DEVICE FOR HEATING ENDOTRACHEAL TUBES PREPARATORY TO NASAL INTUBATION

A heating device for heating surgical tubes is disclosed herein. The heating device comprises a hollow housing configured to receive the surgical tubes therein. A heating element provided on the hollow housing. A first sensor is assembled on the heating element and configured to sense the temperature of the heating element. A controller is coupled to the heating element and the first sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive an input associated with a required heating temperature from a user for heating the surgical tubes, and accordingly regulate the operation of the heating element based on the required heating temperature and an actual temperature sensed via the first sensor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to heating endotracheal tubes preparatory to nasal intubation.

BACKGROUND

Tracheal intubation is challenging and requires skill and experience that can only be developed over years of practice. There are many instances where intubation from the nose is preferred over intubation through mouth. However, intubation via nose is a more challenging and difficult route of intubation.

Most endotracheal tubes are made of plastics that are flexible across the length of the tube but fairly rigid on the leading edge of the tube. When the tube is passed over the nasal cavity, the rigidity of the plastic often tends to traumatize the delicate tissues inside the floor of the nasal cavity and the turbinates. The delicate tissues in the nasal cavity are prone to heavy bleeding when traumatized. This is not desired because bleeding hampers the visibility of the practitioner during the course of the procedure. Furthermore, the traumatized tissue may start bleeding again when the tube is removed, which may cause postoperative airway complications from bleeding into the airway after the procedure. In addition, in case of oral intubation, the practitioner has ample play to maneuver the tube laterally or vertically to align and enter the tube in the trachea. Conversely, performing intubation nasally and aligning the tube with the trachea may be a bit more difficult due to constricted, narrow, and ridged profile of the nasal cavity. Even if such a nasal intubation is successful, damage to the delicate nasal tissues may not be avoided, which may cause discomfort to the patient after the procedure.

SUMMARY

A device for heating surgical tubes preparatory to nasal intubation is disclosed herein. The device comprises a hollow housing configured to receive the surgical tubes therein. A heating element is provided on the hollow housing. A first sensor is assembled adjacent the heating element, and configured to sense the temperature of the heating element. A controller is coupled to the heating element and the first sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive an input associated with a required heating temperature from a user for heating the surgical tubes, and accordingly regulate the operation of the heating element based on the required heating temperature and an actual temperature sensed via the first sensor.

In another non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the heating element is a heating pad.

In another non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the heating device further comprises a pair of endcaps, wherein one endcap is provided on each operative end of the hollow housing. In one example, the endcaps are made of a resilient material, and may have at least one slit extending thereon for facilitating introduction of the surgical stubes inside the hollow housing.

In another non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a method for heating one or more endotracheal tubes preparatory to nasal intubation, comprises 1) providing one or more endotracheal tubes; 2) providing the heating device100; 3) receiving the one or more endotracheal tubes through the entrance; 4) heating the one or more endotracheal tubes using the heating device100; 5) after being heated by the heating device, selecting at least one of the one or more heated endotracheal tubes; and 6) using the selected at least one of the one or more heated endotracheal tubes to perform nasal intubation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments are shown. The concepts discussed herein may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope to those of ordinary skill in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements but not necessarily the same or identical elements throughout.

As mentioned previously, surgical tubes such as endotracheal tubes may cause bleeding in the nasal cavity by traumatizing the delicate nasal tissues. In order to overcome this problem, the present disclosure envisages pre-heating the surgical tubes or the endotracheal tubes prior to performing the nasal intubation. Pre-heating the endotracheal tubes prior to the nasal intubation softens the tubes substantially. When a leading edge of the endotracheal tube is softened, insertion thereof inside the nasal cavity is substantially less traumatic for the delicate nasal tissues. Heating the body of the endotracheal tube also makes it easier to pass the tube through the tight and constricted spaces of the nasal passages with significantly less trauma and bleeding.

