Method and apparatus for assisting in orotracheal intubation on basis of acoustic wave signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assisting in orotracheal intubation on the basis of acoustic wave signals. The present invention can further improve the success rate of orotracheal intubation and determine in real time whether the intubation is successful. The method comprises: (1) placing a guide wire into a tracheal catheter, passing one end of the tracheal catheter through a small hole of a plastic interface, and inserting an acoustic wave receiver into a large hole of the plastic interface; (2) turning on a loudspeaker connected to an acoustic wave signal generator and placing the loudspeaker in the throat of a patient, wherein a specific acoustic wave signal emitted by the acoustic wave signal generator is transmitted to the airway and the vocal cord of the patient by means of vibration of the cricoid cartilage of the patient; (3) the acoustic wave receiver obtaining the signal by means of the other end of the tracheal catheter; (4) a signal processing unit performing wave filtering and analog-to-digital conversion of the signal and comparing in real time the signal with a signal from a previous moment; (5) a display receiving a comparison result from step (4) and displaying the result; and (6) if the comparison result shows that the signal at the current moment is greater than or equal to the signal from the previous moment, determining that the tracheal catheter is accurately placed; otherwise, determining that the intubation is incorrect.

Description

Method and apparatus for assisted endotracheal intubation based on acoustic signals Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of medical devices, and more particularly to a method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals, and a device for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals. Background Technology

[0002] Endotracheal intubation is a common procedure during surgery. In clinical practice, cases with difficult airways can lead to difficulties in endotracheal intubation, or even failure. The success of endotracheal intubation is directly related to the patient's life and therefore cannot be compromised.

[0003] Currently, when faced with the need for endotracheal intubation in cases of difficult airways, clinical practice uses video laryngoscope-assisted endotracheal intubation, which has improved the success rate to some extent, but there is still a failure rate of about 10%. Furthermore, after entering the pharynx, the glottis may be partially obscured, making it impossible to visually confirm whether intubation has been successful; subsequent CO2 monitoring is required to confirm whether the trachea has entered the airway.

[0004] Therefore, how to further improve the success rate of endotracheal intubation and at the same time confirm whether the intubation is successful has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals, which can further improve the success rate of endotracheal intubation and can confirm whether the intubation is successful in real time.

[0006] The technical solution of this invention is: a method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals, comprising the following steps:

[0007] (1) Insert the guidewire into the endotracheal tube, then pass one end of the endotracheal tube through the small hole of the plastic interface, and insert the sound wave receiver into the large hole of the plastic interface.

[0008] (2) Turn on the speaker connected to the sound wave signal generator and place it on the patient's throat. The specific sound wave signal emitted by the sound wave signal generator is transmitted to the patient's airway and vocal cords through the vibration of the patient's cricoid cartilage.

[0009] (3) A specific sound wave signal is obtained by a sound wave receiver through the other end of the endotracheal tube that is inserted into the patient's mouth;

[0010] (4) The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the specific acoustic signal obtained in step (3), and compares it with the signal at the previous moment in real time;

[0011] (5) The display receives the comparison result from step (4) and displays the result;

[0012] (6) If the comparison result is that the signal at the current moment is greater than or equal to the signal at the previous moment, then the endotracheal tube intubation is accurate; otherwise, the intubation is incorrect.

[0013] This invention uses a sound wave generator to emit a specific sound wave signal. The speaker is turned on and placed in the patient's throat. The specific sound wave signal is transmitted to the patient's airway and vocal cords through the vibration of the patient's cricoid cartilage. When the endotracheal tube is inserted accurately, the signal obtained by the sound wave receiver is greater than or equal to the signal at the previous moment; otherwise, the intubation is incorrect. This allows the operator to confirm whether the intubation was successful in real time, which can further improve the success rate of endotracheal intubation.

[0014] A device for assisted endotracheal intubation based on sound wave signals is also provided, comprising:

[0015] Display screen, plastic interface, speaker, guide wire, endotracheal tube, sound wave signal generator, sound wave receiver, signal processing unit;

[0016] A sound wave signal generator emits a specific sound wave signal, and a loudspeaker is placed in the patient's larynx. The specific sound wave signal emitted by the sound wave signal generator causes the patient's cricoid cartilage to vibrate through the loudspeaker, thereby transmitting it to the patient's airway and vocal cords.

