Foreign substance suction device

Abstract

To provide a foreign substance suction device that enables a single person to remove a foreign substance from an airway with stable suction power.SOLUTION: A mask 11 is configured to cover the mouth of a person 1 in need of rescue whose airway is blocked by a foreign substance 2. Suction means 12 is provided so as to be able to suction air inside the mask 11 by being operated by foot. The suction means 12 preferably includes a ventilation tube 21 having one end connected to the inside of the mask 11, and a foot-operated suction device 22 connected to the other end of the ventilation tube 21, capable of suctioning air inside the mask 11 through the ventilation tube 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a foreign body suction device. [Background technology]

[0002] Influenced by a unique food culture featuring mochi and rice, Japan has the highest number of choking deaths in the world due to foreign objects obstructing the airways. In recent years, the annual number of deaths from choking in Japan has been approximately 10,000, but if cases with residual effects are included, the potential number of potential cases is likely to be even higher. Choking also occurs frequently among the elderly, with a particularly high incidence rate among those with a history of swallowing disorders or underlying medical conditions, with many cases occurring at home, in hospitals, and in nursing homes.

[0003] When choking occurs in a hospital or other facility, a qualified emergency physician, nurse, or other person trained in dealing with choking can remove the foreign object from the airway using Magill forceps or aspirate the foreign object using a catheter (see, for example, Patent Document 1), but in reality, choking often occurs in other locations, making emergency resuscitation difficult. Since aftereffects such as higher brain dysfunction are believed to occur after approximately four minutes from the onset of choking, there is a need to improve the effectiveness of first aid measures for choking.

[0004] Among the emergency methods for removing foreign objects in the airway that may cause choking, back blows have traditionally been the most widely used and easily performed. However, it has been reported that resuscitation failed in more than half of cases in which back blows were performed (see Non-Patent Document 1), and clinical evidence is lacking. Therefore, devices that can more reliably and quickly remove foreign objects from the airway have been developed, such as those that use a household vacuum cleaner to suck up foreign objects (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4) and those that have a suction pump consisting of a cylinder and a piston (see, for example, Patent Document 5). Also commercially available are mask-type, manual pump suction devices called "Dechoker™" (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2) and "LifeVac™" (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-180355 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-111767 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-297040 [Patent Document 4] Patent No. 5240639 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-128986 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] Jerome R. Hoffman, “Treatment of Foreign Body Obstruction of the Upper Airway”, West. J. Med., 1982 Jan., Vol. 136, 1, p.11-22 [Non-patent document 2] Dechoker's homepage, [online], [searched January 17, 2024], Internet〈URL: https: / / www.dechoker.com / 〉 [Non-patent document 3] LIFEVAC JAPAN homepage, [online], [searched January 17, 2024], Internet〈URL: https: / / www.lifevac-japan.com / 〉 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the devices using the vacuum cleaners described in Patent Documents 2 to 4 have the problem that the vacuum cleaners are large and bulky, requiring at least two people to operate the vacuum cleaner and someone to support the choking victim, making them difficult to use by one person. Furthermore, a power source is required, limiting the locations where they can be used. The device with a suction pump consisting of a cylinder and a piston described in Patent Document 5 does not require a power source, but it is necessary to hold the cylinder and move the piston, requiring at least two people to operate the suction pump and someone to support the victim, again making it difficult to use by one person.

[0008] Although the commercially available suction devices described in Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3 do not require a power source, they require one hand to operate the manual pump while the other hand to securely attach the mask to the mouth of the person in need of rescue, so they require at least two people, one to operate the manual pump and one to support the person in need of rescue, making them difficult to use by one person.Furthermore, since the mask needs to be removed from the mouth every time suction is used, there is also the problem that the suction force is unstable.

[0009] The present invention has been made in response to these problems, and aims to provide a foreign body suction device that can remove foreign bodies from the airway with stable suction power even when used alone. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the foreign body suction device of the present invention is a foreign body suction device for removing foreign bodies in the airway of a person requiring rescue, and is characterized by having a mask that covers the mouth of the person requiring rescue, and a suction means that can be operated with the foot to suck in the air inside the mask.

[0011] The foreign object suction device according to the present invention is used as follows. First, a mask is placed over the mouth of a rescuer with a foreign object stuck in their airway and made to fit snugly. At this time, for example, one hand is used to support the rescuer's upper body while the other hand is used to make the mask fit snugly. The mask may cover only the rescuer's mouth, but it is more preferable that it covers both the mouth and nose. Next, with the mask in a tight fit, the suction means is operated with the foot to suck in the air inside the mask. In this way, the foreign object suction device according to the present invention can suck in and remove foreign objects from the rescuer's airway.

