US5655518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling device for a stethoscope and an endotracheal tube
Assignee: MARQUIS MEDICAL Inc
•
Filing: 1995-08-22
•
Granted: 1997-08-12
•
Expires: 2015-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A coupling structure for placing a stethoscope and an endotracheal tube in gaseous communication, thus allowing an attending medical professional an enhanced ability to hear the breathing sounds of a patient in order to aid the medical professional to perform a nasal endotracheal intubation procedure while also providing the medical professional increased range of motion and protection from airborne pathogens and potentially dangerous bodily fluids, is described.
Inventors
- 👤 Brant S. Burden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0463; A61B; A61B7/00; A61B7/02; A61B7/023; A61M16/08; A61M16/0816; A61M16/0833; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0411; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/75; A61M2205/7518
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A combination of a stethoscope, a nasal endotracheal tube, and a coupling structure coupling together a distal end of a stethoscope cord attached to said stethoscope and an end of the said nasal endotracheal tube, said coupling structure having: a housing defining a substantially enclosed volume, with said housing further defining an opening for placing said volume in gaseous communication with the atmosphere; a sleeve connected at one end in a substantially airtight relationship to said housing for placing said volume in gaseous communication with one end of the nasal endotracheal tube, with said sleeve being coupled at another end to said end of said nasal endotracheal tube; and a coupling member connected at one end in a substantially airtight relationship to said housing for placing said volume in gaseous communication with said distal end of said stethoscope cord, with said coupling member being coupled at another end to said distal end of said stethoscope cord.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A combination of a stethoscope, a nasal endotracheal tube, and a coupling structure coupling together a distal end of a stethoscope cord attached to said stethoscope and an end of the said nasal endotracheal tube, said coupling structure having: a housing defining a substantially enclosed volume, with said housing further defining an opening for placing said volume in gaseous communication with the atmosphere; a sleeve connected at one end in a substantially airtight relationship to said housing for placing said volume in gaseous communication with one end of the nasal endotracheal tube, with said sleeve being coupled at another end to said end of said nasal endotracheal tube; and a coupling member connected at one end in a substantially airtight relationship to said housing for placing said volume in gaseous communication with said distal end of said stethoscope cord, with said coupling member being coupled at another end to said distal end of said stethoscope cord.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an adaptor for coupling said sleeve with said end of said nasal endotracheal tube while keeping said volume in gaseous communication with said end of said nasal endotracheal tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure as recited in claim 2, wherein said adaptor has first and second tubular members, with said first tubular member being sized to fit within said sleeve and said second tubular member being sized to fit within said end of said nasal endotracheal tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising: an adaptor for coupling said coupling member with said distal end of said stethoscope cord while keeping said volume in gaseous communication with said distal end of said stethoscope cord.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein said adaptor has first and second tubular members, with said first tubular member being sized to fit over said coupling member and said second tubular member being sized to fit within said distal end of said stethoscope cord.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing has an element with a tubular shape, terminating in said opening, with said opening having a diameter sufficient for permitting insertion of a tube from a remote suction device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure as recited in claim 6, wherein said tubular shaped element has a sound amplifying component for amplifying breathing sounds of said patient, thereby facilitating the identification of patient breathing problems by a medical professional performing the nasal endotracheal intubation procedure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure as recited in claim 7, wherein said sound amplifying component is a removable cap sized to cover said opening, thus deflecting said breathing sounds towards said coupling member, with said cap having an aperture of sufficient cross-section to allow the continuous free flow of air between the atmosphere and said end of said endotracheal tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The coupling structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve, said housing, and said opening collectively define a direct passage for air exiting a patient through said one end of said endotracheal tube to escape to the atmosphere, thereby reducing the risk of infection to the attending medical professional by pathogens borne by the air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve and said housing are rotatable with respect to one another, thus allowing free rotation of said housing when said sleeve is coupled with said one end of said endotracheal tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure as recited in claim 10, wherein the said coupling member is stationary with respect to said housing, so that said coupling member rotates along with the said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a sealant applied at the coupling of said sleeve and said end of said endotracheal tube to establish a substantially airtight relationship between said sleeve and said end of said tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a sealant applied at the coupling of said coupling member and said cord of said stethoscope to establish a substantially airtight relationship between said coupling member and said cord.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3499435A
Cited
US3493075A
Cited
US3734094A
Cited
US4351330A
Cited
US4198963A
Cited
US4327720A
Cited
US4383534A
Cited
US4584998A
Cited
US4607643A
Cited
US4917107A
Cited
US4966141A
Cited
US4953547A
Cited
US5181508A
Cited
US5056514A
Cited
US5357946A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |