FIBER OPTIC ENTUBATOR AND METHOD OF ENTUBATION OF THE TRACHEA THROUGH THE NASOPHARYNX

• US 3,776,222 A
• Filed: 12/23/1971
• Issued: 12/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph F. Smiddy
• Original Assignee: Joseph F. Smiddy
• Inventors: Smiddy, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/211,388
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 128/6,8,351,303.1,348
• US Class Current: 600/146
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0056 the insertion parts being asymmetric, e.g. for unilateral bending mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0461 Nasoendotracheal tubes
• 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 entubator for an endotracheal tube which includes a coherent flexible fiber optic bundle which can be positioned within the central cavity or lumen of the endotracheal tube for viewing the anatomy of a patient as the endotracheal tube advances through the patient during the insertion procedure. The entubator also includes a means for directing the course of travel of the endotracheal tube which enables the operator to navigate the endotracheal tube through anatomical passageways made visible by the fiber optics bundle. The fiber optic bundle and the means for directing the course of travel enable the entubation of an endotracheal tube through the nasopharynx of the patient. Method of entubing an endotracheal tube through the nasopharynx.

Claims

1. An entubator for entubing an endotracheal tube in a patient'"'"''"'"'s trachea through the patient'"'"''"'"'s nasopharynx comprising a viewing means for enabling the operator to view the passageway of the nasopharynx as the endotracheal tube advances therethrough, said viewing means being capable of being positioned within the lumen of the endotracheal tube and transmitting to the operator a view of the passageway formed by the nasopharynx when the endotracheal tube with said viewing means so positioned is in the nasopharynx and a directing means for directing a force applied at a point remote from the distal end of the endotracheal tube to remove the distal end of the endotracheal tube sufficiently to enable the operator to point the distal end of the endotracheal tube into the nasopharynx as the endotracheal tube advances therethrough, both said viewing means and said directing means being capable of being combined with an endotracheal tube and bending sufficiently to conform to the passageway formed by the nasopharynx so that the operator can navigate the endotracheal tube through the nasopharynx by moving the distal end of the endotracheal tube so that it points into the nasopharynx as the passageway of the nasopharynx is viewed by the operator during entubment.

2. The entubator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said viewing means is a flexible coherent fiber optic bundle.

3. The entubator as set forth in claim 2 also comprising a channel which is capable of being positioned within the lumen of the endotracheal tube along with said bundle for delivering a local anaesthetic to the patient during the entubment procedure.

4. The entubator as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bundle and said channel is enclosed in a flexible covering and wherein said directing means is a tension wire anchored to said covering, said tension wire being capable of moving the entubator with sufficient force to cause the distal end of the endotracheal tube to point into the nasopharynx as the endotracheal tube advances therethrough when said entubator is positioned in said endotracheal tube and when a force is applied and directed along said tension wire.

5. The entubator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said directing means is attached to the endotracheal tube.

6. The entubator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said directing means is contained in the entubator.

7. An endotracheal tube which can be entubed in a patient'"'"''"'"'s trachea through the patient'"'"''"'"'s nasopharynx, said tube containing a flexible coherent fiber optic bundle positioned within the lumen of the endotracheal tube for transmitting to the operator a view of the passageway formed by the nasopharynx as the endotracheal tube advances therethrough, a directing means for directing a force applied at a point remote from the distal end of the endotracheal tube to move the distal end of the endotracheal tube sufficiently to enable the operator to point the distal end of the endotracheal tube into the nasopharynx as the endotracheal tube advances therethrough, both said fiber optic bundle and said directing means being capable of bending sufficiently to conform to the passageway formed by the nasopharynx and a channel positioned within the lumen of the endotracheal tube for delivering a local anaesthetic to the patient during the entubment procedure.

8. In a method of entubing an end tracheal tube into a patient'"'"''"'"'s trachea through the patient'"'"''"'"'s nasopharynx in which a flexible coherent fiber optic bundle is used to view the passageway formed by the nasopharynx during the entubment procedure wherein the improvement comprises utilizing a mechanical means to direct a force applied at a point remote from the distal end of the endotracheal tube to move the distal end of the endotracheal tube, and navigating the endotracheal tube through the nasopharynx by moving the distal end of the endotracheal tube by applying a force with said mechanical means so that the distal end of the endotracheal tube points in the general direction of the passageway formed by the nasopharynx as the endotracheal tube advances through said passageway toward the patient'"'"''"'"'s trachea.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 including the steps of lubricating the distal end of the endotracheal tube with an anaesthetic jelly, anaesthetizing the patient'"'"''"'"'s nose and throat and anaesthetizing the patient'"'"''"'"'s vocal cords with a local anaesthetic after the endotracheal tube has been navigated through the nasopharynx.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of passing the endotracheal tube through the patient'"'"''"'"'s vocal cords while the vocal cords are viewed through the fiber optic bundle and after the local anaesthetic has taken effect.