Tracheal intubation guide

Claim 2

A tracheal intubation guide for assisting in insertion of a tube into a patient's trachea, comprising: a tubular member having a curved forward end for insertion into the mouth and throat of a patient and for following the curvature of the rear end of the tongue, a rear end for projecting out through the mouth of the patient, and a through bore for receiving an endotracheal tube; and an anterior guide surface extending along at least part of the length of the tubular member to said forward end for guiding the tubular member over the tongue and into the throat of a patient to a position above the opening to the larynx, the guide surface being curved to follow the curvature of the forward end of the tube and having a leading edge of concave shape for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament.

Claim 3

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, in which the guide surface is a flat strip of generally J-shape.

Claim 4

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, in which the leading edge of the guide surface includes a pair of rollers mounted on it having opposed surfaces defining the said concave shape, the pair of rollers comprising means for sliding the guide surface over the tongue and for seating over the hyo-­epiglottic ligament.

Claim 5

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, in which the anterior guide surface is unbroken and the concave shape is a concave indentation formed between a pair of curved projections on said leading edge.

Claim 6

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the guide surface has a plurality of rollers for guiding the guide surface over the surface of a tongue as the guide is inserted through the mouth and throat of a patient.

Claim 7

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tubular member has open portions extending along its length.

Claim 8

The guide as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the open portions comprise a serpentine cut-out extending along the length of the tubular member.

Claim 9

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the guide surface extends forwardly from the forward end of the tubular member.

Claim 10

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tubular member has a handle portion at its rear end for gripping by an operator when inserting the guide into a patient's throat.

Claim 11

The guide as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the handle portion has a thumb indentation for location of an operator's thumb to align the tubular member with an operator's hand.

Claim 12

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, further including an epiglottic elevating ramp pivotally connected to the rear face of the guide surface adjacent its forward edge, and lever means linked to the elevating ramp for elevating the ramp anteriorly towards the guide surface to pinch the epiglottis between the ramp and guide surface.

Claim 13

The guide as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tubular member has an opening in its posterior surface at its forward end for facing the nasal pharynx when the member is fully inserted for guiding a nasally placed endotracheal tube into the guide.

Claim 16

The method as claimed in Claim 13, in which the endotracheal tube is inserted through the tubular member towards its forward end prior to positioning of the guide in the throat, and including the additional step of removing the guide from the endotracheal tube via a serpentine cut-­out extending along the length of the guide once the tube has been inserted in the trachea.

Claim 17

A tracheal intubation guide, comprising: a rigid tubular member with a curved forward end, a rear end, and a through bore connecting said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, serpentine opening in said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, unbroken underside on said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; and an anterior guide surface on said underside extending along at least part of the length of said tubular member, the guide surface being curved to follow the curvature of said forward end and including a leading edge with concave means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament.

Claim 18

A tracheal intubation guide, comprising: a rigid tubular member with a curved forward end, a rear end, and a through bore connecting said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, serpentine opening in said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, unbroken underside on said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; and an anterior guide surface on said underside extending along at least part of the length of said tubular member, the guide surface being curved to follow the curvature of said forward end and including a leading edge with concave means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament.

Claim 19

The tracheal intubation guide of Claim 15 wherein said anterior guide surface has a center line which substantially bisects said concave means and said tubular member is laterally offset from said center line.

Claim 20

The tracheal intubation guide of Claim 16 wherein said anterior guide surface is unbroken and said concave means is a concave indentation formed between a pair of curved projections on said leading edge.

Claim 21

A tracheal intubation apparatus, comprising: a tracheal intubation guide, including: a rigid tubular member with a curved forward end, a rear end, and a through bore connecting said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, serpentine opening in said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, unbroken underside on said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; and an anterior guide surface on said underside extending along at least part of the length of said tubular member, the guide surface being curved to follow the curvature of said forward end and including a leading edge with concave means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament; an endotracheal tube removably contained in said rigid tubular member; and a tube in said endotracheal tube for conducting a local anesthetic from said rear end and emitting said local anesthetic at said forward end.

Claim 22

A tracheal intubation apparatus, comprising: a tracheal intubation guide, including: a rigid tubular member with a curved forward end, a rear end, and a through bore connecting said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, serpentine opening in said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; a continuous, unbroken underside on said tubular member extending on said through bore from said rear end to said forward end; and an anterior guide surface on said underside extending along at least part of the length of said tubular member, the guide surface being curved to follow the curvature of said forward end and including a leading edge with concave means for engaging the front of the epiglottis and seating over the hyo-epiglottic ligament; an endotracheal tube removably contained in said rigid tubular member; and a tube in said endotracheal tube for conducting a local anesthetic from said rear end and emitting said local anesthetic at said forward end.