Abstract:
A device used for oral intubation on a patient having a mouth and airway (or oropharynx) is disclosed. The device comprises a hard palate pivot support attached to a laryngoscope blade by a plurality of actuating arms, wherein the hard palate pivot support is used to push against the roof of a patient&#39;s mouth and consequently open a patient&#39;s airway in order to visualize the vocal chords. A method of use is further disclosed.

Description:
[0001]    Oral intubation is a procedure by which a tube is inserted through the mouth down into the trachea, the large airway from the mouth to the lungs. The tube is often inserted with the a laryngoscope, an instrument that permits the person inserting the tube to see the upper portion of the trachea, just below the vocal cords. During the procedure, the laryngoscope is used to hold the tongue to the side while the tube is inserted into the trachea. Critical to the procedure is that the head of the patient be positioned in the appropriate manner to allow for proper visualization. Additionally, pressure is typically applied to the thyroid cartilage (or Adam&#39;s apple) to allow better visualization of the trachea and to prevent possible aspiration. 
         [0002]    Oral intubation is often a difficult medical procedure because the anatomy of some patients makes it difficult to view the patient&#39;s vocal chords, which is essential for successful intubation. Examples of patients where oral intubation is difficult include overweight patients, patients with an anterior placed trachea, patients with a short neck such as pediatric patients, and/or patients requiring intubation out in the field in an emergency situation. The existing methods of oral intubation involve prying forward on the patient&#39;s upper lip and teeth with the standard laryngoscope blade which often causes injury and, most importantly, results in an unsuccessful intubation or view of the patient&#39;s vocal chords. When the laryngoscope blade is tilted back into the upper lip and teeth, injury to the patient, such as broken teeth and lacerations to the interior of the mouth, may occur. 
         [0003]    A device for oral intubation that may be easily used to provide successful oral intubation to difficult-to-intubate patients is needed. A device that uses a hard palate pivot support as a safe anchor point to push against the roof of a patient&#39;s mouth and consequently open the airway (or oropharynx) in order to visualize the vocal chords is needed. 
         [0004]    A laryngoscope for use in pre-hospital and hospital situations is disclosed. The device is designed to increase the success rate of oral intubation of adult and pediatric patients. The device utilizes unique features that allow for one handed operation and use. The one-handed operation allows the healthcare worker performing the intubation to hold the device in one hand and free up the other hand for insertion of the endotracheal tube. The purpose of the device is to overcome obstacles that present themselves in any intubation situation. This device eliminates the requirement of physical arm strength by utilizing an anatomically friendly design and easy to use handle. The device allows for direct visualization of the vocal chords and will increase the success rate of intubations while decreasing the risk of injury to patients. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the intubation device. In such depiction, the device is in the depressed state as the lever is pulled down. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partial back perspective view of the intubation device in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the intubation device. In such depiction, the device is in not in the depressed state as the lever is not depressed or pulled down. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a right side perspective view of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a left side perspective view of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the intubation device in use. Such depiction portrays a view of a perspective airway provided by the intubation device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the intubation device inserted into the mouth of a patient. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the intubation device of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the handle of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the laryngoscope blade of the intubation device of FIG. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the actuating lever of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the hard palate pivot support of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a first actuating arm of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . Such first actuating arm has two points of connection. It is connected to the actuating lever and a second actuating arm. 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the second actuating arm of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . Such second actuating arm has three points of connection. It is connected to the first actuating arm. Additionally, such second actuating arm is connected to the laryngoscope blade and the hard palate pivot support. 