An endotracheal tube for unidirectional liquid flow and automatic sputum drainage

Abstract

The present invention discloses an endotracheal tube for unidirectional liquid flow and automatic sputum drainage, in which a unidirectional liquid flow structure is laid on the inner wall of the endotracheal tube; the unidirectional liquid flow structure includes a plurality of partitions evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner wall, the length direction of the partition is the same as the axial direction of the endotracheal tube, the width direction of the partition is the same as the radial direction of the endotracheal tube, and a plurality of bent plates are spaced between any two adjacent partitions, the end of the bent plate away from the inner wall is bent towards one end of the endotracheal tube, and the bending directions of different bent plates are the same. The endotracheal tube for unidirectional liquid flow and automatic sputum drainage of the present invention has good sputum drainage effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and particularly to an endotracheal tube with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage. Background Art

[0002] Endotracheal tubes are medical devices that ensure the patency of the respiratory tract and maintain ventilation, and play an important role in saving lives. The cilia at the top of the columnar epithelial cells on the mucosal layer of the tracheal wall have the function of clearing respiratory secretions and sputum, and can promote the discharge of sputum.

[0003] However, the current endotracheal tubes are made of rigid physical materials and lack the function of sputum drainage. During inhalation, the sputum in the tube is discharged under the push of the exhaled air flow. However, due to the long length of the tube, only a small amount of secretions can be discharged during one exhalation, and most of the secretions will return with the inhaled air flow during inhalation, staying in the trachea and being difficult to discharge; moreover, the endotracheal tube stimulates the mucus secretion of the goblet cells in the respiratory tract, increasing the amount of sputum, increasing the burden of sputum drainage in the respiratory tract, and increasing the risk of infection and airway obstruction. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endotracheal tube with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art and enhance the sputum drainage effect of the endotracheal tube.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following solution:

[0006] The present invention provides an endotracheal tube with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage, in which a layer of unidirectional liquid flow structure is laid on the inner wall of the endotracheal tube; the unidirectional liquid flow structure includes a plurality of partitions evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the inner wall, the length direction of the partition is the same as the axial direction of the endotracheal tube, the width direction of the partition is the same as the radial direction of the endotracheal tube, and a plurality of bent plates are arranged at intervals between any two adjacent partitions. The end of the bent plate away from the inner wall is bent towards one end of the endotracheal tube, and the bending directions of different bent plates are the same.

[0007] Preferably, the bent plate is hermetically connected to the inner wall of the endotracheal tube, and the bent plate is hermetically connected to the adjacent partition.

[0008] Preferably, a hook-shaped portion is further provided at the end of the bent plate away from the inner wall. The hook-shaped portion is L-shaped, and the end of the hook-shaped portion away from the bent plate is parallel to the inner wall and faces the bent plate.

[0009] Preferably, the end of the partition away from the inner wall is closer to the center of the endotracheal tube than the end of the bent plate away from the inner wall.

[0010] Preferably, the partitions are evenly distributed at 360° along the circumferential direction of the inner wall.

[0011] The present invention has achieved the following technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0012] The sputum drainage effect of the tracheal intubation with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage of the present invention is good. A unidirectional liquid flow structure is provided in the inner wall of the tracheal intubation with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage of the present invention. An inward concave structure is formed between the hook-shaped part at the end of the bent plate and the bent plate. This inward concave structure has a hydrophobic function, which hinders the flow of sputum. A liquid storage tank is formed between two adjacent bent plates and the partition plates on both sides. When the sputum overflowing from the liquid storage tank flows at the end of the bent plate, due to the significantly different resistances at the inward concave structure, the sputum tends to flow unidirectionally to the side with lower resistance, thereby accelerating the outflow of sputum during exhalation, resisting the reflux of sputum during inhalation, greatly reducing the retention of sputum in the airway, reducing the number of sputum suction times, prolonging the indwelling time of the tube, and reducing the incidence of respiratory infections. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural view of the tracheal intubation with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 It is a partial schematic structural view of the tube wall expansion of the tracheal intubation with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural view of the unidirectional liquid flow structure in the tracheal intubation with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural view of the bent plate in the tracheal intubation with unidirectional liquid flow for automatic sputum drainage of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural view of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 1 ;

[0019] Figure 6 It is a schematic structural view of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 2 ;

[0020] Figure 7 It is a schematic structural view of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 3 ;

[0021] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural view of the contact angle of the material surfaceFigure 4 ;

[0022] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 5 ;

[0023] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 6 ;

[0024] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the structure of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 7 ;

[0025] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the structure of the contact angle of the material surface Figure 8 ;

[0026] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the unidirectional movement of sputum in the endotracheal tube for automatic sputum drainage with unidirectional liquid flow according to the present invention;

[0027] Wherein: 1. Endotracheal tube for automatic sputum drainage with unidirectional liquid flow; 2. Inner wall; 3. Unidirectional liquid flow structure; 4. Bent plate; 5. Partition; 6. Liquid storage tank; 7. Hook-shaped part; 8. Liquid; 9. Solid; 10. Tube wall. Detailed implementation manners

[0028] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0029] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an endotracheal tube for automatic sputum drainage with unidirectional liquid flow to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art and enhance the sputum drainage effect of the endotracheal tube.

[0030] To make the above objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation manners.

[0031] As Figures 1 to 13 shown: This embodiment provides an endotracheal tube 1 for automatic sputum drainage with unidirectional liquid flow, and a layer of unidirectional liquid flow structure 3 is laid in the inner wall 2 of the endotracheal tube.

[0032] In this embodiment, the unidirectional liquid flow structure 3 specifically includes a plurality of partition plates 5 evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation. The length direction of the partition plate 5 is the same as the axial direction of the tracheal intubation, and the width direction of the partition plate 5 is the same as the radial direction of the tracheal intubation. A plurality of bent plates 4 are arranged at intervals between any two adjacent partition plates 5. One end of the bent plate 4 away from the inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation bends towards one end of the tracheal intubation, and the bending directions of different bent plates 4 are the same. When using the tracheal intubation 1 for automatic sputum drainage with unidirectional liquid flow, it is necessary to make the end of the bent plate 4 away from the inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation face the inner side of the patient's lung.

[0033] The bent plate 4 is hermetically connected to the inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation, and the bent plate 4 is hermetically connected to the adjacent partition plate 5. A liquid storage tank 6 is formed between two adjacent bent plates 4 and the partition plates 5 on both sides.

[0034] One end of the bent plate 4 away from the inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation is further provided with a hook-shaped portion 7. The hook-shaped portion 7 is L-shaped, and one end of the hook-shaped portion 7 away from the bent plate 4 is parallel to the inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation and faces the bent plate 4. One end of the partition plate 5 away from the inner wall 2 is closer to the center of the tracheal intubation than one end of the bent plate 4 away from the inner wall 2.

