Intraoral endotracheal tube holder and method for intubation

A tube holder assembly for securing an endotracheal tube to a biteline of a patient's mouth, the tube holder assembly comprising:

• a tube body,
• the tube body including an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a pass-through slit extending along the length of the tube body, the endotracheal tube is applied from the exterior surface across the pass-through slit to the interior surface and is placed in circumferential contact against the interior surface;
• a bite tensioner mount coupled to the tube body;
• a bite tensioner assembly for applying a tensile force to the bite tensioner mount,
• the bite tensioner assembly including a tensioner lock secured to the bite tensioner mount and anchor webbing fixed to the patient so that the tensile force is exerted along the bite tensioner assembly from the tensioner lock to the anchor webbing;
• and
• a bite support assembly coupled to the tube body,
• the bite support assembly receiving the tensile force from the bite tensioner mount and supplying a compressive force to the mouth of the patient,
• the bite support assembly including a pair of substantially parallel bite walls extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the tube body,
• the bite walls defining a bite rest therebetween, the bite rest receiving the biteline of the patient's mouth thereby securing the biteline between the pair of bite walls as the bite rest applies the compressive force to the biteline.

A method for intubating a patient comprising the steps of:

• inserting an endotracheal tube within a tube holder assembly,
• the tube holder assembly including a tube body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a pass-through slit extending along the length of the tube body;
• passing the endotracheal tube through the patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube passing through the interior surface of the tube body;
• securing the tube holder assembly to a biteline of the patient's mouth,
• the tube holder assembly further including a bite support assembly coupled to the tube body,
• the bite support assembly receiving the tensile force from a bite tensioner mount and supplying a compressive force to the mouth of the patient,
• the bite support assembly including a pair of substantially parallel bite walls extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the tube body,
• the bite walls defining a bite rest therebetween, the bite rest receiving the biteline of the patient's mouth thereby securing the biteline between the pair of bite walls as the bite rest applies the compressive force to the biteline;
• locking the endotracheal tube in place via the tube holder assembly,
• the tube holder assembly further including a slit tensioning assembly for operatively narrowing the pass-through slit so that the interior surface is compressively secured against the endotracheal tube;
• and
• anchoring the tube holder assembly to the patient's head,
• the tube holder assembly further including a bite tensioner mount coupled to the tube body and a bite tensioner assembly for applying a tensile force to the bite tensioner mount, the bite tensioner assembly including a tensioner lock secured to the bite tensioner mount and anchor webbing fixed to the patient's head so that the tensile force is applied along the bite tensioner assembly from the tensioner lock to the anchor webbing.