[0017] The plastic interface has two through holes, a large hole and a small hole. The guide wire is inserted into the endotracheal tube, and one end of the endotracheal tube is passed through the small hole of the plastic interface. The sound wave receiver is inserted into the large hole of the plastic interface.

[0018] When the endotracheal tube passes through the patient's glottis, a specific sound wave signal is obtained by the sound wave receiver through the endotracheal tube. The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the obtained specific sound wave signal and compares it with the signal from the previous moment in real time.

[0019] The display receives the comparison result from the signal processing unit and displays the result.

[0020] Another device based on sound wave signal-assisted endotracheal intubation is also provided, which includes:

[0021] Display screen, plastic interface, speaker, guide wire, endotracheal tube, sound wave signal generator, sound wave receiver, signal processing unit;

[0022] The plastic interface has two through holes, a large hole and a small hole. The guide wire is inserted into the endotracheal tube, and one end of the endotracheal tube is passed through the small hole of the plastic interface. The sound wave signal generator emits a specific sound wave signal. The sound wave signal generator and the speaker are inserted into the large hole of the plastic interface.

[0023] When the endotracheal tube passes through the patient's glottis, a specific sound wave signal passes through the airway and vocal cords, causing the patient's cricoid cartilage to vibrate. A sound wave receiver is placed in the patient's larynx to receive the specific sound wave signal. The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the obtained specific sound wave signal and compares it with the signal from the previous moment in real time.

[0024] The display receives the comparison result from the signal processing unit and displays the result. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 shows a flowchart of the method for endotracheal intubation assisted by acoustic signals according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the device for endotracheal intubation assisted by acoustic signals according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 shows the signal flow diagram of the device in Figure 2.

[0028] Figure 4 shows a signal flow diagram of another device of the present invention based on acoustic signal-assisted transoral endotracheal intubation. Detailed Implementation

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, a method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals includes the following steps:

[0030] (1) Insert the guidewire into the endotracheal tube, then pass one end of the endotracheal tube through the small hole of the plastic interface, and insert the sound wave receiver into the large hole of the plastic interface.

[0031] (2) Turn on the speaker connected to the sound wave signal generator and place it on the patient's throat. The specific sound wave signal emitted by the sound wave signal generator is transmitted to the patient's airway and vocal cords through the vibration of the patient's cricoid cartilage.

[0032] (3) A specific sound wave signal is obtained by a sound wave receiver through the other end of the endotracheal tube that is inserted into the patient's mouth;

[0033] (4) The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the specific acoustic signal obtained in step (3), and compares it with the signal at the previous moment in real time;

[0034] (5) The display receives the comparison result from step (4) and displays the result;

[0035] (6) If the comparison result is that the signal at the current moment is greater than or equal to the signal at the previous moment, then the endotracheal tube intubation is accurate; otherwise, the intubation is incorrect.

[0036] This invention uses a sound wave generator to emit a specific sound wave signal. The speaker is turned on and placed in the patient's throat. The specific sound wave signal is transmitted to the patient's airway and vocal cords through the vibration of the patient's cricoid cartilage. When the endotracheal tube is inserted accurately, the signal obtained by the sound wave receiver is greater than or equal to the signal at the previous moment; otherwise, the intubation is incorrect. This allows the operator to confirm whether the intubation was successful in real time, which can further improve the success rate of endotracheal intubation.

[0037] Preferably, in step (2), the specific sound wave signal is a sound that is distinct from environmental noise.

[0038] Preferably, in step (2), the specific acoustic signal is a signal generated by the superposition of two acoustic waves.

[0039] Preferably, in step (2), the frequency of the specific acoustic signal is 20Hz~20000Hz.

[0040] Preferably, in step (2), a specific acoustic signal is obtained by adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the acoustic signal generator.

[0041] Preferably, the method further includes step (7), removing the sound wave receiver, removing the plastic interface, pulling the guidewire out of the endotracheal tube, and connecting one end of the endotracheal tube to the ventilator.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a device for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals is also provided, which includes:

[0043] 1. Display screen; 2. Plastic interface; 3. Speaker; 4. Guide wire; 5. Tracheal tube; 6. Sound wave signal generator; 7. Sound wave receiver; 8. Signal processing unit.

