Patent Publication Number: US-2009229601-A1

Title: Intubating Airway Device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a medical device, and more specifically to an intubating device for supplying respiratory gas to a patient during an intubation process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During a desaturation condition of a patient, doctors are required to maintain artificial supply of respiratory gas, such as oxygen, to an airway of the patient by an intubation process. More specifically, an endotracheal (ET) tube may be inserted into the windpipe of the patient through the mouth of the patient. Thereafter, the ET tube may be connected to a respiratory gas supply source from one end thereof for supplying the respiratory gas to the windpipe of the patient. 
     Once the patient returns to a normal breathing condition, the ET tube may be removed from the windpipe of the patient. While removing the ET tube the artificial supply of the respiratory gas may be stopped and it may happen that the patient may be desaturated again due to lack of respiratory gases. Accordingly, the patient may require reintubation after the ET tube has been removed from the patient&#39;s windpipe. A delay in the reintubation may result in damage to the brain of the patient. 
     Moreover, an ET tube is difficult to insert into the windpipe of a patient. Further, the use of ET tube may have to be avoided in certain postures of the patient, for example when a patient is trapped in a sitting position and where tilting of the head of the patient to insert the ET tube is not possible. For such situations, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is alternatively utilized for supplying the respiratory gas into the windpipe of the patient. 
     Accordingly, there persists a need for an intubation device for intubating a patient that avoids the need for reintubating the patient. More specifically, there persists a need of an intubation device that avoids a desaturation of the patient when the ET tube, used for intubation of the patient, is removed. There further persists a need for an intubating device that is versatile to enable utilization of an LMA as well as an ET tube for intubating the patient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide an intubating device configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an intubating airway device for intubating a patient that avoids a desaturation of the patient when the intubation is discontinued. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an intubating airway device for intubating a patient that is capable of utilizing an ET tube as well as an LMA for intubating the patient. 
     In an aspect of the present invention, an intubating airway device is provided. The intubating device comprises a hollow tubular member, a rubber adaptor, a first connector, an airway tube and a second connector. The hollow tubular member comprises a proximal end, a distal end and a port. The port extends outwardly from a peripheral surface of the hollow tubular member. More specifically, the port extends at a portion between the distal end and the proximal end of the hollow tubular member. The rubber adaptor is coupled to the proximal end of the hollow tubular member. Moreover, the rubber adaptor comprises an opening that is adapted to receive an endotracheal (ET) tube, which is connected to an artificial respiration device. The first connector has a tubular structure defining a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the first connector is detachably coupled to the distal end of the hollow tubular member. The second end portion of the first connector is adapted to be detachably coupled to the airway tube. The airway tube is adapted to be inserted into mouth of a patient. The second connector is adapted to be detachably coupled to the first connector. More specifically, the second connector has a tubular structure defining a first end portion and a second portion, such that the first end portion of the second connector is adapted to be detachably coupled to the second end portion of the first connector on detachment of the airway tube from the second end portion of the first connector. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the opening in the rubber adapter of the intubating airway device may be flexible for receiving an ET tube of a predetermined diameter. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, the intubating airway device is adapted to detachably couple a laryngeal mask airway (LMA). 
     These together with the other aspects of the present invention, along with the various feature of novelty that characterized the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of the present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specified object attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrate a perspective view of various components of an intubating airway device in a decoupled position, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a first configuration of the intubating airway device of  FIG. 1  utilizing an ET tube for intubating a patient, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a second configuration of the intubating airway device of  FIG. 1  utilizing an LMA for intubating a patient, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For a thorough understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. Although the present invention is described in connection with exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The term “first”, “second”, “distal”, “proximal” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The present invention provides an intubating airway device for intubating a patient. More specifically, the intubating airway device is capable of avoiding a desaturation of the patient. The intubating airway device is capable of incorporating different types of intubation tubes, such as an ET tube and a LMA, for supplying respiratory gas and medicines to the patient. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the intubating airway device, such as an intubating airway device  100  (hereinafter referred to as ‘airway device  100 ’), for intubating the patient, is shown. More specifically,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of various components of the airway device  100  in a decoupled position, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The airway device  100  includes a hollow tubular member  120  (hereinafter referred to as ‘tubular member  120 ’), a rubber adaptor  130 , a first connector  140 , an airway tube  150  and a second connector  160 . The tubular member  120  includes a proximal end  122  and a distal end  124 . The proximal end  122  and the distal end  124  have substantially equal diameters. Moreover, the tubular member  120  includes a port  126  extending outwardly from a peripheral surface  128  of the tubular member  120  and lying at a portion between the proximal end  122  and the distal end  124 . In an embodiment of the present invention, the port  126  may extend transversally from the peripheral surface  128  of the tubular member  120 . More specifically, the port  126  and the tubular member  120  may configure a T-shaped structure. However, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to structure as described herein and the port  126  may extend at any inclination from the peripheral surface  128 . Moreover, the port  126  is adapted to be detachably coupled to an artificial respiration device, such as an anesthesia circuit, for receiving respiratory gas, such as oxygen. 
