ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE

• US 3,669,098 A
• Filed: 09/23/1969
• Issued: 06/13/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nagashige Takahashi
• Original Assignee: Nagashige Takahashi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Nagashige
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunne, G. F.
• Application Number:
  US04/860,272
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4,6,7,10,11
• US Class Current: 600/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0418 with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation
• CPC Class Codes: 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

Abstract

An endotracheal tube comprising a flexible tube adapted to be bent in a plane and connected at its rearward end to a control body in the form of a cylindrical guide member. A pair of string means extend lengthwise in the wall of the flexible tube at diametrically opposite positions in the cross-section thereof in a plane perpendicular to the neutral plane of the flexure of the flexible tube with their forward ends secured to the forward end of the flexible tube while their rearward ends are connected to control means in the control body so as to be actuated thereby so that the flexible tube is rendered to be stiffened without allowing the flexure thereof by tightening the string means by operating the control means thereby facilitating the insertion of the endotracheal tube into the trachea while the flexible tube is rendered to be flexible by slackening the string means by the operation of the control means so that the operation of the bronchoscope inserted into the endotracheal tube is facilitated. At least one light conducting optical system such as a fiber optical system is provided which extends lengthwise in the wall of the flexible tube with the forward end thereof terminating at the forward end of the flexible tube while the rearward end thereof is adapted to receive the illuminating light from an external light source at a position adjacent to the control body so as to illuminate the trachea into which the flexible tube is inserted by the light transmitted through the light conducting optical system to be forward end thereof for facilitating the insertion of the flexible tube which is now stiffened so as to maintain its rigid straight form into a desired position in the trachea by observing the trachea through the endotracheal tube.

Claims

1. An endotracheal tube for facilitating the insertion of the fOrward end portion of a bronchoscope therethrough into the selected one of bronchi to be inspected comprising:

a cylindrical-shaped flexible tube bendable in one plane in opposite directions from a central position;

a guide member;

a connecting tube member;

said flexible tube connected at its rearward end to said guide member forming a control body through said connecting tube member;

a control means provided in said guide member;

a pair of string means extending lengthwise along the wall of said flexible tube at diametrically opposite positions in the cross-section thereof in a plane coinciding with the plane of the flexure of said flexible tube with the forward ends of said strings secured to the forward portion of said flexible tube and with the opposite ends connected to said control means;

said control means including a pair of slidable pieces, each connected to the rearward end of one of said string means and slidably guided longitudinally in each of a pair of longitudinal grooves formed in the peripheral wall of said guide member at diametrically opposite positions thereof; and

an operating nut member rotatably mounted on the periphery of said guide member and having engaging means engaged with said slidable pieces, said engaging means being moved axially of said guide member in either of the opposite two directions as said nut member is rotated depending upon the direction of rotation thereof, thereby permitting said slidable pieces to be shifted axially of said guide member forwardly and rearwardly when said nut member is rotated in either of the opposite two direction, each of said slidable pieces having an outwardly extending projection which is adapted to be releasably engaged with an inwardly directed annular flange portion formed in said nut member from the rearward side thereof, so that said string means are tightened when said nut member is rotated in one direction while said string means are slackened by rotating said nut member in the opposite direction, thereby permitting said flexible tube to be maintained in stiffened state without allowing the flexure thereof by tightening said string means so as to facilitate the insertion of said flexible tube into the desired position in the trachea while said flexible tube is yieldably bent by slackening said string means thereby facilitating the operation of said bronchoscope inserted through said endotracheal tube.

2. An endotracheal tube according to claim 1, further including at least one light conducting optical system extending lengthwise along the wall of said flexible tube in the plane of the flexure thereof with its forward end terminating at the forward end of said flexible tube while the rearward end is adapted to receive the illuminating light from an external light source at a position adjacent to said connecting tube member so that the light is transmitted through said light conducting optical system to the forward end thereof so as to be emanated therefrom for illuminating the trachea into which the endotracheal tube is inserted, thus facilitating the operation of the same.

3. Endotracheal tube according to claim 2, wherein a pair of light conducting optical systems are provided extending lengthwise in diametrically opposite positions in the cross-section of said flexible tube in the plane of the flexure thereof, the rearward ends of said pair of light conducting optical systems being combined together in a mounting formed in said connecting tube member on which a connecting member of said external light source is detachably mounted so as to supply the illuminating light from said light source to said pair of light conducting optical systems.

4. An endotracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tube includes a plurality of ring members arranged in series, each hingedly and pivotably connected to the adjacent ring members at diametrically opposite positions in the respective end surfaces thereof so as to be bent in a plane, and each of said strinG means is guided through holes formed within protrusions provided at diametrically opposite positions perpendicular to the plane of the flexure of said flexible tube in several of said ring members an appropriate distance spaced from each other in the series thereof, thereby maintaining each of said string means in position in the peripheral direction of said ring members.