Removable Fiberoptic Adapter for Difficult Intubation with Laryngeal Mask Airway

A removable fiberoptic adapter is secured onto a respiratory-device, such as a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or a ventilating airway mask, to allow for endoscopes to be inserted through the LMA while maintaining a connection to an oxygen source to sustain the patient as the patient breathes. The removable fiberoptic adapter includes an airway tube, an oxygen port, a carbon dioxide outlet, an implement port, and an adapter plug. The oxygen port and the carbon dioxide outlet allow for the introduction of air or oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide for respiration of the patient. The oxygen port and the carbon dioxide outlet are laterally connected to the airway tube. The implement port allows for the insertion of endoscopes or other medical implements through the respiratory-device. The adapter plug engages the implement inlet in order to restrict fluid flow through the implement inlet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an adapter for a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) tube used for intubating a patient or for a ventilating face mask used for non-invasive ventilation. More specifically, the present invention utilizes an adapter that is capable of selectively engaging with the external end of the LMA tube or face mask cuff.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typical laryngeal mask airway (LMA) tubes are utilized for intubating a patient to maintain an open airway while the patient is under anesthesia or unconscious. The LMA tube forms an airtight seal against the glottis through the inclusion of an inflatable or self-sealing cuff. A common use for LMA tubes is to allow oxygen or anesthesia to be channeled into a patient's lungs for unconscious patients during surgery or emergency medical response situations. The LMA typically is additionally able to be implemented during bronchoscopies and a plurality of airway procedures; however, the channeling of oxygen or anesthesia is not simultaneously implemented during the bronchoscopy or other airway procedures.

Ventilating face masks are utilized for non-invasive ventilation applications. The ventilating face mask is tightly fitted on the face of a patient. The ventilating face mask forms a seal with the patient's face without the need for tracheal intubation. The ventilating face mask typically incorporates an adapter cuff to attach the ventilating face mask with an air and/or anesthesia supply to introduce the respective gas to the patient.

The present invention is an adapter suited to detachably engage with a respiratory-device, such as the LMA tube or the adapter cuff of a ventilating face mask. The present invention streamlines the process of inserting fiber-optic scopes and endotracheal tubes therein. Once the fiber-optic scope and the endotracheal tube are inserted, the adapter may be opened and disengaged from the LMA tube or the adapter cuff, allowing the users greater flexibility in positioning said tubes within the LMA tube or the adapter cuff.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a removable fiberoptic adapter for a respiratory-device, such as a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) or a ventilating face mask. The present invention is affixed to the respiratory-device for implementation. The LMA maintains an open airway for a plurality of airway procedures: to provide oxygen, to administer anesthesia, or to receive an endoscope. The LMA is positioned through the patient's trachea and adjacent to the patient's glottis to form a hermetic seal around the perimeter of the trachea to provide a channel for air and anesthesia to be introduced to sustain or sedate the patient. The ventilating face mask creates a seal around the patient's mouth and nose, such that tracheal intubation is not needed to channel air and/or anesthesia to sustain or sedate the patient, respectively. The present invention allows for medical devices, such as an endoscope to be inserted, interchanged, or removed quickly through an exposed end of the LMA or an adapter cuff of the ventilating face mask.

In accordance toFIG. 1, the present invention comprises an airway tube1, an oxygen port2, a carbon dioxide outlet3, a grasping flange5, an implement port4, a mounting flange6, an adapter plug7, and an adapter mounting tube8. The airway tube1is a channel that allows for oxygen and carbon dioxide to flow into and out from the patient as well as for the insertion of medical devices, such as an endoscope. The oxygen port2is coupled with an external oxygen source to allow oxygen to be introduced to the patient's body and sustain the patient. The oxygen port2is laterally connected to the airway tube1, shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7. The oxygen port2is in fluid communication with the airway tube1to allow oxygen to flow through the oxygen port2into the airway tube1, detailed inFIG. 8. The carbon dioxide outlet3allows for the removal of carbon dioxide generated from the patient's respiration. The carbon dioxide outlet3is laterally connected to the airway tube1, detailed inFIG. 6andFIG. 7. The carbon dioxide outlet3is in fluid communication with the airway tube1to allow carbon dioxide to be removed as the patient respires, in accordance toFIG. 8. The oxygen port2is preferred to be diametrically opposite the carbon dioxide outlet3about the airway tube1in order to prevent a hose connected to the oxygen port2from interfering with connecting another hose to the carbon dioxide outlet3. The grasping flange5provides a hand hold for the user to manipulate the present invention onto the respiratory-device or to remove the present invention from the respiratory-device. The grasping flange5is perimetrically and terminally connected to the airway tube1, detailed inFIG. 1toFIG. 3andFIG. 6toFIG. 8. The implement port4is an opening that allows for the insertion, manipulation and removal of medical implements through the respiratory-device. The implement port4is centrally connected to the grasping flange5, shown inFIG. 4. The implement port4is oppositely positioned to the airway tube1about the grasping flange5, in accordance toFIG. 2,FIG. 3, andFIG. 6toFIG. 8. The implement port4is in fluid communication with the airway tube1, detailed inFIG. 8. The user is able to hold the grasping flange5in order to press the adapter plug7into the implement port4, such that the adapter plug7restricts fluid flow through the implement port4.