     Moreover, to the proximal end  122  of the tubular member  120 , the rubber adaptor  130  may be coupled. The rubber adaptor  130  includes an opening  132  configured on a front face  134  of the rubber adaptor  130 . The opening  132  is adapted to receive therein an ET tube (not shown) for intubating the patient. In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening  132  may be flexible, such that the opening  132  is capable of receiving the ET tube, of predetermined diameters. For example, the opening  132  may be adapted to receive ET tubes with diameter ranging between about 3 to about 10.5 mm. Moreover, the rubber adaptor  130  may be made of non-latex rubber. The rubber adaptor  130  enables the ET tube received within the opening  132  to be directed towards the distal end  124  of the tubular member  120 . 
     The distal end  124  of the tubular member  120  is adapted to detachably couple the first connector  140  thereto. The first connector  140  has a tubular structure  142  defining a first end portion  144  and a second end portion  146 . The first end portion  144  and the second end portion  146  may have substantially equal diameters. Moreover, the diameter of the first end portion  144  is comparatively greater than the diameter of the distal end  124  of the tubular member  120 , such that the first end portion  144  is received on the distal end  124  of the tubular member  120 . Accordingly, the first connector  140  is coupled to the tubular member  120 . 
     The first connector  140  is further adapted to couple the airway tube  150  to the tubular member  120 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which will be further explained in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . The airway tube  150  includes end portions  152  and  154 . The airway tube  150  is adapted to be inserted through mouth of the patient for enabling intubation thereof. More particularly, the end portion  152  of the airway tube  150  is detachably coupled to the second end portion  146  of the first connector  140 . The end portion  154  of the airway tube  150  is adapted to be inserted through the mouth of the patient. Moreover, a diameter of the airway tube  150  is substantially similar to the diameter of the proximal end  122  and the distal end  124  of the tubular member  120 . 
     Further, the airway tube  150  may be detached from the first connector  140  to detachably couple the second connector  160  thereto, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, which will be further explained in conjunction with  FIG. 3 . The second connector  160  has a tubular structure  162  defining a first end portion  164  and a second end portion  166 . The first end portion  164  of the second connector  160  is adapted to be detachably coupled to the second end portion  146  of first connector  140 , when the airway tube  150  has been detached from the first connector  140 . The second end portion  166  of the second connector  160  may be detachably coupled to an LMA. Moreover, the second connector  160  is similar in structural configuration to the first connector  140  except that the second connector  160  is comparatively smaller in size than the first connector  140 . 
     In view of the foregoing, the various components of the intubating airway  100 , more specifically the tubular member  120 , rubber adaptor  130 , the first connector  140 , the airway tube  150  and the second connector  160 , may be selectively connected to configure different configurations of the airway device  100 . For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the tubular member  120 , the rubber adaptor  130 , the first connector  140 , and the airway tube  150  may be coupled to configure a “first configuration” of the airway device  100 . The “first configuration” will be further explained in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the tubular member  120 , the rubber adaptor  130 , the first connector  140 , and the second connector  160  may be coupled to configure a “second configuration” of the intubating airway device  100 . The “second configuration” will be further explained in conjunction with  FIG. 3 . Moreover, the tubular member  120 , the first connector  140 , the airway tube  150  and the second connector  160  of the airway device  100  are preferably made of plastic material. However, it will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that any other material providing sufficient structural integrity to the tubular member  120 , the first connector  140 , the airway tube  150  and the second connector  160  may also be utilized. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the first configuration of the airway device  100  utilizing an ET tube  200  for intubating a patient  202 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The intubating device, as described herein, would hereinafter be referred to as “ET airway device”. The ET airway device may be configured by coupling the rubber adaptor  130  on the proximal end  122  of the tubular member  120 , and coupling the first connector  140  to the distal end  124  of the tubular member  120 . Moreover, the airway tube  150  is coupled to the first connector  140  and is inserted into a windpipe (not shown) of the patient  202  through his/her mouth  204 . The opening  132  of the rubber adaptor  130  is adapted to receive the ET tube  200 . More specifically, the ET tube  200  passes through the tubular member  120  and the first connector  140  into the airway tube  150 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . As explained in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the diameter of the airway tube  150  is substantially similar to the tubular member  120 , thereby enabling the ET tube  200  to easily pass through the tubular member  120  into the airway tube  150 . Moreover, an end portion  206  of the ET tube  200  may be connected to an artificial respiration device, such as a medical ventilator ‘M’, for receiving respiratory gas therefrom. 
