Transtracheal energy application and sensing system for intubation: method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An intubation scope assembly adapted to facilitate the positioning of an endotracheal tube in the trachea of a patient, comprising:
- an electromagnetic or sound energy source, anda sensor for the electromagnetic or sound energy emitted by said source;
said electromagnetic or sound energy source comprising means for directing said energy between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords from the exterior of a neck of a patient, the electromagnetic or sound energy having a direction, wavelength and intensity to reach a patient'"'"'s trachea, substantially avoid encompassing a patient'"'"'s entire pharynx and capable of being transmitted cephalad substantially between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords;
said energy sensor comprising a stylet assembly having proximal and distal ends selected from the group consisting of;
(a) a stylet assembly, the distal end of which comprises means to detect said energy transmitted between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords, means to transmit said detected energy to the proximal end thereof and the proximal end of which comprises means for monitoring said detected energy to thereby locate a patient'"'"'s vocal cords for positioning therethrough an endotracheal tube, and(b) a stylet assembly, the distal end of which comprises means to collect said energy transmitted between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords, means to transmit said collected energy to the proximal end thereof and the proximal end of which comprises means to detect and monitor said collected energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intubation scope assembly adapted to facilitate the positioning of an endotracheal tube in a patient comprising an electromagnetic or sound energy source which enters the vocal cords exteriorly of the neck of the patient with energy having a direction, wavelength and intensity capable of entering the trachea, substantially avoiding encompassing the entire pharynx and capable of being transmitted cephalad substantially between and/or around the vocal cords. A suitable sensor for the energy emitted by such source comprises a stylet assembly, the distal end of which can detect or collect the energy transmitted between and/or around the vocal cords and the proximal end of which can monitor the detected or collected energy to thereby locate the vocal cords for positioning an endotracheal tube therebetween. A system and method of intubating a patient with the foregoing assembly are also disclosed.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An intubation scope assembly adapted to facilitate the positioning of an endotracheal tube in the trachea of a patient, comprising:
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an electromagnetic or sound energy source, and a sensor for the electromagnetic or sound energy emitted by said source; said electromagnetic or sound energy source comprising means for directing said energy between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords from the exterior of a neck of a patient, the electromagnetic or sound energy having a direction, wavelength and intensity to reach a patient'"'"'s trachea, substantially avoid encompassing a patient'"'"'s entire pharynx and capable of being transmitted cephalad substantially between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords; said energy sensor comprising a stylet assembly having proximal and distal ends selected from the group consisting of; (a) a stylet assembly, the distal end of which comprises means to detect said energy transmitted between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords, means to transmit said detected energy to the proximal end thereof and the proximal end of which comprises means for monitoring said detected energy to thereby locate a patient'"'"'s vocal cords for positioning therethrough an endotracheal tube, and (b) a stylet assembly, the distal end of which comprises means to collect said energy transmitted between and/or around a patient'"'"'s vocal cords, means to transmit said collected energy to the proximal end thereof and the proximal end of which comprises means to detect and monitor said collected energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification