Nasopharyngeal airway with inflatable cuff

• US 6,394,093 B1
• Filed: 05/13/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott Lethi
• Original Assignee: Scott Lethi
• Inventors: Lethi, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEISS JR, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/311,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26,207.14,207.15,207.16,207.17,207.18
• US Class Current: 128/207.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/044 External cuff pressure control or supply, e.g. synchronisation with respiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0461 Nasoendotracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes

Abstract

An improved nasopharynx airway for draining fluids and supplying oxygen to a patient wherein the airway is locked into place by inflating a cuff which is provided around the distal end of the airway.

Claims

1. An improved nasopharyngeal airway for drainage of fluids and supply of oxygen to a patient comprising:

a) an airway tube having a cylindrical wall with proximal and distal ends, said proximal end arranged to be positioned externally of the patient at the patient'"'"'s nares and said distal end arranged to be inserted into a nasal passage of a patient and positioned in the internal end said nasal passage, said tube having sufficient rigidity so that lumens and ducts formed in its walls will not readily collapse, said tube having an open central passageway from said proximal end to said distal end;

b) a flange at the proximal end of said tube, said sufficient diameter to prevent further insertion of said tube at the nares;

c) a tube extension extending outwardly from said flange at said proximal end and having an open central passageway which acts to extend the central passageway of said airway tube, said tube extension terminating in a rim;

d) an inflatable cuff associated with the distal end of said tube positioned and adapted to engage the patient'"'"'s nasopharynx when in use;

e) means for inflating said cuff when said tube has been inserted into a nasopharyngeal passageway of a patient whereby the inflated cuff will hold said airway tube securely in place within the nasopharynx of the patient;

f) a lumen formed within the wall of said tube and extending the length thereof; and

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g) means providing for the delivery of a supply of oxygen to the distal end of said tube through said lumen said lumen having an opening in the surface of the distal end of said tube whereby when fluids are removed through said central passageway, air or oxygen may be supplied through said lumen to the patient.

2. The improved airway of claim 1 wherein said means providing for the delivery of a supply of oxygen comprises:

a) a supply line for delivering oxygen from an oxygen source; and

,

b) an oxygen port located on said tube extension adapted for connection with said oxygen supply line.

3. The improved airway of claim 1 wherein the means for inflating said cuff comprises:

a) an air supply port in said extension for receiving an air supply line;

b) an air supply duct located in said tube wall and connecting said air port and said cuff;

c) air supply means and valve for supplying air through said port and duct to said cuff; and

,

d) an inflation indicator for indicating the inflation pressure in the cuff.

4. The improved airway of claim 1 wherein said cuff extends around the outer surface of the tube adjacent the distal end of said tube for a portion of the length of said tube.

5. The improved airway of claim 4 wherein the surface of said cuff is continuous and smooth.

6. The improved airway of claim 4 wherein said cuff is ribbed.

7. The improved airway of claim 4 wherein said tube is formed from a hypo-allergenic, flexible material.

8. An operably positioned nasopharyngeal airway comprising:

a) a human patient having a nasal passageway in which said airway is positioned, said airway further comprising;

b) a tube having spaced apart distal and proximal ends and a wall, said wall having sufficient rigidity to prevent the collapse of ducts and lumens formed in the tube wall, said tube having an open central passageway from end to end;

c) a flange integrally formed with the tube, said flange being positioned at one end of the tube which is the proximal end thereof to prevent further insertion of the tube into the nasal passageway of the patient;

d) an inflatable cuff disposed around the outer surface of the tube and being located adjacent the distal end of said tube, said cuff being adapted to engage the patient'"'"'s nasopharynx, the distance between said flange and said cuff being pre-selected to approximate the distance from the nares to the posterior nasopharynx of the patient;

e) a tube extension coaxial with and integrally formed with said tube, said extension being integral with said flange at one end and terminating in a rim at its other end, said extension having an air and an oxygen port formed therein;

f) means providing for inflation of said cuff, said means comprising a duct extending from said cuff to said air port, a connection for a syringe and one way valve, and a supply line connecting said syringe and said port; and

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g) oxygen supply means comprising an orifice in the tip of said tube adjacent said cuff, a lumen extending from said opening to said oxygen port, said port being connectable to a supply of oxygen, whereby said improved airway is inserted in the nasopharyngeal passage of the patient up to said flange, the cuff upon inflation will contact the nasal passage walls of the patient providing a secure passageway so that oxygen may be introduced through said lumen and secretions may be withdrawn through the open tube passageway.

9. An improved method of providing continuous oxygenation and an open airway while allowing removal of secretions from a patient in a conscious or unconscious state comprising the steps of:

a) providing a nasopharyngeal airway having distal and proximal ends and having an inflatable nasopharynx locking cuff adjacent the distal end thereof and a nares contacting flange adjacent the proximal end, said airway having an air duct coextensive therewith;

b) providing an oxygen supply lumen connected to an opening at the locking cuff end of said airway, said lumen being coaxial with said airway to deliver oxygen at said opening;

c) inserting said airway into a patient'"'"'s nasal passageway to a position where said cuff is located in the posterior portion of the patient'"'"'s nasopharynx is positioned adjacent the nares of the patient; and

,

d) inflating said cuff to contact the walls of said nasopharynx to securely lock said airway so that subsequent patient movement, oxygenation, or removal of secretions through said airway can occur and not dislodge the position of said airway.

10. The improved method of claim 9 wherein said air duct terminates in an orifice on the surface of the tube adjacent said one end of said tube and said cuff comprises an air impervious membrane hermetically sealed to the outer surface of the tube around said orifice whereby when air is introduced through said orifice the membrane inflates and expands to a secured position in contact with the surface of the patient'"'"'s nasal passageway.

11. The improved method of claim 10 wherein said membrane is sealed completely around the circumference of said airway tube by two longitudinally spaced apart seals to form a sleeve-like cuff.