US4249529A — Snap-action holder for endotracheal tube with one…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 311 words

A facial holder for an endotracheal tube having the capability of releasably retaining the tube in operative position extending into the patient's mouth, said holder comprising an oblong-shaped body sized to extend across the patient's mouth between the nose and chin and overlie portions of the cheeks adjacent each side of the mouth, a pair of head encircling straps connected to opposite sides of said body adapted for one strap to extend above and the other strap to extend below the patient's ears, said straps being non-stretchable and having one-way adjustable means for tightening the fit around the patient's head to secure said body in position on the patient's lips and cheeks and requiring severing of the straps for removal of the holder from the patient's head, said body being molded of an elastomeric plastic material formed with a central cutout located below a bridge portion adapted to overlie the patient's upper lip, a pair of resilient arms integral with said body and extending into said cutout in symmetrical spaced relation having ends spaced apart a predetermined distance when the arms are in normal position, a ring clamp for releasably gripping said tube as said retaining capability comprising a pair of arcuate jaws connected by an integral hinge for pivoting between open and closed tube clamping positions, an integral hinge connecting each of said arm ends to a midportion of one of said jaws the diameter of said ring clamp being at least equal to or greater than said predetermined distance whereby said ring clamp is supported for snap-action between said open and closed positions by application of a force to said jaws in a direction normal to a straight line between said arm end integral hinges, said force serving to flex said arms to increase said predetermined distance for passage of said first mentioned hinge therebetween in performing said snap-action.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 311 words

A facial holder for an endotracheal tube having the capability of releasably retaining the tube in operative position extending into the patient's mouth, said holder comprising an oblong-shaped body sized to extend across the patient's mouth between the nose and chin and overlie portions of the cheeks adjacent each side of the mouth, a pair of head encircling straps connected to opposite sides of said body adapted for one strap to extend above and the other strap to extend below the patient's ears, said straps being non-stretchable and having one-way adjustable means for tightening the fit around the patient's head to secure said body in position on the patient's lips and cheeks and requiring severing of the straps for removal of the holder from the patient's head, said body being molded of an elastomeric plastic material formed with a central cutout located below a bridge portion adapted to overlie the patient's upper lip, a pair of resilient arms integral with said body and extending into said cutout in symmetrical spaced relation having ends spaced apart a predetermined distance when the arms are in normal position, a ring clamp for releasably gripping said tube as said retaining capability comprising a pair of arcuate jaws connected by an integral hinge for pivoting between open and closed tube clamping positions, an integral hinge connecting each of said arm ends to a midportion of one of said jaws the diameter of said ring clamp being at least equal to or greater than said predetermined distance whereby said ring clamp is supported for snap-action between said open and closed positions by application of a force to said jaws in a direction normal to a straight line between said arm end integral hinges, said force serving to flex said arms to increase said predetermined distance for passage of said first mentioned hinge therebetween in performing said snap-action.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 58 words

The facial holder defined in claim 1 in which said jaws are integrally formed on the ends thereof opposite said first mentioned hinge with interengaging latch means adapted to snap into a locking position when the jaws are in closed position and being finger nail manipulatable for release of the jaws for said snap-action to the open position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 46 words

The facial holder defined in claim 2 in which said interengaging latch means comprises a lip formed to extend from one of said jaws to overlie the other jaw when in closed position, and snap-in rib and groove means formed on said other jaw and lip.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The facial holder defined in claim 1 in which said body includes a flat base plate having a flexibility to conform to the patient's face, said base plate having said central cutout, a pair of bosses extending outwardly from said base plate symmetrically located and bordering said central cutout, each of said arms being formed as an extension from one of said bosses.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The facial holder defined in claim 4 including a cushioning pad adhesively attached to the rear surface of said base plate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 46 words

The facial holder defined in claim 4 in which one of said bosses is formed with an axial bore aligning with a similar opening in said base plate providing an auxiliary passageway through said body for communicating the mouth with the exterior side of said body.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 275 words

A facial holder for an endotracheal tube having the capability of releasably retaining the tube in operative position extending into the patient's mouth, said holder comprising an oblong-shaped body sized to extend across the patient's mouth between the nose and chin and overlie portions of the cheeks adjacent each side of the mouth, head encircling straps connected to opposite sides of said body adapted for retaining said body in said position on the patient's mouth, said body being molded of an elastomeric plastic material formed with a central cutout located below a bridge portion adapted to overlie the patient's upper lip, a pair of resilient arms connected with said body and extending into said cutout in symmetrical spaced relation having ends spaced apart a predetermined distance when the arms are in normal position, a ring clamp for releasably gripping said tube as said retaining capability comprising a pair of arcuate jaws connected by an integral hinge for pivoting between open and closed tube clamping positions, a hinge connecting each of said arm ends to a midportion of one of said jaws said jaws, hinges, arms and body being molded as an integral unit from said elastomeric plastic material, the diameter of said ring clamp being at least equal to or greater than said predetermined distance whereby said ring clamp is supported for snap-action between said open and closed positions by application of a force to said jaws in a direction normal to a straight line between said arm end integral hinges, said force serving to flex said arms to increase said predetermined distance for passage of said first mentioned hinge therebetween in performing said snap-action.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 275 words

A facial holder for an endotracheal tube having the capability of releasably retaining the tube in operative position extending into the patient's mouth, said holder comprising an oblong-shaped body sized to extend across the patient's mouth between the nose and chin and overlie portions of the cheeks adjacent each side of the mouth, head encircling straps connected to opposite sides of said body adapted for retaining said body in said position on the patient's mouth, said body being molded of an elastomeric plastic material formed with a central cutout located below a bridge portion adapted to overlie the patient's upper lip, a pair of resilient arms connected with said body and extending into said cutout in symmetrical spaced relation having ends spaced apart a predetermined distance when the arms are in normal position, a ring clamp for releasably gripping said tube as said retaining capability comprising a pair of arcuate jaws connected by an integral hinge for pivoting between open and closed tube clamping positions, a hinge connecting each of said arm ends to a midportion of one of said jaws said jaws, hinges, arms and body being molded as an integral unit from said elastomeric plastic material, the diameter of said ring clamp being at least equal to or greater than said predetermined distance whereby said ring clamp is supported for snap-action between said open and closed positions by application of a force to said jaws in a direction normal to a straight line between said arm end integral hinges, said force serving to flex said arms to increase said predetermined distance for passage of said first mentioned hinge therebetween in performing said snap-action.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 111 words

The facial holder defined in claim 7 in which said body includes a flat base plate having a flexibility to comform to the patient's face, said base plate having said central cutout formed therein, a pair of bosses extending outwardly from said base plate symmetrically located and bordering said central cutout, each of said arms being formed as an extension from one of said bosses, one of said bosses being formed with an axial bore aligning with a similar opening in said base plate providing an auxiliary passageway for introducing another tube therethrough into the patient's mouth, and a cushioning pad adhesively attached to the rear surface of said base plate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The facial holder defined in claim 8 in which each of said bosses is cylindrical in shape and said arms extend in a tangential relation with respect to the boss thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The facial holder defined in claim 7 in which the interior surface of each of said jaws is formed with a plurality of spaced transverse ribs for accommodating small differences in the endotracheal tube OD.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-02-10	1984-08-11	1985-02-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-02-10	1988-08-11	1989-02-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-02-10	1992-08-11	1993-02-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Snap-action holder for endotracheal tube with one-way quick tightening head bands

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag