# US 9,750,912 B2 · Intubation device

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- Number: US 9,750,912 B2
- Document ID: US9750912B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/115,196
- Filed: 2012-05-03
- Published: 2014-05-08
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-04
- Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan
- Applicants: Laura McCormick; Douglas Mullen; Sabina Siddiqui; Michael Deininger
- Inventors: Laura McCormick; Douglas Mullen; Sabina Siddiqui; Michael Deininger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750912B2

## CPC

- 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 16/0418: {with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation}
- 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)}

## Abstract

An intubation device having a main body portion defining a first longitudinal axis, a distal tip portion coupled to the main body portion and defining a second longitudinal axis, and a deflection system having a single drive member extending within at least the distal tip portion and coupled thereto. The deflection system is operable to exert a tensile force upon the distal tip portion to articulate the distal tip portion relative to the main body portion between a resting position and a positive incline position and a negative incline position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endotracheal intubation device comprising:
a generally elongated main body portion defining a first longitudinal axis (B-B);
a distal tip portion coupled to said main body portion at an interface, said distal tip portion defining a second longitudinal axis (C-C), said interface comprising a generally rigid connection to establish said distal tip portion in a rest position defined by a predetermined initial inclination of said second longitudinal axis (C-C) relative to said first longitudinal axis (B-B), said predetermined initial inclination being in the range of about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees measured from said first longitudinal axis (B-B); and
a deflection system extending within at least said distal tip portion and coupled thereto, said deflection system operable to exert a force upon said distal tip portion to articulate said distal tip portion relative to said main body portion between said resting position and a positive incline position, said positive incline position defining a first angle between said first longitudinal axis (B-B) and a positive inclined longitudinal axis (C′-C′), said first angle being greater than said predetermined initial inclination, said deflection system further operable to exert a force upon said distal tip portion to articulate said distal tip portion relative to said main body portion between said resting position to a negative incline position, said negative incline position defining a second angle between said first longitudinal axis (B-B) and a negative inclined longitudinal axis (C″-C″) which is negative with respect to the first longitudinal axis (B-B), said second angle being less than said predetermined initial inclination;
said distal tip portion comprising a plurality of notches formed in at least one side thereof, said plurality of notches facilitating articulation of said distal tip portion relative to said main body portion;
in said rest position distal tip extends straight along said second longitudinal axis (C-C), and in said positive incline position said distal tip extends straight along said positive inclined longitudinal axis (C′-C′) at said first angle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip portion is movable about a single axis when articulating between said resting position, said positive incline position, and said negative incline position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of notches is uniformly spaced along said distal tip portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of notches comprises a first section of said plurality of notches defining a first spacing arrangement and a second section of said plurality of notches defining a second spacing arrangement, said first section being different than said second section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of notches comprises a first section of said plurality of notches defining a first sizing arrangement and a second section of said plurality of notches defining a second sizing arrangement, said first section being different than said second section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of notches are formed of filled with a first material elastic modulus and at least a portion of the remaining portion of said distal tip portion is made of a second material elastic modulus, said first material elastic modulus being different than said second material elastic modulus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection system includes a wire member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection system includes a single drive member disposed through a plurality of apertures formed in at least said distal tip portion, said plurality of apertures being offset from said second longitudinal axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection system is retained within a bifurcated distal end of said distal tip portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 9 further comprising a cap member disposed on said bifurcated distal end of said distal tip portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said deflection system comprises:
a wire member, and
a slider member slidably disposed within a channel formed in said main body portion, said slider member being fixedly coupled with said wire member to exert a force upon said wire member in response to actuation by a user.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 11 wherein said slider member comprises a fore end engageable with a fore edge of said channel to limit movement of said slider member and positioning of said distal tip portion into said negative inclined position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 11 wherein said slider member comprises an aft end engageable with an aft edge of said channel to limit movement of said slider member and positioning of said distal tip portion into said positive inclined position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined initial inclination is about 15 degrees measured from said first longitudinal axis (B-B).

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said first angle is in the range of about 30 to about 40 degrees measured from said first longitudinal axis (B-B).

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said first angle is about 35 degrees measured from said first longitudinal axis (B-B).

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said second angle is in the range of about minus 10 to about minus 20 degrees measured from said first longitudinal axis (B-B).

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The endotracheal intubation device according to claim 1 wherein said second angle is about minus 15 degrees measured from said first longitudinal axis (B-B).