Method and apparatus for endotracheal intubation using a light wand and curved guide
First Claim
1. A method for intubating a patient with an endotracheal tube comprising:
- inserting a curved tubular guide into a patient'"'"'s mouth and upper airway, so that the distal end of the guide is positioned above the patient'"'"'s larynx;
providing a light wand having a flexible elongated member with a light source at its distal tip;
inserting the wand through an endotracheal tube, so that the light source at the distal tip of the wand is adjacent to the distal end of the endotracheal tube;
advancing the wand and endotracheal tube along the guide until the distal end of the endotracheal tube passes through the patient'"'"'s larynx and the light source is eternally observable at a predetermined location through the patient'"'"'s tracheal wall;
retracting the guide over the proximal end of the endotracheal tube while leaving the wand and endotracheal tube in place in the patient'"'"'s airway; and
withdrawing the wand from within the endotracheal tube while leaving the endotracheal tube in place in the patient'"'"'s airway.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for endotracheal intubation with simultaneous oxygenation/ventilation employs a curved guide and a light wand to ensure proper placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient'"'"'s airway. The light wand has an elongated flexible member with a light source at its distal tip. The wand is inserted through an endotracheal tube until the light is adjacent to the distal end of the endotracheal tube. A curved guide is inserted into the patient'"'"'s mouth and upper airway so that its distal end is positioned above the larynx. The wand and endotracheal tube are then advanced along the guide until the distal end of the endotracheal tube passes through the larynx and the light source is externally observable at a predetermined location through the anterior tracheal wall.
247 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for intubating a patient with an endotracheal tube comprising:
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inserting a curved tubular guide into a patient'"'"'s mouth and upper airway, so that the distal end of the guide is positioned above the patient'"'"'s larynx;
providing a light wand having a flexible elongated member with a light source at its distal tip;
inserting the wand through an endotracheal tube, so that the light source at the distal tip of the wand is adjacent to the distal end of the endotracheal tube;
advancing the wand and endotracheal tube along the guide until the distal end of the endotracheal tube passes through the patient'"'"'s larynx and the light source is eternally observable at a predetermined location through the patient'"'"'s tracheal wall;
retracting the guide over the proximal end of the endotracheal tube while leaving the wand and endotracheal tube in place in the patient'"'"'s airway; and
withdrawing the wand from within the endotracheal tube while leaving the endotracheal tube in place in the patient'"'"'s airway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for intubating a patient with an endotracheal tube, said apparatus comprising:
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a light wand having an elongated flexible member with a distal tip and a light source at the distal tip of the flexible member, said flexible member having dimensions to fit through an endotracheal tube with the light source of the wand adjacent to the distal end of the endotracheal tube; and
a curved tubular guide for insertion into a patient'"'"'s mouth and upper airway, having a distal end positioned above the patient'"'"'s larynx;
wherein the wand and endotracheal tube can be advanced along the guide so that the distal end of the endotracheal tube passes through the patient'"'"'s larynx and the light source is externally observable at a predetermined location through the patient'"'"'s tracheal wall. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for intubating a patient with an endotracheal tube, said apparatus comprising:
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a light wand having an elongated flexible member with a distal tip and a light source at the distal tip of the flexible member, said flexible member having dimensions to fit into an endotracheal tube;
a curved tubular guide for insertion into a patient'"'"'s mouth and upper airway, having a distal end positioned above the patient'"'"'s larynx; and
an adapter for adjustably attaching the proximal end of an endotracheal tube at a location on the flexible member of the wand so that the light source of the wand is adjacent to the distal end of the endotracheal tube;
wherein the wand and endotracheal tube can be advanced along the guide so that the distal end of the endotracheal tube passes through the patient'"'"'s larynx and the light source is externally observable at a predetermined location through the patient'"'"'s tracheal wall; and
wherein the adapter has dimensions allowing the guide to be retracted over the adapter, endotracheal tube, and the flexible member of the wand. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification