Apparatus and method for sealing esophageal entrance to trachea above and below

• US 4,230,108 A
• Filed: 03/13/1979
• Issued: 10/28/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharon L. Young
• Original Assignee: Sharon L. Young
• Inventors: Young, Sharon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/020,146
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 128/348-351, 128/207.14, 128/207.15
• US Class Current: 128/207.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0409 with mean for closing the oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0415 with access means to the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0459 one cuff behind another

Abstract

A flexible esophageal tube is provided for insertion through the mouth, downward past the tracheal entrance and into the esophagus to a lower limit opposite the tracheal carina. Inflatable cuffs are respectively fixed, above and below the tracheal entrance, on the esophageal tube for sealing the tracheal entrance against leakage around the tube. A ventilating tube is sealed in the esophageal tube against the anterior wall of the upper part thereof with an open distal end projecting out of the esophageal tube and mouth and a closed distal end extending past the tracheal entrance. Perforations defined in the common anterior surface of both tubes between the cuffs admits anesthetics, introduced at the distal end of the ventilating tube, to pass into the tracheal entrance, trachea and lungs. Thus there can be no mixing of vomit expelled from the stomach through the esophageal tube with general anesthetic and air forced into ventilating tube and the esophagus between inflated cuffs and destined for trachea and lungs.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sealing trachea entrance from above and below entrance to esophagus comprising:

(a) flexible esophageal tube means, having oppositely disposed ends, for insertion of one end into the esophagus past the entrance of said trachea to a position in the esophagus opposite tracheal carina, with the other end remaining outside of the mouth, said esophagus tube means being flattened on a anterior side thereof between said trachea entrance and carina for sealing said esophageal tube means on an area greater than a tangential strip;

(b) upper inflatable cuff means fixed to said esophageal tube means above said tracheal entrance for sealing said tracheal entrance from above;

(c) lower inflatable and deflatable cuff means fixed between said trachea entrance and above said tracheal carina said lower cuff means extending around the round posterior sides only and providing no expansion on the flattened anterior side to possibly occlude said trachea in case of over inflation of said lower cuff; and

(d) ventilation tube means, having an open end and closed end, interiorly fixed to an anterior side of said esophageal tube means, said anterior side being common to both said tube means, and with said open end extending outwardly beyond the mouth of said esophageal tube means, and the closed end extending past said tracheal entrance, said common anterior side defining perforations opposite said entrance for ventilating the lungs therethrough.

2. Method of sealing trachea entrance from above and below entrance to esophagus comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting an esophageal tube through the mouth, past the tracheal entrance and into the esophagus as far as opposite the tracheal carina, for providing a through passage past said tracheal entrance;

(b) sealing the space between the pharynx, the esophagus, and the esophageal tube with inflatable and deflatable cuffs, above and below the tracheal entrance during the period of anesthesia for preventing any leakage from above, below and around said tube, when said cuffs are inflated, into said sealed space;

(c) flattening the anterior side of said esophageal tube below tracheal entrance for sealing along a broader area than a tangential strip;

(d) restricting lower inflatable cuff to posterior side of the esophageal tube for preventing occlusion of trachea by overinflation of said inflatable lower cuff; and

(e) providing a ventilating tube for passing anesthetic and air into said sealed space, said ventilating tube being fixed to the anterior side of said esophageal tube and common therewith, said common side being perforated to open solely into said sealed space, whereby anesthetic and air passing into said sealed space and vomit passing therearound are sealed apart.