Endotracheal tube connector positioning system and method

• US 20150217076A1
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gary Steven Sichau, Terence Kernan Gray
• Original Assignee: Gary Steven Sichau, Terence Kernan Gray
• Inventors: Sichau, Gary Steven, Gray, Terence Kernan
• Application Number:
  US14/544,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0411 with means for differentiating between oesophageal and tracheal intubation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0833 T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/223 for investigating presence of specific gases or aerosols G01N31/221, G01N31/222 take precedence; actuation of fire alarm by presence of smoke or gases G08B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath

Abstract

A detection system and method comprising a proximal end that connects to a ventilating device, a distal end that connects to a ventilating tube, a lumen between the proximal end and the distal end, a housing surrounding the lumen that couples the proximal end and the distal end, wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent, and at least one detection element at least partially exposed to gases in the lumen, whereby continuously monitoring the proper positioning of the ventilating tube in an airway.

Claims

1. A detection system comprising:

a proximal end that connects to a ventilating device;

a distal end that connects to a ventilating tube;

a lumen between the proximal end and the distal end;

a housing, surrounding the lumen, that couples the proximal end and the distal end, wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent; and

at least one detection element at least partially exposed to gases in the lumen.

2. The detection system of claim 1 wherein the at least one detection element is sensitive to at least one predetermined substance.

3. The detection system of claim 2 wherein the at least one detection element comprises at least one chemically reactive material that changes from a first color to a second color to visually indicate the presence of the at least one predetermined substance in the lumen.

4. The detection system of claim 2 wherein the at least one detection element comprises:

at least one electronic sensor that samples the gases in the lumen and emits at least one of at least one visual signaler or at least one auditory signaler to indicate the presence of the at least one predetermined substance in the lumen;

a power source to power the electronic sensor;

a power switch, having an on position and an off position, coupling the power source to the electronic sensor, and moving the power switch to the on position activates the electronic sensor and moving the power switch to the off position deactivates the electronic sensor; and

a power indicator, coupled to the power source and the power switch, to emit a predetermined visual signaler that indicates that the electronic sensor is activated.

5. The detection system of claim 4 wherein the at least one visual signaler is at least one of a continuous emission of at least one colored light or an alternating emission of the at least one colored light.

6. The detection system of claim 4 wherein the at least one auditory signaler is at least one predetermined auditory frequency, and the at least one auditory signaler is at least one of a continuous emission of the at least one predetermined auditory frequency or an alternating emission of the at least one predetermined auditory frequency.

7. The detection system of claim 2 wherein the at least one predetermined substance is carbon-dioxide.

8. The detection system of claim 2 wherein the housing comprises at least one viewing port whereby providing visualization to at least one of the lumen or the at least one detection element.

9. The detection system of claim 1 further comprising at least one port, wherein the at least one port comprises:

a first end coupled to the housing forming a first aperture, whereby enabling transmission of at least one substance between the at least one port and the lumen;

a second end, having a second aperture, configured and arranged to connect to at least one external device, whereby enabling transmission of the at least one substance between the at least one port and the at least one external device;

a port lumen between the first end and the second end;

a port housing, surrounding the port lumen, that couples the first end and the second end; and

a port cap, removably coupled to the second end, to close the second aperture.

10. The detection system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a flexible distal extension, having at least one flexible distal joint, or a flexible proximal extension, having at least one flexible proximal joint, to decrease movement of the ventilating tube relative to movement of the housing.

11. A detection method comprising:

providing a proximal end that connects to a ventilating device;

providing a distal end that connects to a ventilating tube;

providing a lumen between the proximal end and the distal end;

providing a housing, surrounding the lumen, that couples the proximal end and the distal end, wherein at least a portion of the housing is transparent; and

providing at least one detection element at least partially exposed to gases in the lumen.

12. The detection method of claim 11 wherein the at least one detection element is sensitive to at least one predetermined substance.

13. The detection method of claim 12 wherein the at least one detection element is at least one chemically reactive material that changes from a first color to a second color to visually indicate the presence of the at least one predetermined substance in the lumen.

14. The detection method of claim 12 wherein providing the at least one detection element comprises:

providing at least one electronic sensor that samples the gases in the lumen and emits at least one of at least one visual signaler or at least one auditory signaler to indicate the presence of the at least one predetermined substance in the lumen;

providing a power source to power the electronic sensor;

providing a power switch, having an on position and an off position, coupling the power source to the electronic sensor, and moving the power switch to the on position activates the electronic sensor and moving the power switch to the off position deactivates the electronic sensor; and

providing a power indicator, coupled to the power source and the power switch, to emit a predetermined visual signaler that indicates that the electronic sensor is activated.

15. The detection method of claim 14 wherein the at least one visual signaler is at least one of a continuous emission of at least one colored light or an alternating emission of the at least one colored light.

16. The detection method of claim 14 wherein the at least one auditory signaler is at least one predetermined auditory frequency, and the at least one auditory signaler is at least one of a continuous emission of the at least one predetermined auditory frequency or an alternating emission of the at least one predetermined auditory frequency.

17. The detection method of claim 12 wherein the at least one predetermined substance is carbon-dioxide.

18. The detection method of claim 12 wherein the housing comprises at least one viewing port whereby providing visualization to at least one of the lumen or the at least one detection element.

20. The detection method of claim 11 further comprising providing at least one of a flexible distal extension, having at least one flexible distal joint, or a flexible proximal extension, having at least one flexible proximal joint, to decrease movement of the ventilating tube relative to movement of the housing.

19. The detection method of claim I further comprising providing at least one port, wherein providing the at least one port comprises:

providing a first end coupled to the housing forming a first aperture, whereby enabling transmission of at least one substance between the at least one port and the lumen;

providing a second end, having a second aperture, configured and arranged to connect to at least one external device, whereby enabling transmission of the at least one substance between the at least one port and the at least one external device;

providing a port lumen between the first end and the second end;

providing a port housing, surrounding the port lumen, that couples the first end and the second end; and

providing a port cap, removably coupled to the second end, to close the second aperture.