[0012] The foreign body suction device of the present invention operates the suction means with the feet, not the hands, so suction can be performed while the mask is held in close contact with the hand, allowing even one person to remove foreign bodies from the airway with stable suction power. Furthermore, because it has a relatively simple configuration consisting of a mask and suction means, anyone can easily use it. In this way, the foreign body suction device of the present invention allows anyone to quickly and easily remove foreign bodies by themselves, preventing the occurrence of suffocation deaths and sequelae such as higher brain dysfunction due to suffocation.

[0013] Furthermore, the foreign body suction device according to the present invention can be used, for example, by supporting the victim's upper body with one hand and tightly fitting the mask with the other, allowing the victim to perform suction while performing back percussion with the hand supporting the victim's upper body in a seated position. This creates a synergistic effect between back percussion and suction, allowing for more effective removal of foreign bodies.

[0014] In the foreign body suction device according to the present invention, the suction means is preferably a foot pump or other device configured to be operated by foot without using electricity. In this case, for example, the suction means preferably includes an air duct with one end connected to the inside of the mask and a foot-operated suction device to which the other end of the air duct is connected and which can suction air inside the mask through the air duct. In this case, since no power source is required, it can be used anywhere. Furthermore, using a foot-operated suction device makes it easy for anyone to operate and allows for easy adjustment of suction pressure (negative pressure in the space between the foreign body in the airway and the mask). This allows for more rapid and effective removal of foreign bodies.

[0015] The foreign body suction device of the present invention may also have a spraying means for spraying a liquid or powder onto the foreign body and / or the rescue recipient's airway. In this case, the spraying means sprays the liquid or powder toward the foreign body in the rescue recipient's airway or toward the airway (particularly the larynx), thereby making the foreign body slippery, dissolving, deforming, or denaturing the foreign body, thereby enabling more effective removal of the foreign body. When a liquid is sprayed, the liquid may be any liquid, such as water or enzymes, that can make the foreign body slippery or dissolve the foreign body in the airway, as long as it does not have an adverse effect on the human body. When the liquid to be sprayed is an enzyme, it is preferable that the liquid be an enzyme that varies depending on the type of foreign body, such as amylase when the foreign body is rice cake. When a powder is sprayed, any liquid that can deform or denature the foreign body in the airway as long as it does not have an adverse effect on the human body is also acceptable.

[0016] The foreign body suction device of the present invention is preferably placed in places where choking cases are common, such as homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and restaurants, where many elderly people are present or where people eat, so that a prompt response can be made in the event of choking. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a foreign body suction device that can remove foreign bodies in the airway with stable suction force even by a single operator. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a state in which a foreign body suction device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in use; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a mannequin used in a suction pressure evaluation test of the foreign body suction device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a graph showing the measurement results of negative pressure in a suction pressure evaluation test for the foreign body suction device shown in FIG. 1 and an existing suction device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and examples. 1 to 3 show a foreign body suction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the foreign body suction device 10 is for removing a foreign body 2 in the airway of a rescue recipient 1, and includes a mask 11 and suction means 12.

[0020] The mask 11 is made of resin and has an opening 11a that closely contacts the rescue requester 1, with the inside of the opening 11a having a convex shape on one side. The mask 11 is used by placing it over the mouth of the rescue requester 1 with the convex side facing outward. When the mask 11 is placed over the mouth of the rescue requester 1, both the mouth and nose of the rescue requester 1 fit within the space inside the opening 11a, and the mask 11 is shaped to cover both the mouth and nose of the rescue requester 1. The opening 11a of the mask 11 is made of a slightly flexible material, and when pressed against the mouth of the rescue requester 1, the opening 11a fits closely to the face of the rescue requester 1, maintaining an airtight seal inside. The mask 11 may be shaped to fit the shape of the nose and mouth. Alternatively, the mask 11 may cover only the mouth of the rescue requester 1.

[0021] The suction means 12 has an air duct 21 and a foot-operated aspirator 22. The air duct 21 is flexibly bendable, and one end is connected to the mask 11 and communicates with the inside of the mask 11. The air duct 21 is connected from the outside of the mask 11 to a convex protruding portion of the mask 11.

[0022] The foot-operated suction device 22 is connected to the other end of the ventilation pipe 21 and is configured to be able to suck the air inside the mask 11 through the ventilation pipe 21 by stepping on it. In a specific example shown in Figure 1, the foot-operated suction device 22 is made up of a commercially available foot pump and is configured to suck the air inside the mask 11 and discharge the sucked air to the outside through the exhaust port each time the foot is stepped on. In addition, the foot-operated suction device 22 is configured so that when the foot is stopped, the exhaust port is closed by a check valve to prevent air from flowing back into the mask 11.

