# US 9,433,738 B2 · Airway assembly for tracheal intubation

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- Number: US 9,433,738 B2
- Document ID: US9433738B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/662,673
- Filed: 2015-03-19
- Published: 2015-09-17
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2003-08-22
- Assignees: BiO2 Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: BiO2 Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Luis F. Angel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433738B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/0445: {Special cuff forms, e.g. undulated}
- A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95)
- A61F 2/86: Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
- A61M 16/0406: {implanted flow modifiers}
- A61M 16/0418: {with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation}
- A61M 16/0427: {with removable and re-insertable liner tubes, e.g. for cleaning}
- A61M 16/0443: {Special cuff-wall materials (A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence)}
- A61M 16/0465: {Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters}
- A61M 16/0488: {Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes (guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02)}
- A61M 25/0108: {using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers}
- A61F 2002/046: {Tracheae}
- A61F 2002/9528: {for retrieval of stents}
- A61F 2250/0059: temporary
- A61F 2250/0071: breakable or frangible
- A61M 2205/32: with radio-opaque indicia
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M 2205/60: with identification means
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

In some embodiments, an airway assembly may be used in a procedure that requires tracheal intubation. The airway assembly may include a first conduit, a sleeve, and a stent. The first conduit and the sleeve may be relatively flexible, facilitating insertion of the airway assembly in a body lumen (e.g., an air passage way). The first conduit may function to deliver gases (e.g., air) to the body lumen and consequently the patient. The first conduit may be positioned in the sleeve during use. The sleeve may be removably coupled to the first conduit. In certain embodiments, a sleeve may function to inhibit a stent from expanding until desired. In some embodiments, an elongated member may be positionable in the first conduit. The elongated member may be configurable to substantially retain a new shape upon deformation. The stent may be coupled towards the distal end of the first conduit. The stent may function to inhibit the body lumen from collapsing. In certain embodiments, a stent may function to inhibit the body lumen from collapsing without exerting unnecessary outward pressures on the inner surface of the body lumen.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for endotracheal intubation, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting at least a distal end of an airway assembly in an air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of a patient, wherein the airway assembly comprises:
i) a first elongated tubular conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit tapers to a smaller diameter than the proximal end and is positionable within the air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of the patient and the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit remains outside the patient's body, and wherein the first elongated tubular conduit is configurable to deliver gases to and withdraw gases from the patient;
ii) a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent fixedly coupled to the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the stent is diametrically expandable along an entire length of the stent from an unexpanded state, wherein a diameter of the unexpanded state of the stent is smaller than a diameter of the first elongated tubular conduit, and the stent is formed from a material that is less flexible than the first elongated tubular conduit; and
iii) a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit and at least a portion of the stent are positionable in the sleeve during use, and wherein the sleeve inhibits the stent from expanding until the sleeve is removed from the stent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the sleeve includes a portion having a higher coefficient of friction than at least another portion of the sleeve to inhibit movement of the sleeve relative to the first elongated tubular conduit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: positioning at least a portion of a stent expansion device in the stent.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: inserting the distal end of the airway assembly through a non-natural opening in the air passage.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: inserting the distal end of the airway assembly through a natural opening in the air passage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: positioning at least a portion of a stent expansion device in the stent; and expanding the stent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: positioning an elongated member in the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the elongated member is deformable from an original shape into a new shape and substantially retains the new shape upon deformation of the elongated member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: positioning an elongated member in the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the elongated member is deformable from an original shape into a new shape and substantially retains the new shape upon deformation of the elongated member; and deforming the elongated member so as to facilitate insertion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit in the air passage.