Tracheal tube

• US 10,682,047 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Nakatate, Kenichi, Iikura, Hitoe
• Primary Examiner(s): Henderson, Ryan N
• Application Number:
  US14/775,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20160030693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,430 Days
• Field of Search: 600104, 600106, 600107, 600109-112, 600121-125, 600156-181, 12820714, 12820026
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2673 for monitoring movements of vocal chords
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes

Abstract

Provided is a tracheal tube that can be easily inserted into the inside of a subject and enables real-time observation of a state after tracheal intubation. The tracheal tube (1) includes a hollow tube body (2), a lumen (2a), and a scope unit (3), wherein the tube body (2) is inserted into the subject, the lumen (2a) is mounted to the tube body (2), and the scope unit (3) includes a cable portion (4) inserted in the lumen (2a) and an imaging optical system mounted to the distal end of the cable portion (4), the imaging optical system including an imaging device configured to image the inside of the subject.

Claims

1. A tracheal tube comprising:

a hollow tube body configured to be inserted into a subject;

a lumen mounted to the tube body; and

a scope unit including a cable portion inserted in the lumen and an imaging optical system mounted to a distal end of the cable portion, the imaging optical system including an imaging device configured to image an inside of the subject,

the imaging optical system including

an imaging device module including the imaging device and an objective lens mounted in front of an imaging surface of the imaging device, and

an illumination optical system configured to illuminate the inside of the subject,

the illumination optical system including at least two light-guide fibers configured to guide a light beam from a light source to the inside of the subject,

the at least two light-guide fibers being mounted around the imaging device module,

the at least two light-guide fibers having obliquely cut flat emitting surfaces that are inclined with respect to a light-guide fiber optical axis,

the emitting surfaces are arranged such that an optical axis of each light beam emitted from the emitting surfaces is directed in a direction away from a distal end surface of the imaging device module, to reduce entrance of each light beam emitted from the emitting surfaces into the distal end surface of the imaging device module,

the two light guide fibers are mounted across the imaging device module and;

the cable portion of the scope unit is bonded anal fixed to the tube body at a proximal end side and a distal end side of the lumen.

2. The tracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein

a distal end surface of the tube body is inclined, and

the imaging device module is arranged such that the distal end surface thereof does not protrude more than a longest part of the tube body.

3. The tracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein

emitting surfaces of the light-guide fibers and the distal end surface of the imaging device module protrude from a distal end surface of the lumen.

4. The tracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein

the distal end surface of the imaging device module protrudes more than emitting surfaces of the light-guide fibers.

5. The tracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein

the light-guide fibers are plastic optical fibers.

6. The tracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging device is a CMOS sensor.

7. The tracheal tube according to claim 1, comprising

a suction lumen mounted to the tube body, the suction lumen being configured to suction secretions in the subject, wherein

the lumen is mounted at a location away from the suction lumen in the tube body.

8. The tracheal tube according to claim 7, wherein

the lumen is mounted at any location from a location where

the lumen and the suction lumen are away from each other by at least 10 degrees to a location opposed to the suction lumen in a cross-section of the tube body.

9. The tracheal tube according to claim 7, wherein

the tube body includes a Murphy Eye in a vicinity of distal end of the tube body, and

the lumen and the suction lumen are arranged at a location at which the Murphy Eye is not mounted.