Method and apparatus for delivery of a medicament in the oral cavity

• US 5,181,505 A
• Filed: 06/28/1991
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Lew, Chel W., Aufdemorte, Thomas B., Alderson, Gerald L., McGuff, Howard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOCKELMAN, MARK
• Application Number:
  US07/726,628
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 604/54, 604/57, 604/77, 604/93, 604/174, 604/257, 604/259, 604/265, 604/285, 604/286, 604/288, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/892.1, 128/DIG. 26, 128/200.26, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.17
• US Class Current: 128/200.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for dispensing a medicament such as an antibiotic in the upper aerodigestive tract of an intubated patient (22). The apparatus (10) is a generally ovoid body (12) comprised of a substrate which can be polymeric, natural or synthetic woven or spun fiber, a gel, or other substance capable of being impregnated with the medicament and then releasing the medicament when contacted by an aqueous solution, specifically, the saliva of patient (22).

Body (12) is shaped with rounded tapered surfaces (30) and ends (26) for engaging the mucosa of the alveolar ridge (32) and palate (20) of patient (22) to stabilize the apparatus (10) in the oral cavity (24). A channel (38) is provided for passage of the tube (40) of an endotracheal tube (36) therethrough which cooperates with the surfaces (30) and ends (26) to stabilize both endotracheal tube (36) and body (12) in the oral cavity (24).

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivery of a medicament in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient comprising:

an endotracheal tube;

a generally ovoid body comprised of a substrate impregnated with a medicament to be delivered in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient;

said body having front, side, top and bottom surfaces, the front and side surfaces having a curved and tapered shape for engaging the mucosa of the aveolar ridge and the top surface being shaped for engaging the mucosa of the palate when the bottom surface rests of the tongue of the patient, thereby stabilizing said body in the oral cavity of the patient while allowing sufficient clearance between the mucosa and said body to allow circulation of the saliva around said body to facilitate release of the medicament therefrom; and

a channel through said body comprising a slit for passage of said endotracheal tube through said body, the endotracheal tube and said channel cooperating with the engagement of the mucosa by said body to stabilize said body and the endotracheal tube in the oral cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is comprised of a silicone-containing elastomer having a medicament impregnated therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the medicament with which said body is impregnated is an antibiotic.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body additionally comprises a frame and said substrate is secured to said frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body additionally comprises a basket and said basket is shaped for receiving said substrate therein.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a port formed in said body for passage of a tube through said body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising an extension of said body for delivering the medicament in the pharynx of the upper aerodigestive tract of the patient.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the substrate is comprised of a silicone containing elastomer having the medicament impregnated therein.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a basket for receiving the substrate of said body therein.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising an extension from the surface of said body opposite the front surface for delivering the medicament to the pharynx of the upper aerodigestive tract of the patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top surface of said body is arched to facilitate interdigitation of said body and the inferior aspect of the pharyngeal palate of the patient.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slit comprising said channel opens to the surface of said body.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said substgrate is comprised of a material having a loose construction and said slit is formed by forcing the endotracheal tube therethrough.

14. A method of dispensing a medicament in the upper aerodigestive tract of an intubated patient comprising:

intubating a patient;

placing a body comprised of a substrate impregnated with a medicament to be dispensed in the upper aerodigestive tract of the patient onto the tongue of the patient by passing the tube with which the patient is to be intubated therethrough;

stabilizing the body in the oral cavity of the upper aerodigestive tract by engagement of the mucosa of the palate and alveolar ridge; and

allowing saliva to circulate around the body to facilitate the release of the medicament therefrom.

15. The method of claim 14 additionally comprising periodically replenishing the medicament released from the body.

16. An apparatus for delivering a medicament in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient comprising:

a body formed of a substrate impregnated with a medicament to be delivered in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient, said substrate being selected so as to release the medicament with which the substrate is impregnated when contacted by an aqueous solution;

said body having a bottom surface for resting on the tongue of the patient, tapered sides and ends for engaging the mucosa of the alveolar ridge of the patient and a top surface for engaging the mucosa of the palate when the bottom surface of said body rests on the tongue, thereby stabilizing said body in the oral cavity; and

a channel through said body for passage of an endotracheal tube therethrough to stabilize an endotracheal tube passing therethrough in the oral cavity of the patient by engagement of the mucosa of the oral cavity by the top, bottom and side surfaces of said body.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said channel opens to the bottom surface of said body through a slit formed in said body.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the substrate is comprised of an organic polymer or copolymer, silicone elastomer, gel, absorbent material, absorbent natural or synthetic fiber batting or filler, sponge, inert protein, or sugar-based lozenge.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the top surface of said body is arched for interdigitating with the inferior aspect of the pharyngeal palate of the patient.

20. An apparatus for delivery of a medicament in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient comprising:

a body formed of a substrate impregnated with a medicament to be delivered in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient, said body being shaped for stabilizing said body in the oral cavity of the upper aerodigestive tract of the patient by engaging the mucosa of the palate and the alveolar ridge when said body is placed on the tongue of the patient;

an extension of said body for dispensing the medicament in the pharynx of the upper aerodigestive tract when said body is placed on the tongue of the patient; and

means formed in said body for passage of an endotracheal tube therethrough, said tube passage means cooperating with the endotracheal tube to stabilize the endotracheal tube and said body in the oral cavity as a result of the engagement of the mucosa by said body.

21. An apparatus for delivery of a medicament in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient comprising:

a body formed of a substrate comprised of a silicone-containing elastomer impregnated with a medicament to be delivered in the upper aerodigestive tract of a patient;

said body being generally ovoid shaped and having front, side, top, and bottom surfaces, the front and side surfaces for engaging the mucosa of the alveolar ridge and the top surface for engaging the mucosa of the palate when the bottom surface rests on the tongue of the patient, thereby stabilizing said body in the oral cavity of the patient while allowing sufficient clearance between the mucosa and said body to allow circulation of saliva around said body to facilitate the release of the medicament therefrom; and

means formed in said body for passage of an endotracheal tube therethrough, the endotracheal tube and said tube passage means cooperating with the engagement of the mucosa by said body to stabilize said body and the endotracheal tube in the oral cavity.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the top surface of said body is arched for interdigitating with the inferior aspect of the pharyngeal palate of the patient.