[0023] Next, the operation will be described. The foreign object suction device 10 is used as follows. First, the rescuer places the mask 11 over the mouth of the rescue requester 1, who has a foreign object 2 lodged in his / her airway, and seals the mask 11 tightly over the mouth and nose of the rescue requester 1. At this time, for example, the rescuer supports the rescue requester 1 by raising his / her upper body with one hand and seals the mask 11 tightly with the other hand. Next, with the mask 11 tightly sealed, the rescuer operates the foot-operated aspirator 22 of the suction means 12 with his / her foot to suck the air inside the mask 11. In this way, the foreign object suction device 10 can suction and remove the foreign object 2 in the rescue requester 1's airway. Alternatively, the foreign object suction device 10 can more effectively remove the foreign object 2 by placing the rescue requester 1 in a seated position and performing back blows with the hand supporting the rescue requester's upper body while suctioning, resulting in a synergistic effect between the back blows and suction.

[0024] In this way, the foreign body suction device 10 allows the rescuer to operate the suction means 12 with their feet rather than their hands, allowing suction to be performed while the mask 11 is held in close contact with the body, and even a single rescuer can remove the foreign body 2 from the airway with stable suction force. Furthermore, since the foreign body suction device 10 has a relatively simple configuration consisting of the mask 11 and the suction means 12, it can be easily used by anyone. Thus, the foreign body suction device 10 allows anyone to quickly and easily remove the foreign body 2 from the airway of the rescuer 1, preventing death by suffocation and the occurrence of after-effects such as higher brain dysfunction due to suffocation.

[0025] In the foreign body suction device 10, the foot-operated aspirator 22 is configured to operate by foot without using electricity, so no power source is required and it can be used anywhere. It is also easy for anyone to operate, and the suction pressure (negative pressure in the space between the foreign body 2 in the airway and the mask 11) can be easily adjusted. This allows the foreign body 2 to be removed more quickly and effectively.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 , the foreign body suction device 10 may also have a spraying means 31 for spraying a liquid or powder onto the foreign body 2 in the airway of the rescue requester 1 and / or the airway of the rescue requester 1. In this case, the spraying means 31 sprays the liquid or powder toward the foreign body 2 in the airway of the rescue requester 1 or toward the airway (particularly the larynx), thereby making the foreign body 2 slippery, dissolving, deforming, or denaturing the foreign body 2 in the airway, thereby enabling more effective removal of the foreign body 2. When a liquid is sprayed, the liquid may be any liquid, such as water or enzymes, that can make the foreign body 2 slippery or dissolve the foreign body 2 in the airway, as long as it does not have an adverse effect on the human body. When the sprayed liquid is an enzyme, it is preferable that the liquid be made of different enzymes depending on the type of foreign body 2, such as amylase when the foreign body 2 is rice cake. When a powder is sprayed, any liquid may be sprayed that can deform or denature the foreign body 2 in the airway, as long as it does not have an adverse effect on the human body.

[0027] The spraying means 31 may be provided on the mask 11 so that the spray nozzle 31a for spraying the liquid or powder is positioned at the mouth of the rescue requester 1 when the mask 11 is pressed against the rescue requester 1. The spraying means 31 may have a conduit for passing the liquid or powder inside the ventilation pipe 21 so that the liquid or powder can be sprayed through the conduit, and the ventilation pipe 21 may be attached to the mask 11 so that one end is positioned at the mouth of the rescue requester 1. In this case, the conduit of the spraying means 31 may be configured so that the protruding length inside the mask 11 is adjustable. In these cases, the spraying means 31 can accurately spray the liquid or powder toward the foreign object 2 and the airway of the rescue requester 1.

[0028] The spraying means 31 may also have a force generating member capable of generating a repulsive force, such as the magnetic force of a magnet or a spring, to which the force generating member is attached while maintaining the repulsive force, and may be configured so that the liquid or powder can be sprayed by the repulsive force of the force generating member being released with a button or the like. In this case, the liquid or powder can be sprayed without using electric power.

[0029] Furthermore, the foreign body suction device 10 may have an imaging means such as a camera attached to the inside of the mask 11 in order to check the state of the foreign body 2 in the airway and the status of removal of the foreign body 2. In this case, the mask 11 may have a liquid crystal panel attached to the outside to display the image captured by the imaging means, or an external monitor. [Example]

[0030] A suction pressure evaluation test was conducted using a foreign body suction device 10 shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, a mannequin (Laerdal Medical, Inc., adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation simulator "Resusci Anne™") 3 with mechanisms simulating the lungs and stomach was used for the test. A pressure sensor 4 was attached to the mouth of the mannequin 3 to measure negative pressure (suction pressure). In the test, the mask 11 of the foreign body suction device 10 was placed tightly around the mouth of the mannequin 3, and suction was performed using a foot-operated suction device 22 operated with the foot, following the procedure for actually removing a foreign body 2. For comparison, the test also used existing suction devices, such as the "Dechoker" and "LifeVac," and an electric portable suction device (SmileCare KS-1000, manufactured by Shin-ei Kogyo Co., Ltd.), following the procedure for actually removing a foreign body 2. Each device was operated by a single person. The same mask 11 was used for all devices.

