Systems and methods for endotracheal intubation
First Claim
1. An intubation system configured to facilitate the positioning of an endotracheal tube in a patient, the system comprising:
- a guidewire; and
a coupling mechanism to selectively couple the guidewire to a standard endotracheal tube, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of;
(i) a clamp; and
(ii) an inflatable bulb.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for using a guidewire to intubate a standard endotracheal tube in a patient. An insertion mechanism is used to enable delivery of a guidewire to the tracheal cavity of a patient. The guidewire is then threaded up the tracheal cavity, through the glottic opening and up either the oropharyngeal airway, so as to extend out of the patient'"'"'s mouth, or up the nasopharyngeal airway, so as to extend out of the patient'"'"'s a nostril. A typical endotracheal tube, having a channel that extends from a proximal end to a distal end of the tube, is coupled to the guidewire and is positioned into the tracheal cavity of the patient by using the guidewire to withdraw the tube down the airway and into the trachea. The endotracheal tube is decoupled from the guidewire, and the guidewire is removed from the patient, leaving the endotracheal tube properly intubated in the patient.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An intubation system configured to facilitate the positioning of an endotracheal tube in a patient, the system comprising:
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a guidewire; and
a coupling mechanism to selectively couple the guidewire to a standard endotracheal tube, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of;
(i) a clamp; and
(ii) an inflatable bulb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An endotracheal intubation kit comprising:
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a guidewire; and
a coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple the guidewire to a standard endotracheal tube for the intubation of the endotracheal tube into a patient, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of;
(i) a clamp; and
(ii) an inflatable bulb. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for performing endotracheal intubation, the method comprising the steps for:
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threading a guidewire from a portion of a tracheal cavity of a patient through an airway of the patient;
coupling the guidewire to a standard endotracheal tube;
using the guidewire to intubate the standard endotracheal tube into the patient; and
removing the guidewire from the patient. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification