the respective opposite lateral edges engaging on each side of the ligament to center the surface relative to the mid-line of the vallecula;
• an endotracheal tube removably contained in said rigid tubular member;
• and
• a tube in said endotracheal tube for conducting a local anesthetic from said rear end and emitting said local anesthetic at said forward end.

A tracheal intubation guide for assisting in insertion of a tube into a patient's trachea, comprising:

• a tubular member having a curved forward end for insertion into the mount and throat of a patient and for following the curvature of the rear end of the tongue, a rear end for projecting out through the mouth of the patient, and a through bore for receiving an endotracheal tube;
• an anterior guide surface means extending along at least part of the length of the tubular member to said forward end for guiding the tubular member over the tongue and into the throat of a patient to a position above the opening to the larynx, the guide surface means being curved to follow the curvature of the forward end of the tube and having a leading edge of concave shape for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament;
• and
• the anterior guide surface means having a center line which substantially bisects said concave means, said tubular member being laterally offset from said center line.