US 5,398,679 A · Hinged endotracheal tube holder having both a safety clamp and a securing clamp

Abstract

A holder for retaining an endotracheal tube in a patient's mouth has upper and lower portions, each including a semi-cylindrical member with wings extending radially on opposite sides. The upper and lower portions are joined by a flexible hinge between a first wing of the upper portion and an opposed first wing of the lower portion. When the hinge is closed, a region of each upper wing is adjacent to a region of a corresponding opposed lower wing, and the semi-cylindrical members form a sleeve defining a lumen sized to receive the endotracheal tube. A safety clamp limits the extent to which the upper and lower portions can pivot apart about the hinge to a predetermined maximum angle, whereby the position of the endotracheal tube can be adjusted axially, but radial displacement of the tube from the holder is restricted. A securing clamp relatively more spaced from the hinge moves between a first position, in which the upper and lower portions are allowed to pivot to the extent allowed by the safety clamp, to allow for axial adjustment of the endotracheal tube while limiting radial movement, and a second position in which the sleeve engages the tube to also limit axial movement of the tube relative to the holder. In use, the endotracheal tube is inserted through a patient's mouth into the tracheal lumen, the safety clamp of the tube holder is closed, the sleeve of the tube holder is slid over the endotracheal tube, and its position adjusted axially along the length of the tube, and the securing clamp is closed to secure the tube holder firmly in a desired position on the endotracheal tube.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An endotracheal tube holder for retaining an endotracheal tube in a patient's mouth comprising:

an upper portion and a lower portion,
said upper portion and said lower portion each comprising a semi-cylindrical member and a pair of wings extending radially on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical member, said upper portion being Joined to said lower portion by a flexible hinge extending between a first said wing of said upper portion and an opposed first said wing of said lower portion,
said wings being arranged and dimensioned so that when said hinge is in a closed position, a region of each wing of said upper portion is adjacent to a region of a corresponding opposed wing of said lower portion, and
said semi-cylindrical members being arranged and dimensioned so that, when said hinge is in a closed position, the semi-cylindrical members together define a lumen dimensioned to receive the endotracheal tube;
a safety clamp, disposed in a region of the opposed wings adjacent said hinge and including means for limiting, by interference engagement, the extent to which said upper portion and said lower portion can pivot apart about said hinge to a predetermined maximum angle, said predetermined angle being sufficiently large to allow the position of the endotracheal tube in the housing to be adjusted axially, and sufficiently small so that said tube cannot be radially displaced from the endotracheal tube holder when the safety clamp is engaged;
and
a securing clamp disposed in a region of the opposed wings relatively more spaced from said hinge and resiliently movable between a first position, in which said upper portion and said lower portion are allowed to pivot to the extent allowed by said safety clamp, to allow for axial adjustment of the endotracheal tube within said lumen, and a second position, in which the semi-cylindrical members engage the tube in a manner to limit axial movement of the tube relative to said endotracheal tube holder.

4 more elements

A method of inserting and retaining an endotracheal tube in the tracheal lumen of a patient comprising the steps of:

inserting the endotracheal tube through the patient's mouth into the tracheal lumen;
providing an endotracheal tube holder comprising:
an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portion each comprising a semi-cylindrical member and a pair of wings extending radially on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical member, said upper portion being joined to said lower portion by a flexible hinge extending between a first said wing of said upper portion and an opposed first said wing of said lower portion, said wings being arranged and dimensioned so that when said hinge is in a closed position, a region of each upper wing is adjacent to a region of a corresponding lower wing, said semi-cylindrical members being arranged and dimensioned so that, when said hinge is in a closed position, the semi-cylindrical members together define a lumen dimensioned to receive the endotracheal tube;
a safety clamp disposed in a region adjacent said hinge and adapted, by interference engagement, to limit the extent to which said upper portion and said lower portion can pivot apart about said hinge to a predetermined maximum angle;
and a securing clamp disposed in a region spaced further from said hinge;
dimensioning and positioning the safety clamp so that the predetermined maximum angle is sufficiently large to allow the position of the endotracheal tube in the housing to be adjusted axially, and sufficiently small so that the tube cannot be radially displaced from the endotracheal tube holder when the safety clamp is engaged;
dimensioning and positioning the securing clamp so that it can be moved between a first position, in which the securing clamp is disengaged and the upper portion and the lower portion are allowed to pivot apart to the extent allowed by the safety clamp and a second position, in which the sleeve engages the tube, to limit axial movement of the tube relative to the lumen;
sliding the endotracheal tube holder over the endotracheal tube so that the tube is received in the lumen;
closing the safety clamp;
with the securing clamp disengaged, adjusting the position of the endotracheal tube holder axially along the length of the endotracheal tube until the endotracheal tube holder is in a desired position;
and
closing the securing clamp, thereby securing the endotracheal tube holder firmly in position on the endotracheal tube.

