SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ILLUMINATING ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE INSERTER

• US 3,677,262 A
• Filed: 07/23/1970
• Issued: 07/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Henry J. Zukowski
• Inventors: Zukowski, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pace, Channing L.
• Application Number:
  US05/057,502
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 128/6,11,351,8,10
• US Class Current: 600/120
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical instrument used as an endotracheal tube introducer consists of a central curved fiberoptic bundle for viewing and a surrounding tubular fiberoptic bundle to carry light to the area to be viewed and an outermost metallic sheath to give rigidity. The distal end of the instrument is bent laterally at an angle so that it can be twisted to permit scanning around anatomical obstructions so that a path of entry can be found whereby the instrument will bypass obstructions without damage. The tube to be inserted is sleeved on the instrument with provision for detaching the tube after insertion into the trachea thereby permitting withdrawal of the instrument after intubation.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for facilitating the introduction into a human patient of an endotracheal tube comprising an elongated casing non-flexible and rigid for its entire length, a central fiberoptic bundle adapted to transmit an image, a surrounding tubular fiberoptic bundle for transmitting light, an opaque layer between said bundles, said casing with bundles therein having its rigid distal end curved to extend at a fixed angle to the main portion for insertion into the throat of a human patient, the outer surface of said casing being cylindrical and having sleeved thereon an endotracheal tube, a light source connected to said tubular bundle, and an eyepiece connected to said central bundle, said instrument providing means for observation of an unobstructed path through which the instrument and tube may be moved into position within the trachea.

2. A surgical instrument comprising an elongated tubular non-flexible rigid casing of substantially uniform outside diameter having at its distal end a non-flexible portion which is curved to extend at an angle thereto, said rigid casing having removably sleeved thereon an endotracheal tube, a central fiberoptic viewing bundle extending within said casing from the curved distal end to the proximal end thereof, an eyepiece at the proximal end of said casing to permit observation of the image of the illuminated area at the distal end which is transmitted through said fiber-optic bundle, thereby enabling the observer to direct the curved distal end to bypass the epiglottis and vocal cords and penetrate the trachea whereupon the endotracheal tube can be slid off the casing and moved further into the trachea, while the casing is withdrawn from the implanted tube.

3. A surgical instrument according to claim 2 wherein there is a layer of surgical lubricant between the tube and the casing to facilitate withdrawal of the instrument after the tube is implanted.

4. A surgical instrument according to claim 2 in combination with means for illuminating the area adjacent the distal end of said casing.

5. A surgical instrument according to claim 4 in which said illuminating means is provided by a separate illuminating instrument.

6. A surgical instrument according to claim 4 in which said illuminating means comprises a tubular fiberoptic bundle surrounding said central fiberoptic bundle and a light source connected to the proximal end of said tubular bundle.