Endotracheal tube fixation device and method of using the same
AssigneeUniversity of South Carolina
InventorsJ. Warren Bradley, Richard L. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A medical device for internally maintaining by means of an oral adhesive composition an endotracheal tube in proper position in a patient's mouth and protecting the patient from endotracheal intubation associated injury, as well as subsequently permitting adjustment of the endotracheal tube relative to the device. The device has a heat-sensitive moldable polymer on its superior surface for adaptation to individual patient's oral cavities. The invention also prevents endotracheal tube occlusion from patient jaw closure, and is particularly well-adapted for patients suffering from facial burns, dermatitis, or cleft palate syndrome. A method of using the device is also disclosed.
Claims19
An medical device for maintaining by means of an oral adhesive composition an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface in proper position in a patient's mouth and protecting a patient from endotracheal intubation associated injury, comprising:
- a. a body member having a superior surface, an inferior surface, an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect, said body member defining a passage for receiving an endotracheal tube through the anterior aspect thereof, and said superior surface being complimentarily shaped to a patient's superior and anterior oral cavity for positioning thereagainst;
- b. a channel integrally formed on said superior surface of said body member in registry with a patient's upper teeth or gums, adapted for receiving the adhesive composition for temporarily maintaining said body member in a patient's mouth;
- and,
- c. means for affixing an endotracheal tube to the body member, comprising a forward portion extending from said anterior aspect of said body member about said endotracheal tube passage and terminating in a forward end and a clamping means on the forward end for selectively maintaining an endotracheal tube in proper position.
A method of maintaining by means of an adhesive composition an endotracheal tube on a medical device in proper position in a patient's mouth and protecting the patient from endotracheal intubation associated injury, the method comprising:
- providing a body member having a superior surface, an inferior surface, an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect, said body member defining a passage for receiving an endotracheal tube through the anterior aspect thereof, and said superior surface being complimentarily shaped to the patient's superior and anterior oral cavity for positioning thereagainst;
- providing a channel integrally formed on said superior surface of said body member in registry with the patient's upper teeth or gums, adapted for receiving the adhesive composition for temporarily maintaining said body member in the patient's mouth;
- and,
- providing means for affixing an endotracheal tube to the body member, comprising a forward portion extending from said anterior aspect of said body member about said endotracheal tube passage and terminating in a forward end and a clamping means on the forward end for selectively maintaining an endotracheal tube in proper position;
- a. applying an effective amount of the adhesive composition along the channel;
- b. inserting the body member into the patient's mouth against the superior and anterior oral cavity;
- c. positioning an endotracheal tube in proper position in the patient's mouth;
- and,
- d. affixing an endotracheal tube to the body member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.