Another advantageous aspect of pre-heating the endotracheal tube prior to the nasal intubation is that the body of the endotracheal tube may be reshaped to in accordance with a unique individual anatomy, which may then be made set by spraying cold water or saline over the body of the endotracheal tube. An advantageous aspect of having a uniquely formed endotracheal tube is that it reduces the required maneuvering in the form of lateral or longitudinal movement of the tube for successfully performing the nasal intubation.

It is to be noted that the two aforementioned advantageous aspects may be applied by the practitioner simultaneously. More specifically, the leading edge of the endotracheal tube may be heated and softened, and the body of the endotracheal tube may be heated and reshaped to suit the unique individual anatomy of the patient by simply cooling the body of the tube, while keeping the leading edge in its heated softened state.

To this end, the present disclosure envisages a heating device for heating the surgical tubes. In one exemplary application, the surgical tubes may be endotracheal tubes. However, other kinds surgical tubes may be heated as well using the heating device envisaged in the present disclosure. More specifically, the constructional configuration of the heating device may be changed to accommodate different kinds of surgical tubes while using the same concept that is envisaged in the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, a front view of a heating device100for surgical tubes, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated. As seen inFIG. 1, the heating device100is a small and compact heating device that may be placed tabletop. The heating device100has a power cable102extending from a controller104. The power cable102may be connected to any suitable power outlet. The controller104includes a display106and a plurality of buttons108. In one embodiment, the controller104is a microprocessor enabled controlling device. The display106and the buttons108that allow a practitioner to view, select, and set a desired temperature as a required heating temperature to which the practitioner wishes to heat the surgical tubes. In accordance with one embodiment of the heating device100, when the heating device100turned on via the controller104, the heating device100defaults to the previous temperature setting used by the practitioner. Thus, if a practitioner has a preferred setting, the heating device100will operate at that setting when turned on until the practitioner decides to change the required heating temperature setting.

Referring toFIG. 2, a front view of a heating device100for surgical tubes, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated. The heating device100comprises a hollow housing112. The hollow housing112is that housing in which the surgical tubes to be heated are inserted. In one embodiment, the hollow housing112may have a cylindrical configuration, as seen inFIG. 2. However, the configuration of the hollow housing112is not restricted to being cylindrical, and the hollow housing112may have any other shape, including but not limited to, a rectangular cross section, an elliptical cross section, a polygonal cross section, and the like.

As seen inFIG. 2, the hollow housing112is supported on a pair of support brackets114. The two support brackets114are fitted in a spaced apart manner at the operative bottom surface of the hollow housing112. The brackets114define a semi-circular edge114A that fits onto the hollow housing112, whereas a bottom edge114B of the support bracket114defines a flat edge that may be placed on a flat support surface, such as that of a tabletop. Identical to the bottom pair of support brackets114, another support bracket114is disposed at an operative top surface of the hollow housing112that facilitates the mounting of the controller104thereon.

Referring toFIG. 3, a perspective view of the heating device100depicting surgical tubes116being inserted within the heating device100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated. In one exemplary application of the heating device100, the surgical tubes116are endotracheal tubes to be used for nasal intubation. However, the usage of the heating device100for heating other kinds of surgical tubes is well within the ambit of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 4, perspective views of the hollow housing112used in the heating device for the surgical tubes116, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, are illustrated. As seen inFIG. 4, the hollow housing112is a hollow cylindrical housing or a pipe like structure that is open at both operative ends112A,112B thereof. In one embodiment, the hollow housing112may be made of a metallic material. In another embodiment, the hollow housing112may be made of a non-metallic thermal conductor material, e.g., graphite. It is advantageous if the hollow housing is made of a thermally conductive material because the hollow housing has to receive the heat from a heat source and conduct the same heat into an interior space112C for facilitating heating of the surgical tubes116received inside the interior space112C.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIG. 6, perspective views of a heating element118being wound on the hollow housing112and a perspective view of the heating element118alone, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated. The heating element118, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is a heating pad. The heating element118may be wound around the hollow housing112and secured thereon by means of an adhesive tape, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the heating element118may be secured on the body of the hollow housing112by means of a thermally conductive adhesive.