9 more elements

An endotracheal tube holder for retaining an endotracheal tube in a patient's mouth comprising:

an upper portion and a lower portion,
said upper portion and said lower portion each comprising a semi-cylindrical member and a pair of wings extending radially on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical member, said upper portion being joined to said lower portion by a flexible hinge extending between a first said wing of said upper portion and an opposed first said wing of said lower portion,
said wings being arranged and dimensioned so that when said hinge is in a closed position, a region of each wing of said upper portion is adjacent to a region of a corresponding opposed wing of said lower portion, and
said semi-cylindrical members being arranged and dimensioned so that, when said hinge is in a closed position, the semi-cylindrical members together define a lumen dimensioned to receive the endotracheal tube;
a safety clamp, disposed in a region of the opposed wings and including means for limiting, by interference engagement, the extent to which said upper portion and said lower portion can pivot apart about said hinge to a predetermined maximum angle, said predetermined maximum angle being sufficiently large to allow the position of the endotracheal tube in the housing to be adjusted axially, and sufficiently small so that said tube cannot be radially displaced from the endotracheal tube holder when said safety clamp is engaged;
and
a securing clamp disposed in a region of the opposed wings and adapted to be moved between a first position, in which said upper portion and said lower portion are allowed to pivot to the extent allowed by said safety clamp, to allow for axial adjustment of the endotracheal tube within said lumen, and a second position, in which the semi-cylindrical members engage the tube in a manner to limit axial movement of the tube relative to said endotracheal tube holder.

4 more elements

An endotracheal tube holder for retaining an endotracheal tube in a patient's mouth comprising:

an upper portion and a lower portion,
said upper portion and said lower portion each comprising a semi-cylindrical member and a pair of wings extending radially on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical member, said upper portion being joined to said lower portion by a flexible hinge extending between a first said wing of said upper portion and an opposed first said wing of said lower portion,
said wings being arranged and dimensioned so that when said hinge is in a closed position, a region of each wing of said upper portion is adjacent to a region of a corresponding opposed wing of said lower portion, and
said semi-cylindrical members being arranged and dimensioned so that, when said hinge is in a closed position, the semi-cylindrical members together define a lumen dimensioned to receive the endotracheal tube;
a safety clamp, disposed in a region of the opposed wings adjacent said hinge and including means for limiting, by interference engagement, the extent to which said upper portion and said lower portion can pivot apart about said hinge to a predetermined maximum angle of from about 5.degree. to 10.degree. when the safety clamp is engaged;
and
a securing clamp disposed in a region of the opposed wings relatively more spaced from said hinge and resiliently movable between a first position, in which said upper portion and said lower portion are allowed to pivot to the extent allowed by said safety clamp, to allow for axial adjustment of the endotracheal tube within said lumen, and a second position, in which the semi-cylindrical members engage the tube in a manner to limit axial movement of the tube relative to said endotracheal tube holder.

4 more elements

An endotracheal tube holder for retaining an endotracheal tube in a patient's mouth comprising:

an upper portion and a lower portion,
said upper portion and said lower portion each comprising a semi-cylindrical member and a pair of wings extending radially on opposite sides of said semi-cylindrical member, said upper portion being joined to said lower portion by a flexible hinge extending between a first said wing of said upper portion and an opposed first said wing of said lower portion,
said upper and lower portions being movable about said hinge between a first, closed position and a second open position in which said upper and lower members define an angle of greater than about 30.degree.;
said wings being arranged and dimensioned so that when said hinge is in a closed position, a region of each wing of said upper portion is adjacent to a region of a corresponding opposed wing of said lower portion, and
said semi-cylindrical members being arranged and dimensioned so that, when said hinge is in a closed position, the semi-cylindrical members together define a lumen dimensioned to receive the endotracheal tube;
a safety clamp, disposed in a region of the opposed wings adjacent said hinge and movable between a first position in which said safety clamp is disengaged, and a second position in which said safety clamp is engaged, said safety clamp including means for limiting, by interference engagement, the extent to which said upper portion and said lower portion can pivot apart about said hinge to a predetermined maximum angle of less than about 30.degree. when the safety clamp is engaged;
and
a securing clamp disposed in a region of the opposed wings relatively more spaced from said hinge and resiliently movable between a first position, in which said upper portion and said lower portion are allowed to pivot to the extent allowed by said safety clamp, to allow for axial adjustment of the endotracheal tube within said lumen, and a second position, in which the semi-cylindrical members engage the tube in a manner to limit axial movement of the tube relative to said endotracheal tube holder.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hinged endotracheal tube holder having both a safety clamp and a securing clamp

Life of this patent

Hinged endotracheal tube holder having both a safety clamp and a securing clamp

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26