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the third actuating arm of the intubation device of  FIG. 1 . Such third actuating arm is connected to the laryngoscope blade and the hard palate pivot support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 15 , a device for oral intubation is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the device utilizes a laryngoscope blade  2  and hard palate pivot support  3  that is positioned into the airway (or oropharynx) through the opening in the mouth. The device is unlike any other device in that it is utilizes a spring activated lever  4  on the handle  1  that is designed to be easily operated with one hand. In addition to ease of use, the device&#39;s design benefits the patient by protecting the patient&#39;s teeth, gums, palate and all other soft tissue in the mouth and oropharynx from injury that commonly occurs with the current intubation method. The blade  2  and hard palate pivot support  3  may be collapsed together via the spring (best shown in  FIG. 3 ) for easy insertion; once the device is in the proper position inside a patient&#39;s mouth, the lever  4  may be depressed or pulled down spreading the laryngoscope blade  2  and the hard palate pivot support  3  apart at a specific angle and distance from each other. In one embodiment, the device is designed with the proper distance and opening angle to allow for a wide open view of the vocal chords  10  and adequate room for visualization and insertion of a endotracheal tube (best shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 ). 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in one example embodiment, the device is collapsed in its resting state (or non depressed state) making insertion of the device easier. Referring now to  FIGS. 1-15 , the anatomical design is designed to protect the patient from injury. The laryngoscope blade  2  and hard palate pivot support  3  are offset and positioned for optimal utilization meaning it will open and provide the widest view possible of the trachea. The device is designed to release automatically and pressure is easily controlled by the provider. The handle  1  and lever  4  are designed for easy one handed operation requiring minimal physical strength. The hard palate pivot  3  has two apertures (shown in  FIG. 12 ) and is attached to the blade  2  having two apertures (see  FIG. 10 ) with actuating arms  5 B and  5 C on the side of the blade  2  to allow for direct visualization and easy insertion of an endotracheal tube. 
         [0023]    In one example embodiment, laryngoscope blade  2  has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the blade  2  attached to handle  1 . The distal end of blade  2  in inserted into the mouth of a patient. In one example embodiment, the blade  2  has two apertures for attaching to actuating arms  5 B and  5 C. The size and the length of blade  2  may vary as desired by one of skill in the art. In one example embodiment, laryngoscope blade  2  has a tip on the distal end. Actuating arm  5 A has two apertures on each distal end. Arm  5 A is connected to lever  4  at one end and actuating arm  5 B at the opposite end. Actuating arm  5 B is substantially L-shaped and three points of attachment. At each distal end of actuating arm  5 B, an aperture exists to allow attachment to the pivot support  3  and the actuating arm  5 A. Actuating arm  5 B is also attached to blade  2  at the perpendicular junction of actuating arm  5 B. Actuating arm  5 C has two apertures on each distal end. Arm  5 C is connected to blade  2  at one end hard palate pivot support at the opposite end. Actuating arms  5 A,  5 B and  5 C allow movement between the lever  4  and hard palate pivot support  3 . 
         [0024]    A method of using the device to provide oral intubation to a patient comprises positioning the laryngoscope blade  2  and the hard palate pivot support  3  into the oropharynx through the opening of a patient&#39;s mouth. Handle  1  is used to guide the blade  2  into the proper positions. The blade  2  and the hard palate pivot support  3  may be collapsed together to allow them to be inserted between the tongue  16  and the hard palate  14  of the patient  12  (best shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Once the device is positioned inside the patient&#39;s mouth, the actuating lever  4  may be depressed which moves the actuating arms  5 A,  5 B and  5 C, wherein such actuating arms cohesive work together to spread apart the laryngoscope blade  2  and hard palate pivot support  3 . This action opens the oropharynx for the necessary view of the vocal chords  10 . The endotracheal tube may then be placed through the vocal chords and into the trachea for a successful intubation. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the device may be made of surgical steel, except for the hard palate pivot support  3 , which may be made of a softer synthetic plastic or rubber. The device may be made of other materials as desired by one of skill in the art. Referring to  FIGS. 1-15 , the hard palate pivot support  3  may be shaped or curved to protect the patient&#39;s hard palate  12  from injury. In one example embodiment, the material used may be easily sterilized to allow for multiple uses. 
         [0026]    The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the disclosure may occur to persons skilled in the art, the disclosure should be construed to include everything within the scope of the disclosure and equivalents thereof.