Device for the determination of proper endotracheal tube placement

• US 4,879,999 A
• Filed: 06/05/1987
• Issued: 11/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Leiman, Basil C., Salzarulo, Henry H., Katz, Jeffrey, Butler, Bruce D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US07/058,830
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/202.22, 128/205.23, 128/207-207.16, 128/656-658, 128/716, 128/719, 116/200, 116/201, 116/206, 116/209, 604/280, 422/55-59, 422/61, 422/84-89, 422/103, 422/104, 436/133
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases

Abstract

Disclosed is an endotracheal device provided with a colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator. The device functions to indicate the proper intratracheal placement of an endotracheal tube by detecting for the presence of carbon dioxide in expired air passing through the device.

Claims

1. An endotracheal device comprising:

(a) a tubular housing having one end adapted for insertion into a patient'"'"'s trachea and an other end adapted for placement external of the patient, the housing defining lumen means therethrough from one end to the other end for allowing bidirectional passage of air into and out of the patient to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs; and

(b) colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator means mounted within the lumen means for determining the presence of carbon dioxide therein while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air therethrough to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing and indicator means are sterile, and further comprising a removable wrapper enclosing said housing, said wrapper adapted for maintaining said housing in a sterile condition pending use.

5. The endotracheal device of claim 1 or claim 3 further comprising gas permeable membrane means covering said carbon dioxide indicator means for adhering the indicator means to the surface of the lumen means and for preventing the indicator means from entering passing air.

6. The endotracheal device of claim 1 of claim 3 further including a recess defined in the surface of the lumen means having said indicator means mounted therein.

7. The endotracheal device of claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said indicator means comprises a colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator substance and solid support means for supporting the indicator substance while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the lumen means.

24. The device of claim 1, 3 or 17, or kit of claim 28, wherein said colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator means comprises a carbon dioxide indicator containing hydrazine.

3. An endotracheal device comprising:

(a) a first tubular housing having a first and second end, the first end adapted for insertion into a patient'"'"'s trachea and the second end adapted for placement external of the patient, the first tubular housing defining lumen means therethrough from the first end to the second end;

(b) a second housing attached to the second end of the first tubular housing, said second housing defining lumen means therethrough communicating with and forming an extension of the lumen means of the first housing, the lumen means of both housings for allowing bidirectional passage of air into and out of the patient to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs; and

(c) colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator means mounted within the lumen means of said second housing for determining the presence of carbon dioxide therein while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the housings to ventilate the lungs of the patient.

4. The endotracheal device of claim 3 wherein said housings and indicator means are sterile, and further comprising a removable wrapper enclosing said housings, said wrapper adapted for maintaining said housing in a sterile condition pending use.

8. The endotracheal device of claim 3 wherein said second housing comprises a tubing connector having a passage therethrough which defines the housing lumen means, and the indicator means is mounted within the passage of the connector.

9. The endotracheal device of claim 8 wherein said connector comprises an elbow joint, u-joint or in-line connector.

10. A kit comprising components which are capable of being assembled to provide a device for maintaining an open air passage into and out of a patient'"'"'s trachea, the components including:

(a) a first tubular housing having a first and second end, the first end adapted for insertion into the patient'"'"'s trachea and the second end adapted for placement external of the patient, the first tubular housing defining lumen means therethrough from the first end to the second end;

(b) a second housing adapted to attach to the second end of the first tubular housing, said second housing defining lumen means therethrough which, when said second housing is attached to the first housing, communicates with and forms an extension of the lumen means of the first housing, the lumen means of both housings allowing bidirectional passage of air into and out of the patient to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs; and

(c) colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator means mounted within the lumen means of said second housing for determining the presence of carbon dioxide therein while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the housings to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs.

11. The kit of claim 10 wherein said housings and indicator means are sterile, and further comprising a removable wrapper enclosing said housing, said wrapper adapted for maintaining said housings in a sterile condition pending use.

12. The kit of claim 10 further comprising gas permeable membrane means covering said carbon dioxide indicator means for adhering the indicator means to the surface of the lumen means and for preventing the indicator means from entering passing air.

13. The kit of claim 10 further including a recess defined in the surface of the lumen means with said indicator means mounted therein.

14. The kit of claim 10 wherein said indicator means comprises a colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator substance and solid support means for supporting the indicator substance while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the housings.

15. The kit of claim 10 wherein said second housing comprises a tubing connector having a passage therethrough which defines the housing lumen means, and said indicator means is mounted within the passage of the connector.

16. The kit of claim 15 wherein the tubing connector comprises an elbow joint, u-joint or in-line connector.

17. A device for use in connection with an endotrachael tube for maintaining an open air passage into and out of a patient'"'"'s trachea, the endotracheal tube having a first and second end, the first end of the endotracheal tube being adapted for insertion into the trachea, and the second end adapted for placement external of the patient, the endotracheal tube defining lumen means therethrough from the first end to the second end, the device comprising:

(a) a housing having means for attaching to the second end of such an endotracheal tube, said housing defining lumen means therethrough which, when said second housing is attached to the endotracheal tube, communicates with and forms an extension of the lumen means of the endotracheal tube, the lumen means of the endotracheal tube and housing allowing bidirectional passage of air into and out of the patient to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs; and

(b) colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator means mounted within the lumen means of said housing for determining the presence of carbon dioxide therein while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the housing and endotracheal tube to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said housing and indicator means are sterile, and further comprising a removable wrapper enclosing said housing, said wrapper adapted for maintaining said housing in a sterile condition pending use.

19. The device of claim 17 further comprising a gas permeable membrane means covering said indicator means for adhering the indicator means to the surface of the lumen means and for preventing the indicator means from entering passing air.

20. The device of claim 17 further including a means defined in the surface of the lumen means and said indicator means is mounted in the recess.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein said indicator means comprises a colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator substance and solid support means for supporting the indicator substance while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the lumen means.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein said housing comprises a tubing connector having a passage therethrough which defines the housing lumen means, and the indicator means is mounted within the passage of the connector.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the connector comprises an elbow joint, u-joint or in-line connector.

25. A carbon dioxide detector device for use in connection with an endotracheal tube, the endotracheal tube having a first and second end, the first end of the endotracheal tube being adapted for insertion into a patient'"'"'s trachea, and the second end adapted for placement external of the patient, the endotracheal tube defining lumen means therethrough from the first end to the second end, the device comprising:

(a) a housing having means for attaching to the second end of the endotracheal tube and defining lumen means therethrough which, when said housing is attached to the endotracheal tube, communicates with and forms an extension of the lumen means of the endotracheal tube, the lumen means of the endotracheal tube and housing allowing bidirectional passage of air into and out of the patient to ventilate the patient'"'"'s lungs; and

(b) a colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator substance and solid support means mounted within the lumen means of the housing for supporting the indicator substance while still permitting unimpeded bidirectional flow of air through the lumen means.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said colorimetric carbon dioxide indicator contains hydrazine.