     Moreover, the port  126  is detachably coupled to an artificial respiration device, such as an anesthesia circuit ‘A’. The anesthesia circuit ‘A’ may be operated by a user to supply respiratory gas to the ET airway device when desired. 
     In use, the ET tube  200  configures a path between the ventilator device ‘M’ and the airway tube  150  for supplying the respiratory gas to the windpipe of the patient  202  through the airway tube  150 . Accordingly, the ET airway device may be utilized for intubating the patient  202  while he/she is experiencing a desaturation condition. 
     Once the patient  202  recovers from the desaturation condition, the ET tube  200  may be retrieved from the airway tube  150  and the medical ventilator ‘M’ may be disabled to stop the flow of the respiratory gas therefrom. However, during the removal of the ET tube  200 , the user may enable the anesthesia circuit ‘A’. The respiratory gas supplied by the anesthesia circuit ‘A’ enters the tubular member  120  from the port  126 . Thereafter, the respiratory gas passes into the airway tube  150  for supplying the respiratory gas to the windpipe of the patient. Accordingly, a continuous supply of the respiratory gas is maintained in the windpipe of the patient  202  while the ET tube  200  is being removed, thereby avoiding a desaturation of the patient  202 . The ET airway device thereby avoids a need for reintubating the patient  202  after the ET tube  200  has been removed from his/her windpipe. 
     While using the first configuration, due to a certain posture of the patient  202 , it may happen that the ET tube  200  may not be easily inserted into the windpipe of the patient  202 . On encountering such a situation, an LMA may be utilized for intubating the patient  202 . Accordingly, the ET tube  200  may be retrieved from the airway tube  150  and the airway tube  150  may be detached from the first connector  140 . Thereafter, the second connector  160  having an LMA coupled thereto may be connected to the first connector  140  to configure the second configuration of the airway device  100  for intubating the patient. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the second configuration of the airway device  100  utilizing an LMA  300  for intubating the patient  202 , according to another embodiment of the present invention. The intubating device utilizing the LMA  300  may be hereinafter referred to as “LMA airway device”. The LMA airway device may be configured by coupling the rubber adaptor  130  on the proximal end  122  of the tubular member  120  and coupling the first connector  140  to the distal end  124  of the tubular member  120 . Moreover, the LMA airway device includes the second connector  160  coupled to the first connector  140 . More specifically, the first end portion  164  of the second connector  160  is detachably coupled to the second end portion  146  of first connector  140 . The LMA  300  may be coupled to the second end portion  166  of the second connector  160 . Moreover, the port  126  of the tubular member  120  is connected to the anesthesia circuit ‘A’, which supplies respiratory gas to the LMA airway device. 
     In use, the LMA  300  may be inserted through the mouth  204  of the patient  202  into the windpipe (not shown) of the patient  202 . The anesthesia circuit ‘A’ is operated to supply the respiratory gas that passes through the tubular member  120 , the first connector  140  and the second connector  160  into the LMA  300 . Accordingly, the LMA airway device may be utilized for supplying respiratory gas to the patient  202 . 
     The intubating airway device, as described herein, may be advantageously used for intubating a patient, such that a desaturation condition of the patient is avoided. Further, the intubating airway device is capable of incorporating ET tubes of different diameters to supply different amounts of respiratory gas according to requirement of the patient. Furthermore, the intubating airway device enables use of an LMA for intubating the patient when the ET tube can not be used due to a critical condition of the patient. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.