[0031] Figure 3 shows the results of measuring the negative pressure in each device during suction using pressure sensor 4. As shown in Figure 3, the negative pressure of existing devices was -3 to -11 hPa, while foreign body suction device 10 generated a negative pressure of -19 hPa, confirming that it can generate a negative pressure that is approximately 1.7 times greater. It was also confirmed that the existing "Dechoker" and "LifeVac" had larger negative pressure measurement errors compared to foreign body suction device 10. This is thought to be because these existing devices require the user to hold mask 11 in place and operate the pump by hand, making them difficult to operate and resulting in unstable suction power. In contrast, foreign body suction device 10 can generate stable suction power even when used alone by holding mask 11 in place and operating foot-operated aspirator 22. [Example]

[0032] Next, tests were conducted on the foreign body suction device 10 having the spraying means 31 to examine the liquid to be used in the spraying means 31. In the tests, assuming that the foreign body 2 was rice cake, a rice cake drop test and a rice cake suction test were conducted.

[0033] [Drop test of mochi] The rice cake drop test was conducted as follows. First, 4 g of rice cake ("Sato Kirimochi" manufactured by Sato Foods Co., Ltd.) was boiled in 99°C water for 2 minutes and then attached to a vertical acrylic plate. Next, the number of seconds it took for the rice cake to fall was measured for the following cases: spraying the rice cake with a 10% amylase solution (Viatris Healthcare LLC: Diastase "Whey", malt-derived α- and β-amylase) adjusted to 45°C using a spray bottle; spraying 10 ml of water using a syringe; and no action was taken. In addition, measurements were taken twice when amylase was sprayed. The measurement results for each case are shown in Table 1.

[0034] [Table 1]

[0035] As shown in Table 1, when amylase was sprayed, the rice cake fell in 10 to 18.3 seconds. In contrast, when water was sprayed, the rice cake moved 1 cm in 10 seconds but did not fall, and when nothing was done, the rice cake did not move at all even after waiting 35 seconds.

[0036] [Mochi suction test] The suction test for mochi was conducted as follows. First, 2 g of mochi ("Sato Kirimochi" manufactured by Sato Foods Co., Ltd.) was boiled in 99°C water for 1 minute, cut in half, and stuffed into a vertical pipe with a diameter of 1 cm. Next, a foot-operated suction device 22 was connected to the bottom of the pipe via a vent tube 21, and negative pressure was applied. During suction, the movement of the mochi in the pipe was observed in two cases: when 1 ml of a 10% amylase solution (manufactured by Viatris Healthcare LLC: Diastase "Whey", malt-derived α- and β-amylase) was dropped onto the mochi, and when nothing was done. Suction was performed twice for each case. The observation results for each case are shown in Table 2.

[0037] [Table 2]

[0038] As shown in Table 2, when amylase was added, the first suction (20 seconds) caused the rice cake to move 1 cm downward, and the second suction (40 seconds) caused the rice cake to remain attached to the pipe, with a hole appearing in the center. In contrast, when no action was taken, the rice cake did not move after the first suction, and after the second suction, the rice cake remained attached to the pipe, with a hole appearing in the center.

[0039] From the results of the rice cake drop test and rice cake suction test, it can be said that when the foreign object 2 lodged in the airway of the rescue recipient 1 is rice cake, the rice cake can be easily removed from the airway by spraying amylase onto the rice cake with the spray means 31 when suctioning with the foreign object suction device 10. Furthermore, from the results of the rice cake drop test, it can be said that spraying water onto the rice cake with the spray means 31 also makes the rice cake slippery, making it easier to remove from the airway. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Person in need of rescue 2 Foreign object 3 Human body model 4 Pressure Sensors 10 Foreign body suction device 11 Mask 11a opening 12 Suction means 21 Ventilation pipe 22 Foot-operated suction device 31 Injection means 31a Nozzle

Claims

1. A foreign body suction device for removing foreign bodies from the airway of a person requiring rescue, comprising: a mask that covers the mouth of the person being rescued; a suction means operable by a foot to suck air from inside the mask; A foreign body suction device characterized by having:

2. 2. The foreign body suction device according to claim 1, wherein the suction means comprises a ventilation pipe having one end communicating with the inside of the mask, and a foot-operated suction device to which the other end of the ventilation pipe is connected and which is capable of sucking air inside the mask through the ventilation pipe.

3. 3. A foreign body suction device according to claim 1, further comprising a spraying means for spraying a liquid or powder onto the foreign body and / or the airway of the person in need of rescue.

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