[0035] Figures 5 to 12 It is a schematic diagram of the liquid contact angle on the material surface. The wetting phenomenon is caused by the asymmetry of molecular forces. The adhesion layer is a layer of liquid 8 at the contact of the solid 9 and the liquid 8 with an effective action radius of the molecules of the liquid 8 or the solid 9. The adhesion force f 附 is the sum of the gravitational forces of the solid 9 molecules received by the adhesion layer, and the cohesive force f 内 is the sum of the gravitational forces of the liquid 8 molecules received by the adhesion layer. When f 附 > f 内 , the resultant force f received by the adhesion layer is perpendicular to the adhesion layer and points to the solid 9. The potential energy of the molecules inside the liquid 8 is greater than the potential energy of the molecules in the adhesion layer. The molecules inside the liquid 8 try to squeeze into the adhesion layer as much as possible, causing the adhesion layer to expand, which is manifested as the liquid 8 wetting the solid 9. When f 附 < f 内, The resultant force f acting on the adhesion layer is perpendicular to the adhesion layer and points towards the interior of the liquid 8. The potential energy of the molecules inside the liquid 8 is less than that of the molecules in the adhesion layer. The molecules in the adhesion layer tend to squeeze into the interior of the liquid 8 as much as possible, causing the adhesion layer to contract, which is manifested as the liquid 8 not wetting the solid 9. Surface energy is the extra energy of the material surface compared to the interior. The surface energy per unit area of the liquid 8 is called surface tension. The study of wetting often relies on the contact angle. The contact angle is the angle between the gas-liquid interface and the solid-liquid interface at the three-phase junction of gas, liquid, and solid, that is, at the boundary of the contact surface between the liquid 8 and the solid 9, the angle formed by the tangent of the liquid 8 surface and the solid 9 surface that can enclose the liquid 8, denoted by θ, which is a measure of the wetting degree. If θ < 90°, the solid 9 is liquid-loving, that is, the liquid 8 can wet the solid 9, and the smaller the angle, the better the wetting property. If θ > 90°, the solid 9 is liquid-hating, that is, the liquid 8 does not wet the solid 9 and cannot enter the capillary pores. The contact angle includes the intrinsic contact angle (θ Y ), the apparent contact angle (θ*), the rolling angle (θ S ), the advancing angle (θ A ), the receding angle (θ R ) etc. The intrinsic contact angle is the contact angle of the liquid 8 on the smooth surface of the solid 9, and the apparent contact angle is the contact angle measured after the surface of the solid 9 has roughness. The wetting process is related to the interfacial tension of the system. When a drop of liquid 8 falls on the horizontal surface of the solid 9 and reaches equilibrium, the contact angle formed conforms to the following formula with the interfacial tensions: Fsg = Fsl + Fgl × cosθ, where Fsg represents the solid-gas interfacial tension, Fsl represents the solid-liquid interfacial tension, and Fgl represents the gas-liquid interfacial tension.

[0036] For a liquid droplet stationary on the horizontal surface of the solid 9, the pressure at any point on its surface is equal to the atmospheric pressure. The contact angle between the liquid 8 and the solid 9 is equal in any direction. If the contact angle at a certain contact point changes, the contact angles at other points will also make corresponding adaptive changes and finally tend to be consistent. The stationary liquid 8 has a stable effect and remains in place. If you want to make the stationary liquid 8 flow, external energy is required to break its static symmetry and overcome the stable effect with the surface of the solid 9 structure.

[0037] Such as Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in the figure, in order to achieve the directional and autonomous flow of fluids, we designed a unidirectional liquid flow structure 3. The unidirectional liquid flow structure 3 includes two adjacent curved plates 4. The curved plates 4 are in the shape of fishhooks and are arranged in parallel. The two adjacent curved plates 4 and the partition plates 55 on both sides enclose a liquid storage tank 6. When the sputum overflowing from the liquid storage tank 6 moves to both sides, due to the significantly different resistances encountered in the concave structure at the hook tip, the difference in resistance on both sides causes the sputum to tend to move unidirectionally to the side with lower resistance. This structure can transport low surface energy liquids and highly viscous liquids such as sputum, pus, bile, exudate, pleural effusion, peritoneal effusion, joint effusion, etc., and can even overcome gravity for transmission.

