Blind orolaryngeal and oroesophageal guiding and aiming device
First Claim
1. A medical device comprising a guide element receivable through the mouth and into the back of the throat, the guide element having channel wall means for advancing a tube therealong, and contour means cooperable, upon insertion of the guide element into the throat, with anatomical features of and adjacent the larynx for blindly positioning the guide element such that the channel wall means is contiguous with at least the posterior portion of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening to define an upward extension of at least the posterior portion of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening whereby a tube advanced along the channel wall means will be directed into the larynx.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a medical device which facilitates rapid, accurate, blind access to the larynx and/or esophagus such as for emergency intubation of a patient'"'"'s trachea and simultaneous suctioning of the hypopharynx or esophagus. Disclosed is a disposable, one-piece, anatomically contoured guide element having a channel therethrough, the guide element being releasably mounted at the end of a curved blade and handle, which is used to blindly insert the guide element into the throat. When properly seated in the pharynx and hypopharynx, the guide element is positioned about and atop the larynx such that the wall of the channel forms a substantially gap-free junction with and upward continuation of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening so that an orotracheal tube advanced downward through the channel will be guided exclusively into the larynx and trachea without substantial risk of accidental intubation of the esophagus or other areas of the hypopharynx. Also disclosed are provision of tunnels through the guide element for blindly guiding and/or aiming other tubular-type members into the esophagus or larynx as desired.
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Citations
78 Claims
- 1. A medical device comprising a guide element receivable through the mouth and into the back of the throat, the guide element having channel wall means for advancing a tube therealong, and contour means cooperable, upon insertion of the guide element into the throat, with anatomical features of and adjacent the larynx for blindly positioning the guide element such that the channel wall means is contiguous with at least the posterior portion of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening to define an upward extension of at least the posterior portion of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening whereby a tube advanced along the channel wall means will be directed into the larynx.
- 26. A medical device comprising a guide element receivable through the mouth and into the back of the throat, the guide element having an annulus portion with a channel therethrough, the channel having an anterior wall and a posterior wall, the guide element further having a body portion coupled to the annulus portion posteriorly of the channel and supporting a surface defining an extension of the channel posterior wall, the guide element further having means cooperating with anatomical features of and adjacent the larynx for positioning the guide element about the larynx such that the anterior and posterior channel walls effectively form a continuation of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening into a substantially exclusive airway path extension atop and coaxial the larynx and being substantially gap-free between the airway path extension and the laryngeal opening, the cooperating means defined by at least one of (a) the anterior wall in the channel being shaped to receive thereagainst the epiglottis when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, (b) valleculae mating means anteriorly of the channel for mating with at least one vallecula when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, (c) tip means at a terminal end of the body portion for stopping advancement of the guide element at the correct depth as the guide element is being inserted into the throat, (d) a central notch in the annulus portion anteriorly of the channel, shaped and positioned to fit over the median glosso-epiglottic fold when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, (e) lateral notches in the annulus portion anteriorly of the channel, shaped and positioned to fit over the lateral glosso- and pharyngo-epiglottic folds when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, (f) cusp means projecting from the body portion to fit into and above the interarytenoid incisure when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, (g) first edge means associated with a posteriorly beveled edge of the larynx when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, and (h) second edge means associated with the body portion for fitting around and against the posteriorly beveled edge of the larynx when the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat.
- 37. A medical device for blind aiming of a flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope into the larynx comprising a guide element receivable through the mouth and into the back of the throat, the guide element having an annulus portion with a channel defined by a channel wall extending through the annulus portion, contour means cooperating with anatomical features of and adjacent the larynx for positioning the guide element about the larynx such that the channel wall and the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening meet at a substantially gap-free junction therebetween and such that the channel defines a substantially exclusive airway path extension atop and coaxial the larynx, and slant tunnel means extending exterior of the channel through the guide element and terminating in the channel for defining a tubular path pointing obliquely into the laryngeal opening from its posterior aspect.
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46. A medical device for blind intubation comprising a guide element receivable through the mouth and into the back of the throat, the guide element having:
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(1) an annulus portion and a body portion depending from the annulus portion, a channel having a posterior wall extending through the annulus portion and along a surface of the body portion and terminating in a projecting cusp; (2) contour means defining on the annulus and body portions cooperating with anatomical features at the back of the throat for stabilizing the guide element against the larynx such that the channel is contiguous with at least the posterior edge of the laryngeal lumen and surrounds the posterior and lateral aspects of the laryngeal lumen with the cusp projecting through the interarytenoid incisure, the contour means including (a) an interior wall in the channel shaped to receive thereagainst the epiglottis as the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, (b) valleculae mating means anteriorly of the channel for mating with at least one vallecula as the guide element is inserted into the back of the throat, and (c) tip means at a terminal end of the body portion for stopping advancement of the guide element at the correct depth as the guide element is being inserted into the throat; and (3) surrounding means including the channel walls, the surface of the body portion and the cusp for substantially surrounding the laryngeal opening and embracing the larynx when the channel is aligned with the laryngeal lumen. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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- 54. A medical device comprising a guide element sized and shaped to be received through the mouth and into the throat, the guide element having an annulus portion having anterior arc means for engaging the epiglottis and posterior arc means for substantially surrounding the upper axial portion of the laryngeal opening, body portion means adjacent said posterior arc means for substantially enclosing and isolating from surrounding anatomical spaces the lower axial portion of the laryngeal opening, and channel means extending through the annulus portion and along the body portion for guiding an orotracheal tube substantially exclusively into the laryngeal opening.
