AIRWAY ASSEMBLY FOR TRACHEAL INTUBATION

• US 20150258293A1
• Filed: 03/19/2015
• Published: 09/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mermaid Medical Vascular ApS
• Original Assignee: Bio2 Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Angel, Luis F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/046 Tracheae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0406 implanted flow modifiers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0418 with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0427 with removable and re-insertable liner tubes, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0443 Special cuff-wall materials A61M16/0481, A61M16/0422 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0445 Special cuff forms, e.g. undulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• 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 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers

Abstract

In some embodiments, an airway assembly may be used in a procedure that requires tracheal intubation. The airway assembly may include a first conduit, a sleeve, and a stent. The first conduit and the sleeve may be relatively flexible, facilitating insertion of the airway assembly in a body lumen (e.g., an air passage way). The first conduit may function to deliver gases (e.g., air) to the body lumen and consequently the patient. The first conduit may be positioned in the sleeve during use. The sleeve may be removably coupled to the first conduit. In certain embodiments, a sleeve may function to inhibit a stent from expanding until desired. In some embodiments, an elongated member may be positionable in the first conduit. The elongated member may be configurable to substantially retain a new shape upon deformation. The stent may be coupled towards the distal end of the first conduit. The stent may function to inhibit the body lumen from collapsing. In certain embodiments, a stent may function to inhibit the body lumen from collapsing without exerting unnecessary outward pressures on the inner surface of the body lumen.

Claims

1. An endotracheal tube system, comprising:

a. a first elongated tubular conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit is positionable within an air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of a patient and the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit remains outside the patient'"'"'s body, and wherein the first elongated tubular conduit is configurable to deliver gas to the patient'"'"'s lungs;

b. a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent fixedly coupled to the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the stent is diametrically expandable along the entire length of the stent; and

c. a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit and at least a portion of the stent are positionable in the sleeve during use, and wherein the sleeve inhibits the stent from expanding until the sleeve is removed from the stent.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the stent is formed from a material that is less flexible than the first elongated tubular conduit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stent is positioned in the sleeve during insertion of the system in the air passage, wherein the stent is fixedly coupled to a portion of the outer surface of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, and wherein the sleeve is configurable to assist insertion of the system in the air passage.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is removable from the first elongated tubular conduit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a grasping member configurable to facilitate refraction of the sleeve.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is configurable to approximately retain a new shape upon deformation of the sleeve.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the stent is fixedly coupled to a portion of the inner surface of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, and the stent is adapted to fit within the air passage upon expansion such that at least a portion of the stent is configurable to inhibit application of outward pressure on an inner surface of the air passage during use.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises one or more markers positioned approximate the stent, wherein at least one of the markers is configurable to assist in assessing the location of at least a portion of the distal end of the first conduit.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the markers comprises a radio-opaque marker.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an elongated member positionable in the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the elongated member is deformable from an original shape into a new shape and substantially retains the new shape upon deformation of the elongated member, and wherein the elongated member is configurable to at least partially deform at least the first elongated tubular conduit during use.

11. A system for endotracheal intubation comprising:

a. a first elongated tubular conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit is positionable within an air passage of a patient and the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit remains outside the patient'"'"'s body, and wherein the first elongated tubular conduit is configurable to deliver and withdraw gases to the patient;

b. a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent fixedly coupled to the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the stent is diametrically expandable along the entire length of the stent; and

c. a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit and at least a portion of the stent are positionable in the sleeve during use, and wherein the sleeve inhibits the stent from expanding until the sleeve is removed from the stent; and

d. an elongated member positionable in the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the elongated member is deformable from an original shape into a new shape and substantially retains the new shape upon deformation of the elongated member.

12. A method for endotracheal intubation, the method comprising the steps of:

a. inserting at least a distal end of an airway assembly in an air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of a patient, wherein the airway assembly comprises;

i. a first elongated tubular conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit is positionable within an air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of a patient and the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit remains outside the patient'"'"'s body, and wherein the first elongated tubular conduit is configurable to deliver and withdraw gases to the patient;

ii. a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent fixedly coupled to the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the stent is diametrically expandable along the entire length of the stent; and

iii. a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit and at least a portion of the stent are positionable in the sleeve during use, and wherein the sleeve inhibits the stent from expanding until the sleeve is removed from the stent;

b. retracting at least a portion of the sleeve substantially surrounding the stent; and

c. delivering fluids through the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit into the air passage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the stent is formed from a material that is less flexible than the first elongated tubular conduit.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

positioning at least a portion of a stent expansion device in the stent.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

inserting the distal end of the airway assembly through a non-natural opening in the air passage.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

inserting the distal end of the airway assembly through a natural opening in the air passage.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

positioning at least a portion of a stent expansion device in the stent; and

expanding the stent.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

positioning an elongated member in the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the elongated member is deformable from an original shape into a new shape and substantially retains the new shape upon deformation of the elongated member.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

positioning an elongated member in the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the elongated member is deformable from an original shape into a new shape and substantially retains the new shape upon deformation of the elongated member; and

deforming the elongated member so as to facilitate insertion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit in the air passage.