As seen inFIG. 5andFIG. 6, a pair of first sensors120is securely disposed on the heating element118in surface contact with the heating element118for sensing the temperature of the heating element118. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pair of first sensors120and the heating element118are coupled to the controller104. A cable extends from the hollow housing112and terminated into the controller104. The coupling between the controller104and the heating element118and between the controller104and the pair of first sensors120may be facilitated by two different cables that are wrapped together in the form of the cable122. As mentioned previously, the controller104includes the display and buttons provided thereon. The display and the buttons allow the practitioner to view, select, and set the required heating temperature at which the surgical tubes are required to be heated. Once the required heating temperature is set by the practitioner, the controller104receives the input regarding the actual temperature of the heating element118via the first sensors120. If the actual temperature has a mismatch with the required heating temperature set by the practitioner on the controller104, the controller regulates the operation of the heating element118accordingly to mitigate the mismatch to zero as soon as possible.

Referring toFIG. 7, a perspective view depicting an insulation layer124being assembled over the heating element, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated. The heating device100comprises the insultation layer124that is assembled over the heating element118and the first sensors120. The insultation layer124prevents injury or burns to the practitioner on accidental touch. Another advantageous aspect of the insulation layer124is that the insulation layer124holds the heating element118and the first sensors120securely sandwiched between the hollow housing112and the insulation layer124. The insulation layer124may be made of a resilient material, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The resilient material may be a polymeric material, in accordance with one embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 8andFIG. 9, perspective views depicting endcaps126being assembled onto the operative ends112A,112B of the hollow housing112, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, are illustrated. The endcaps126, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, are made of a resilient material, wherein the resilient material may be a polymeric material. The endcaps126may include at least one slit126A configured thereon for allowing the introduction of one or more surgical tubes inside the hollow housing112. In one embodiment, the endcaps126may have two slits126A, one of which may be configured vertically and other one may be configured horizontally while dissecting the vertical slit to define a cross like configuration. The endcaps126with the slits126A are provided on the ends of the hollow housing112to allow introduction of the surgical tubes inside the hollow housing112while minimizing the heat loss from the operative ends112A,112B of the hollow housing112into the surroundings.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the practitioner may control the length of the endotracheal tube that is required to be heated simply by controlling how deeply the tubes are inserted into the hollow housing112. An advantageous aspect of the heating device100is that it allows the practitioner to adjust the temperature to meet the required needs for softness of the tubes or to increase or decrease their working time when reshaping the tubes.

Referring toFIG. 10, a front view of a heating device200for surgical tubes, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, is illustrated.

The heating device200is substantially the same as the heating device100, the main difference being that the hollow housing112is shaped as a cuboid (box shaped). More particularly, the housing112includes a top portion210and a bottom portion220, and a hinge230that pivotally connects the top portion210and a bottom portion. In operation, the user opens the heating device200by lifting the top portion220open and placing the surgical tubes116therein. As shown, the insulation layer124is disposed around interior surfaces of the heating device200; however, the insulation layer124may be disposed additionally or instead, on exterior surfaces. The heating element118and the first sensors120can be disposed on the bottom interior surface, as shown, or elsewhere. AlthoughFIG. 10depicts a box-like structure, it is to be understood that various other shapes and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In accordance with an embodiment, a method for heating one or more endotracheal tubes preparatory to nasal intubation, comprises 1) providing one or more endotracheal tubes; 2) providing the heating device100or200; 3) receiving the one or more endotracheal tubes in a hollow portion of the device100,200; 4) heating the one or more endotracheal tubes using the heating device100; 5) after being heated by the heating device, selecting at least one of the one or more heated endotracheal tubes; and 6) using the selected at least one of the one or more heated endotracheal tubes to perform nasal intubation.

Although the features, functions, components, and parts have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the disclosure that fairly fall within is the scope of permissible equivalents.