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59. A method for blindly and rapidly introducing an orotracheal tube into a patient'"'"'s trachea comprising:
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providing an airway path extension anatomically contoured to fit about and atop the laryngeal opening; inserting the airway path extension through the mouth and into the throat; naturally positioning the airway path extension about and atop the laryngeal opening in substantially gap-free contact with the edge of the laryngeal opening whereby to receive an orotracheal tube therethrough and substantially exclusively into the larynx; and advancing an orotracheal tube through the airway path extension whereby the tube advances into the larynx and trachea. - View Dependent Claims (60, 65, 69)
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61. A method for blindly and rapidly introducing an orotracheal tube into a patient'"'"'s trachea wherein a one-piece guide element having a channel with an upper and a lower end is anatomically contoured to mate substantially gap-free with the edge of the laryngeal opening, the guide element having a tip end posterior to the lower end of the channel and mammillate nodules anterior to the upper end of the channel, the method comprising:
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attaching to the guide element a curved blade, the blade having handle means for manipulating the guide element attached to the blade; placing the distal tip of an orotracheal tube partially within the channel; inserting the tube-containing guide element into through the patient'"'"'s mouth and into a position about and atop the laryngeal opening to define a substantially exclusive airway path extension in substantially gap-free contact with the edge of the laryngeal opening by manipulating the blade with the handle means, and advancing the guide element thereby along the upper surface of the tongue with the channel inclined forward approximately 45°
from the vertical axis of the trachea until at least one of (i) the channel hooks around the epiglottis, (ii) the tip end impinges against the posterior pharyngeal wall, and (iii) the mammillate nodules slide into corresponding vallecular depressions at the base of the tongue, thereby stopping advancement of the guide element into the throat, and exerting gentle downward pressure on the guide element with the blade while rotating the tip end and channel of the guide element by manipulating the blade so as to bring the channel into alignment with the laryngeal opening whereby to receive an orotracheal tube through the channel and substantially exclusively into the larynx; andadvancing an orotracheal tube through the airway path extension whereby the tube advances into the larynx and trachea. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64)
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66. A method for blindly and rapidly gaining visual access to a patient'"'"'s larynx through the patient'"'"'s mouth in preparation for visual observation of orotracheal intubation wherein a one-piece guide element carrying a tunnel and having a channel is anatomically contoured to mate substantially gap-free with the edge of the laryngeal opening, the tunnel being angled relative the channel to point obliquely into the laryngeal opening from its posterior aspect, the guide element having a tip end spaced posteriorly the channel and mammillate nodules space anteriorly the channel, the method comprising:
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attaching to the guide element a curved blade, the blade having securing means for securing a fiberoptic laryngoscope to the blade; securing a fiberoptic laryngoscope having an image guide to the blade; passing the image guide of the laryngoscope through a bite protector housing mounted on said blade where it passes between the patient'"'"'s teeth; inserting a distal tip of the image guide into the tunnel; placing the distal tip of an orotracheal tube partially within the channel; inserting the tube-containing guide element through the patient'"'"'s mouth and into a position about and atop the laryngeal opening to define a substantially exclusive airway path extension in substantially gap-free contact with the edge of the laryngeal opening by manipulating the blade, and advancing the guide element thereby along the upper surface of the tongue with the channel inclined forward approximately 45°
from the vertical axis of the trachea until at least one of (i) the channel hooks around the epiglottis, (ii) the tip end impinges against the posterior pharyngeal wall, and (iii) the mammillate nodules slide into corresponding vallecular depressions at the base of the tongue, thereby stopping advancement of the guide element into the throat and exerting gentle downward pressure on the guide element with the blade while rotating the tip end and channel of the guide element by manipulating the blade so as to bring the channel and tunnel into alignment with the laryngeal opening whereby visual access to the larynx is provided by the image guide in the tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68)
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- 70. A guide element to assist in intubating an animal'"'"'s trachea through the animal'"'"'s larynx, the guide element having an airway path therethrough, contour means directly cooperating with anatomical contours of and adjacent the larynx upon insertion of the guide element into the throat for blindly positioning the guide element with the airway path coaxial the laryngeal lumen, and means for effectively extending the laryngeal opening exclusively into the airway path when the guide element is so positioned.
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75. A method for blindly and rapidly introducing an orotracheal tube from outside the mouth into a patient'"'"'s trachea comprising:
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inserting a curved channel having a concave bearing surface through the mouth and into the throat; while keeping the concave bearing surface oriented toward the oral opening, aligning the channel to extend upwardly from, and with an edge thereof contiguous with, at least the posterior edge of the tubular wall of the laryngeal opening so as to provide an artificial upward extension of the posterior laryngeal wall; and advancing an orotracheal tube along the concave bearing surface whereby the tube advances into the larynx and trachea. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78)
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Specification