The mounting flange6and the adapter mounting tube8secure the present invention onto the respiratory-device. The mounting flange6is laterally and perimetrically connected to the airway tube1, shown inFIG. 1. In accordance toFIG. 6toFIG. 8, the oxygen port2and the carbon dioxide outlet3are positioned between the grasping flange5and the mounting flange6such that the oxygen port2and the carbon dioxide outlet3, as well as the respective connected hoses, do not interfere with connecting the present invention with the respiratory-device or each other. The mounting flange6allows the adapter mounting tube8to be offset from the airway tube1to delineate a channel within which the respiratory-device is positioned in order to secure the present invention onto the respiratory-device. The adapter mounting tube8is adjacently connected to the mounting flange6. The airway tube1is concentrically positioned within the adapter mounting tube8. The adapter mounting tube8is oriented away from the oxygen port2and the carbon dioxide outlet3. The airway tube1, the mounting flange6, and the adapter mounting tube8delineate a respiratory-device receiving channel11, as the mounting flange6offsets the adapter mounting tube8from the airway tube1, in accordance toFIG. 5andFIG. 8. The respiratory-device is pushed into the respiratory-device receiving channel11in order to secure the present invention onto the respiratory-device. The adapter plug7seals the implement port4to prevent fluid flow through the implement port4. The adapter plug7selectively engages the implement port4.

Further in accordance toFIG. 1, the adapter plug7comprises a plug-mounting extrusion12, a plug flange13, an adapter orifice14, and an implement-receiving channel15. The plug-mounting extrusion12is centrally and normally connected to the plug flange13. The plug-mounting extrusion12selectively engages the implement port4in order to seal the implement port4to prevent fluid flow to and from the airway tube1through the implement port4. The adapter orifice14allows for implements with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the implement port4to be utilized by the user. The adapter orifice14traverses through the plug flange13, shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 8. The plug flange13presses against the implement that traverses through the adapter orifice14to seal the airway tube1from the atmosphere through the adapter orifice14. The adapter orifice14is concentrically positioned with the plug-mounting extrusion12. The implement-receiving channel15allows the adapter plug7to laterally engage an elongated implement such that the user is able to position the adapter plug7anywhere along the elongated implement. The implement-receiving channel15radially traverses through the plug flange13, the plug-mounting extrusion12, and into the adapter orifice14, detailed inFIG. 1andFIG. 3. Thus, the user is able to press the elongated implement through the implement-receiving channel15, in order to position the elongated implement within the adapter orifice14.

In accordance to the preferred embodiment, the adapter plug7further comprises an orifice plug16, shown inFIG. 1. The orifice plug16allows the user to seal the adapter orifice14when an implement is not positioned through the adapter orifice14. The orifice plug16is laterally mounted to the plug flange13, such that the orifice plug16does not interfere with positioning the implement within the adapter orifice14, detailed inFIG. 1,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7. The orifice plug16selectively engages the adapter orifice14to seal the adapter orifice14when the implement is not positioned within the adapter orifice14.

Further in accordance to the preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a plurality of tactile grooves9, detailed inFIG. 1andFIG. 8. The plurality of tactile grooves9improves the grip that the user has on the plug flange13when manipulating the adapter plug7onto or out from the implement port4. The plurality of tactile grooves9traverses into the plug flange13in order to improve traction between the user's hand and the plug flange13. The plurality of tactile grooves9is radially offset from the adapter orifice14. Additionally, each tactile groove is radially offset from another. This configuration allows the plurality of tactile grooves9to effectively improve the user's grip radially across the plug flange13.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention further comprises a pair of tube mounting extrusions10, shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 5. The pair of tube mounting extrusions10assists in securing a carbon dioxide transfer hose onto the carbon dioxide outlet3. The pair of tube mounting extrusions10is laterally connected to the carbon dioxide outlet3. The pair of tube mounting extrusions10applies pressure to an interior wall of the carbon dioxide transfer hose as the carbon dioxide transfer tube is positioned around the carbon dioxide outlet3. This pressure seals the carbon dioxide transfer tube against the pair of tube mounting extrusions10and the carbon dioxide outlet3. The pair of tube mounting extrusions10is oppositely positioned to the airway tube1along the carbon dioxide outlet3in order to effectively engage the carbon dioxide transfer tube as the carbon dioxide transfer tube is positioned around the carbon dioxide outlet3, in accordance toFIG. 6andFIG. 7.