OROGASTRIC TUBE GUIDE

Provided is an orogastric tube guide that can be used to accurately and quickly place an orogastric tube into the esophagus of a subject. In some embodiments, the orogastric tube guide is placed into the mouth of the subject after the subject has been intubated with an endotracheal tube. When placed in the midline of the subject's mouth, the disclosed orogastric tube guide aims placement of an orogastric tube towards the subject's esophagus. The orogastric tube guide also optionally contains a bite block to prevent a patient's teeth from clamping down on an endotracheal tube. The orogastric tube guide also optionally contains ports that can be attached to air tubing for providing supplemental oxygen after endotracheal extubation, thereby avoiding the need for nasal cannula.

BACKGROUND

Orogastric tubes are used during surgery to aspirate gastric contents and reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting. The orogastric tubes are inserted after intubation with endotracheal tubes. However, this is a blind procedure, often necessitating multiple attempts before successful intubation. This can lead to cross-contamination from gastric secretions and damage to the patient's mucosa. In addition, after several failed attempts, orogastric tubes must be discarded, leading to unnecessary waste.

SUMMARY

Provided is an orogastric tube guide that can be used to accurately and quickly place an orogastric tube through the oropharynx into the esophagus of a subject. In some embodiments, the orogastric tube guide is placed into the mouth of the subject after the subject has been intubated with an endotracheal tube. When placed in subject's mouth along the midline, the disclosed orogastric tube guide aims towards the subject's esophagus facilitating quick and accurate placement of an orogastric tube. The orogastric tube guide can also contain a bite block to prevent a patient's teeth from clamping down on an endotracheal tube. The orogastric tube guide also optionally contains ports that can be attached to air tubing for providing supplemental oxygen after endotracheal extubation, thereby avoiding the need for nasal cannula.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments of the invention. The invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the,” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein are used synonymously with the term “including” and variations thereof and are open, non-limiting terms.

The term “subject” refers to any individual who is the target of administration or treatment. The subject can be a vertebrate, for example, a mammal. Thus, the subject can be a human or veterinary patient. The term “patient” refers to a subject under the treatment of a clinician, e.g., physician.

Now referring more particularly toFIGS. 1 to 6of the drawings, an orogastric tube guide10is provided. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the disclosed orogastric tube guide10has a distal end21, a proximal end22, and a lumen23that extends continuously from the distal end21to the proximal end22. The cross-section of the lumen23is preferably elliptical with a minimum and maximum diameter. The lumen23preferably has a minimum diameter throughout its length large enough to accommodate an orogastric tube (e.g., 24 French to 42 French) and a temperature probe to be inserted through the lumen23. For example, the lumen can have a minimum diameter of about 0.20 inches to about 0.6 inches, such as about 0.40 inches.

The disclosed orogastric tube guide10can have a straight portion24that extends from the distal end21towards the proximal end22of the tube guided10, and a curved portion25extending from the end of the straight portion24to the proximal end22of the tube guide10. The curved portion25has a convex surface26and a concave surface27. The convex surface26can rest along the back of the subject's throat and direct the orogastric tube down towards the esophagus. In some embodiments, the curved portion25has an angle relative to the straight portion24of about 40 to 80 degrees. In particular, the curved portion25can have an angle of about 60 degrees.

The orogastric tube guide10also optionally has ports28,29that can be attached to air tubing. Each port28,29is fluidly connected to channels that extend along the straight portion24toward the proximal end22of the tube guide10. The channels terminate at vents30,31positioned for air transfer to the back of the subject's throat. These ports28,29and vents30,31have the advantage of providing supplemental oxygen after endotracheal extubation, thereby avoiding the need for nasal cannula.

The orogastric tube guide10also optionally has flanges32,33near the distal end21for gripping and advancing the tube guide10. As shown inFIG. 1, the tube guide10can have a first flange32positioned at the distal end21of the tube guide10. The tube guide10can also have a second flange33positioned proximally to the first flange32. The portion of the tube guide between the first flange32and second flange33defines a gripping portion34. This gripping portion34is preferably sized to allow fingers to be positioned between the first flange32and second flange33. As shown inFIG. 1, the ports28,29can be positioned in this gripping portion34between the first32and second33flanges.

The disclosed orogastric tube guide10also optionally contains a bite block35. A bite block prevent a patient's teeth from clamping down on an endotracheal tube, thus pinching the tube and restricting or entirely cutting off the flow of oxygen or air to the patient's lungs through the endotracheal tube. Reduction of the flow of air or oxygen to such a patient in an emergency situation may critically impair chances for the patient's recovery. Various bite blocks are known in the art but generally are complicated in design and difficult and costly to make and/or difficult to assemble and connect to an endotracheal tube. Preferably, the bite block35is sized larger than the endotracheal tube. For example, if the outer diameter of the straight portion24is not larger than that of the endotracheal tube, the bite block35can optionally be a raised portion as shown inFIG. 1. However, the tube guide10can in some embodiments have an outer diameter larger than the endotracheal tube so that a raised portion is not necessary.

The disclosed orogastric tube guide10preferably comprises a rigid material, such as a metal or plastic. Optionally, the orogastric tube guide10can be sterilized, for example by chemical and/or heat based techniques.

FIGS. 3 and 4illustrate dimensions of the orogastric tube guide10. The distance200between the distal end21and the proximal end22along the convex surface26can be about 1 to about 5 inches, adjusted smaller or larger if it is intended for use in a child or large adult, respectively. For example, the distance200between the distal end21and the proximal end22along the convex surface26can be about 1 to 3 inches for children and about 3 to 5 inches for adults. The distance210of the straight portion24can be about 2.7 inches. The distance220between the distal end21of the tube guide10and the proximal end of the bite block35can be about 1.45 inches. The distance230between the first flange32and second flange33can be about 0.60 inches. The outer diameter260of the bite block35can be about 0.72 inches. The distance240can be about 1.30 inches. The first flange32and/or second flange33can have a width290of about 1.37 inches and a height250of about 1.10 inches. The distance270can be about 1.64 inches. The lumen23can have a maximum diameter280of about 0.70 inches and a minimum diameter300of about 0.2 to about 0.5 inches, including about 0.40 inches.

FIG. 5illustrates an example orogastric tube guide10assembled with oxygen and carbon dioxide tube connections. InFIG. 5, tubing310is connecting port28to a threaded oxygen connector330; and tubing320is connecting port27to a carbon dioxide Leur fitting340. It is understood that ports27and28are interchangeable.

An example orogastric tube guide10is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. InFIG. 7, orogastric tubes are shown inserted through the lumen23, and air tubing310,320are connected to the ports27,28.

Disclosed are materials, systems, devices, compositions, and components that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can be used in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods, systems and devices. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these components may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein.