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US 5,203,320 AGranted
Tracheal intubation guide
AssigneeAugustine Medical, Inc.
InventorScott D. Augustine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tracheal intubation guide having a tubular member with a curved forward end shaped to follow the curvature of the back of the tongue and throat of a patient, and a rear end for projecting out through the mouth of the patient, and an anterior guide surface extending along at least part of the length of the member to its forward end for guiding the member into the throat into a position opposite the opening into the larynx. The tubular member has a through bore for holding an endotracheal tube, and the guide surface has a forward edge of concave shape for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament when the member is accurately positioned. Correct positioning can be detected by external palpation of the neck.
Claims20
A tracheal intubation guide for inserting a tube into the trachea of a patient, comprising:
- a single, unitary guide member having a proximal and a distal end, a proximal section including said proximal end, a distal section including said distal end, said distal section including a curvature conforming to the curvature of the rear end of a patient's tongue, and an intermediate section extending between said proximal section and said distal section;
- a leading edge formed in said guide member at said distal end;
- means formed in said guide member at said leading edge for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament;
- a centerline extending substantially midway through said leading edge and said means for engaging;
- means for supporting an endoscope in said guide member for viewing along said centerline;
- and
- means formed in said guide member for supporting an endotracheal tube adjacent said centerline.
4 more elements
A tracheal intubation guide for facilitating insertion of a tube into the trachea of a patient, comprising:
- an elongate, unitary guide member with a proximal and a distal end, said guide member having a proximal section including said proximal end, a distal section including said distal end, said distal section including a curvature conforming to the curvature of the rear end of a patient's tongue, and an intermediate section joining said proximal and distal sections;
- a blade edge formed in said guide member at said distal end;
- a centering, hyo-epiglottic engagement indentation formed in said blade edge;
- a pair of bulbous projections formed on said blade edge, each of said bulbous projections displayed in a respective lateral direction from said indentation;
- a blade edge centerline substantially centered in said engagement indentation and between said bulbous projections;
- means for supporting an endoscope in said guide member for viewing along said centerline;
- and
- means for supporting an endotracheal tube adjacent said endoscope.
5 more elements
A method of inserting a tube into a patient's trachea, comprising the steps of:
- inserting an endotracheal tube and an endoscope into an intubation guide having a single, unitary guide member with a proximal and a distal end, a proximal section including said proximal end, a distal section including over distal end, said distal section including a curvature conforming to the curvature of the rear rend of a patient's tongue, and an intermediate section joining said proximal section and said distal section, a blade edge formed in said guide member at said distal end, means formed in said blade edge for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament, means for supporting an endoscope guide member for viewing along a centerline of said distal end and centered substantially midway in said blade edge, and means for supporting an endotracheal tube adjacent said centering;
- inserting the intubation guide in a patient's mouth and throat so that the guide follows the rear surface of the tongue into the throat;
- advancing the guide using the endoscope until the epiglottis engaging and hyo-epiglottic ligament seating means respectively engage the front of the epiglottis and fit over the midline of the hyo-epiglottic bone;
- detecting accurate positioning of the guide using the endoscope;
- elevating the epiglottis anteriorly to open the larynx;
- and
- guiding the endotracheal tube through the intubation guide into the trachea.
4 more elements
A tracheal intubation guide, comprising:
- a proximal end including an apparatus receptacle for receivably supporting a laryngoscope and an associated light source and power supply;
- a proximal section having a first generally straight portion including said proximal end, and a second generally straight portion extending at an angle from said first portion, said proximal section including a finger-engaging surface on a first side of said second portion, and a palm-engaging surface on a a second side of said second position, said proximal section further having an endoscope support channel extending from said apparatus receptacle through said second portion, and a proximal endotracheal tube support channel extending through said second portion;
- an intermediate section extending from said proximal section second portion, having an intermediate endotracheal tube support channel extending therethrough in communication with said proximal endotracheal tube support channel, said intermediate endotracheal tube support channel including a portion thereof which is offset from said proximal endotracheal tube support channel and a relatively short diagonal tube support channel joining said intermediate endotracheal tube support channel section and said proximal endotracheal tube support channel;
- a distal section having a first generally straight portion including a distal end, and a second generally straight portion extending to an angle from said first portion, and a distal endotracheal tube support channel extending therethrough in communicating with said intermediate endotracheal support channel;
- a leading edge in said distal end having means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottis ligament;
- and
- a tube receptacle adjacent said distal end having a tub eport therein for receiving an endoscope optical tube and supporting said tube for viewing along a centerline extending substantially midway through said leading edge.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.