[0038] Figure 13 Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the unidirectional movement of sputum on the wall 10 of the tracheal intubation 1 for automatic sputum drainage by the unidirectional liquid flow, which can explain the principle of this unidirectional liquid movement. In this embodiment, the cross-section of the curved plate 4 is in the shape of a fishhook, the cross-section of the curved plate 4 is curved, and the hook tip of the curved plate 4 is designed as a hook portion 7, enclosing a groove inward. The two adjacent curved plates 4 are arranged in parallel and enclose a liquid storage tank 6 with the partition plates 5 on both sides. When the sputum in the airflow drips into the liquid storage tank and fills the liquid storage tank 6 and exceeds the volume of the liquid storage tank 6, the excess sputum will overflow. Due to the existence of surface tension, the overflowing sputum will be higher than the groove plane. The overflowing sputum adheres to the outer edge of the right curved plate 4. When more droplets are added to the liquid surface, the liquid surface area needs to increase. This can be achieved by increasing the height of the contact point between the left convex surface and the liquid surface, or by reducing the height of the contact point between the right convex surface and the liquid surface. Obviously, the latter is easier. Therefore, the sputum added to the liquid surface will quickly flow into the right liquid storage tank 6, and the liquid levels on both sides of the liquid storage tank 6 will first drop and then gradually rise. Since the sputum has speed and kinetic energy during the process of entering the liquid storage tank 6, the rising speed of the right curved liquid surface is faster than that of the left convex liquid surface. When the right curved liquid surface reaches the top, the left convex liquid surface is still on the way to the top. When the left convex liquid surface is about to reach the top, the right curved liquid surface has already crossed the top and started to drop; at this time, the left convex liquid surface also stops rising and starts to drop. Then the next process of storing water and filling the liquid, and the rise and fall of the liquid surface is repeated, and the sputum moves unidirectionally to the right during this continuous repetition process.

[0039] When continuing to add energy to the liquid surface, that is, increasing the amount of droplets, as the liquid level in the liquid storage tank 6 gradually rises, the sputum at the top of the leftmost curved plate 4 is difficult to move to the left because when the sputum at the top attempts to moisten the concave structure below from above, its concave surface is a hydrophobic three-fold structure, and it is difficult for the water droplets above to moisten it. That is to say, if this hydrophobic concave surface is to be moistened, a large amount of energy E needs to be added to the liquid surface. max The energy applied to the liquid surface is lower than E max and equal to E xAt this time, the liquid level on the right side has exceeded the convex surface of the right bending plate 4 and begins to flow towards the liquid storage tank 6 on the far right side, and the liquid level has started to drop. If we call max -E x the stored energy E s , then the magnitude of E s determines the distance that the sputum flows into the distance and / or the height of the upward transmission against gravity.

[0040] It should be noted that, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, the unidirectional liquid flow structure in this embodiment is preferably covered with the entire inner wall 2 of the tracheal intubation during production.

[0041] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "left", "right", "inner", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0042] Specific examples are used in this specification to elaborate on the principles and implementation manners of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manners and application scopes. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. An endotracheal tube for one-way liquid flow automatic sputum drainage, characterized in that: A one-way liquid flow structure is laid in the inner wall of the tracheal intubation; the one-way liquid flow structure includes a plurality of partitions evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the inner wall, the length direction of the partition is the same as the axial direction of the tracheal intubation, the width direction of the partition is the same as the radial direction of the tracheal intubation, and a plurality of bent plates are arranged at intervals between any two adjacent partitions. One end of the bent plate away from the inner wall is bent towards one end of the tracheal intubation, and the bending directions of different bent plates are the same; the bent plate is hermetically connected to the inner wall of the tracheal intubation, and the bent plate is hermetically connected to the adjacent partition; a hook-shaped portion is further arranged at one end of the bent plate away from the inner wall, the hook-shaped portion is L-shaped, and one end of the hook-shaped portion away from the bent plate is parallel to and faces the bent plate with respect to the inner wall. An inward concave structure is formed between the hook-shaped portion and the bent plate, and the inward concave structure has a hydrophobic function; two adjacent bent plates are arranged in parallel, and two adjacent bent plates and the partitions on both sides enclose a liquid storage tank.

2. The endotracheal tube for unidirectional liquid flow automatic sputum drainage according to claim 1, wherein: One end of the partition away from the inner wall is closer to the center of the tracheal intubation than one end of the bent plate away from the inner wall.

3. The endotracheal tube for unidirectional liquid flow automatic sputum drainage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The partitions are evenly distributed at 360° along the circumferential direction of the inner wall.

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