# US 5,701,918 A · Medical glove for faciltiating endotracheal intubation and method of using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,918 A - Document ID: US5701918A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/673,353 - Filed: 1996-06-23 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-06-23 - Inventors: Kalil M. Jiraki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701918A ## CPC - A61B 42/10: Surgical gloves - A61B 42/00: Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A medical glove for use in endotracheal intubations having one or more finger extension members attached to and extending outwardly from fingertip portions of one or more finger covers thereof. The finger extension members are useful in manipulating soft throat and mouth parts to assist in placement of an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea, to thereby provide a functional airway where normal breathing is stopped or impaired. A method of performing an endotracheal intubation involves using the finger extension members of the medical glove to reach into a patient's throat to move the patient's tongue forwardly in the patient's mouth and to secure the larynx, followed by inserting an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical glove for manipulating tissues in medical procedures, comprising: a glove body for covering a hand of a user, said glove body comprising a center section for surrounding and enclosing a central portion of the hand, said center section having a base end with an opening formed there for receiving the hand, said glove body further comprising: a thumb cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a thumb of the hand, said thumb cover having a thumbtip portion; an index finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein an index finger of the hand, said index finger cover having a first fingertip portion; a center finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a center finger of the hand, said center finger cover having a second fingertip portion; a ring finger cover attached to said center section for receiving there a ring finger of the hand, said ring finger cover having a third fingertip portion; and a little finger cover attached to said center section for receiving there a little finger of the hand, said little finger cover having a fourth fingertip portion; and at least one finger extension member connected with at least one of said thumbtip portion, said first fingertip portion, said second fingertip portion, said third fingertip portion, and said fourth fingertip portion and extending axially therefrom, said at least one finger extension member comprising a substantially tubular projection for being manipulated by the hand, wherein said at least one finger extension member forms an extension of the respective thumb cover, little finger cover, ring finger cover, center finger cover, and index finger cover to which said at least one finger extension member is attached; wherein said at least one finger extension member is solid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical glove of claim 1, wherein said glove body has a palm; wherein said at least one finger extension member is curved, the curve being toward said palm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical glove of claim 1, wherein said at least one finger extension member comprises: a first finger extension member connected with said first fingertip portion; and a second finger extension member connected with said second fingertip portion. ### Claim 4 A medical glove for manipulating tissues in medical procedures, comprising: a glove body for covering a hand of a user, said glove body comprising a center section for surrounding and enclosing a central portion of the hand, said center section having a base end with an opening formed therein for receiving the hand, said glove body further comprising: a thumb cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a thumb of the hand, said thumb cover having a thumbtip portion; an index finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein an index finger of the hand, said index finger cover having a first fingertip portion; a center finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a center finger of the hand, said center finger cover having a second fingertip portion; a ring finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a ring finger of the hand, said ring finger cover having a third fingertip portion; and a little finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a little finger of the hand, said little finger cover having a fourth fingertip portion; and at least one finger extension member connected with at least one of said thumbtip portion, said first fingertip portion, said second fingertip portion, said third fingertip portion, and said fourth fingertip portion and extending axially therefrom, said at least one finger extension member comprising a substantially tubular projection for being manipulated by the hand, wherein said at least one finger extension member forms an extension of the respective thumb cover, little finger cover, ring finger cover, center finger cover, and index finger cover to which said at least one finger extension member is attached; and a bite guard connected with said center section of said glove body, said bite guard comprising a band extending around said center section. ### Claim 5 A medical glove for manipulating tissues in medical procedures, comprising: a glove body for covering a hand of a user, said glove body comprising a center section for surrounding and enclosing a central portion of the hand, said center section having a base end with an opening formed therein for receiving the hand, said glove body further comprising: a thumb cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a thumb of the hand, said thumb cover having a thumbtip portion; an index finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein an index finger of the hand, said index finger cover having a first fingertip portion; a center finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a center finger of the hand, said center finger cover having a second fingertip portion; a ring finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a ring finger of the hand, said ring finger cover having a third fingertip portion; and a little finger cover attached to said center section for receiving therein a little finger of the hand, said little finger cover having a fourth fingertip portion; and at least one finger extension member connected with at least one of said thumbtip portion, said first fingertip portion, said second fingertip portion, said third fingertip portion, and said fourth fingertip portion and extending axially therefrom, said at least one finger extension member comprising a substantially tubular projection for being manipulated by the hand, wherein said at least one finger extension member forms an extension of the respective thumb cover, little finger cover, ring finger cover, center finger cover, or index finger cover to which said at least one finger extension member is attached; wherein said at least one finger extension member is hollow; said at least one finger extension member comprising an inner support member, wherein said inner support member is sealingly connected with said at least one finger extension member to thereby form a sealed cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The medical glove of claim 5, wherein said cavity is filled with a material selected from at least one of a fluid and a foam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical glove of claim 6, wherein said cavity is filled with air. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The medical glove of claim 5, wherein said inner support member is covered by a material that is integrally formed with said glove body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The medical glove of claim 7, wherein said inner support member further comprises a sleeve extending along and inside the at least one of said thumb cover, said index finger cover, said center finger cover, said ring finger cover and said little finger cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medical glove of claim 9, wherein said inner support member further comprises a reinforcement member substantially axially coextensive therewith. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The medical glove of claim 6, wherein said glove body has a palm; wherein said at least one finger extension member is curved, the curve being toward said palm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical glove of claim 11, where said at least one finger extension member comprises: a first finger extension member connected with said first fingertip portion; and a second finger extension member connected with said second fingertip portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medical glove of claim 12, further comprising a bite guard connected with said center section of said glove body, said bite guard comprising a band extending around said center section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The medical glove of claim 13, where said inner support member further comprises a sleeve extending along, respectively, said index finger cover and said center finger cover. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The medical glove of claim 14, where said inner support member further comprises a reinforcement member substantially axially coextensive therewith. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical glove of claim 15, where said inner support member is covered by a material that is integrally formed with said glove body. ### Claim 17 A method of performing an endotracheal intubation, the endotracheal intubation involving movement of a tongue and epiglottis of a patient in relation to a trachea of the patient, said method comprising the steps of: placing a fingertip extension member upon at least one fingertip of a hand of a medical caregiver; inserting the hand into the mouth of a patient, wherein the fingertip extension member is in a leading position relative to the hand; manipulating the finger tip extension member to move the tongue and epiglottis of the patient to a position favorable for insertion of an endotracheal tube into the trachea of the patient, wherein the tongue and the epiglottis do not interfere with the insertion; and sliding an endotracheal tube into the trachea of the patient while the tongue and epiglottis are held in the position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, where said step of placing comprises placing a glove upon the hand. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said step of placing further comprises: placing a first finger extension member at an index finger fingertip of the medical caregiver; and placing a second finger extension member at a center finger fingertip of the medical caregiver. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein said step of sliding comprises: sliding the endotracheal tube between the first finger extension member and the second finger extension member opposite the tongue and epiglottis.