Endotracheal tube pacifier

• US 5,810,000 A
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erin Stevens
• Original Assignee: Erin Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Erin
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, CHARLES WENDELL
• Application Number:
  US08/995,532
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/200.26, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/206.29, 128/202.16, 128/DIG. 24, 128/911, 128/912, 128/207.17, 128/207.18, 606/234, 606/235, 606/236
• US Class Current: 128/200.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0061 fixing at an intermediate position on the tube, i.e. tube protruding the fixing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients

Abstract

An endotracheal tube pacifier is provided. The endotracheal tube pacifier includes a nipple portion, bite portion and flange portion. A slot is formed longitudinally along the length of the nipple portion, bite portion and flange portion of the endotracheal tube pacifier. The slot is configured to detachably receive the sidewalls of an endotracheal tube even when an extremity of the endotracheal tube has already been received within a patient'"'"'s mouth. The endotracheal tube pacifier is intended to reduce the physical anomalies associated with prolonged endotracheal tube intubation and to promote the natural sucking and swallowing reflexes of an infant undergoing endotracheal intubation.

Claims

1. An endotracheal tube pacifier having a distal extremity and a proximal extremity, the endotracheal tube pacifier comprising:

a nipple portion having a curved and rounded configuration to fit and engage the palate and tongue of a patient;

a bite portion extending proximally from said nipple portion and configured to fit and engage the teeth or gums of a patient;

a radially projecting flange portion extending proximally from said bite portion and configured to engage the lips of a patient, said flange portion being of sufficient radius as to inhibit receipt of said flange portion into a patient'"'"'s mouth; and

a slot extending longitudinally along the length of said nipple portion, said bite portion and said flange portion and configured for receipt of an endotracheal tube, said slot disposed along the outer extremity of said pacifier to allow said pacifier to be engaged to an endotracheal tube and inserted into a patient'"'"'s mouth or disengaged from an endotracheal tube and removed from a patient'"'"'s mouth while the patient is intubated.

2. The endotracheal tube pacifier of claim 1 wherein said slot maintains the endotracheal tube substantially at the outer extremity of said pacifier while the patient is intubated.

3. The endotracheal tube pacifier of claim 1 further comprising a lock means for locking a endotracheal tube to said endotracheal tube pacifier.

4. The endotracheal tube pacifier of claim 3 wherein said lock means includes a press fit of said slot upon the outer walls of an endotracheal tube.

5. The endotracheal tube pacifier of claim 1 wherein the endotracheal tube pacifier is made of a resilient elastomer.

6. The endotracheal tube pacifier of claim 1 wherein said pacifier is of one-piece hollow construction.

7. The endotracheal tube pacifier of claim 1 wherein the nipple portion is substantially spherical in shape with a radius substantially greater than the radius of the bite portion to inhibit removal of the pacifier from a patients mouth.