[0044] A sound wave signal generator emits a specific sound wave signal, and a loudspeaker is placed in the patient's larynx. The specific sound wave signal emitted by the sound wave signal generator causes the patient's cricoid cartilage to vibrate through the loudspeaker, thereby transmitting it to the patient's airway and vocal cords.

[0045] The plastic interface has two through holes, a large hole and a small hole. The guide wire is inserted into the endotracheal tube, and one end of the endotracheal tube is passed through the small hole of the plastic interface. The sound wave receiver is inserted into the large hole of the plastic interface.

[0046] When the endotracheal tube passes through the patient's glottis, a specific sound wave signal is obtained by the sound wave receiver through the endotracheal tube. The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the obtained specific sound wave signal and compares it with the signal from the previous moment in real time.

[0047] The display receives the comparison result from the signal processing unit and displays the result.

[0048] A second device based on sound wave signal-assisted endotracheal intubation is also provided, which includes:

[0049] Display screen, plastic interface, speaker, guide wire, endotracheal tube, sound wave signal generator, sound wave receiver, signal processing unit;

[0050] The plastic interface has two through holes, a large hole and a small hole. The guide wire is inserted into the endotracheal tube, and one end of the endotracheal tube is passed through the small hole of the plastic interface. The sound wave signal generator emits a specific sound wave signal. The sound wave signal generator and the speaker are inserted into the large hole of the plastic interface.

[0051] When the endotracheal tube passes through the patient's glottis, a specific sound wave signal passes through the airway and vocal cords, causing the patient's cricoid cartilage to vibrate. A sound wave receiver is placed in the patient's larynx to receive the specific sound wave signal. The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the obtained specific sound wave signal and compares it with the signal from the previous moment in real time.

[0052] The display receives the comparison result from the signal processing unit and displays the result.

[0053] Figure 4 shows a signal flow diagram of another device of the present invention based on sound wave signal-assisted endotracheal intubation. In this device, the sound wave signal generator is placed on the side of the patient's mouth and the sound wave receiver is placed on the patient's larynx, so the signal flow diagram is different from that in Figure 3.

[0054] Preferably, as shown in Figure 3, power amplifiers are installed between the signal generator and the speaker, and after the sound wave receiver, to amplify the specific sound wave signal.

[0055] Preferably, the signal processing unit includes a filter, an analog-to-digital converter module, and a comparator. The filter eliminates environmental noise, the analog-to-digital converter module converts analog signals into digital signals, and the comparator compares the signal at the current moment with the signal at the previous moment.

[0056] Preferably, the sound wave receiver includes a Bluetooth module, and the display includes a Bluetooth module, a signal processing unit, and a display screen. After the two Bluetooth modules are paired, the signal is received by the signal processing unit, and the display screen shows the comparison result of the signal processing unit.

[0057] The method and apparatus of this invention ingeniously utilize the propagation of sound waves through the patient's airway, glottis, and endotracheal tube to confirm successful intubation. This is not a technical solution easily conceived by those skilled in the art of intubation, but rather a result of the inventors' extensive clinical practice, reflection, and continuous experimentation. Compared to combining with a laryngoscope, this method is simpler, has higher intubation accuracy, and avoids inserting the laryngoscope into the patient's body. Furthermore, compared to subsequent CO2 monitoring to confirm tracheal entry into the airway, it allows for real-time confirmation of successful intubation.

[0058] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals, characterized in that: It includes the following steps: (1) Insert the guidewire into the endotracheal tube, then pass one end of the endotracheal tube through the small hole of the plastic interface, and insert the sound wave receiver into the large hole of the plastic interface. (2) Turn on the speaker connected to the sound wave signal generator and place it on the patient's throat. The specific sound wave signal emitted by the sound wave signal generator is transmitted to the patient's airway and vocal cords through the vibration of the patient's cricoid cartilage. (3) A specific sound wave signal is obtained by a sound wave receiver through the other end of the endotracheal tube that is inserted into the patient's mouth; (4) The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the specific acoustic signal obtained in step (3), and compares it with the signal at the previous moment in real time; (5) The display receives the comparison result from step (4) and displays the result; (6) If the comparison result is that the signal at the current moment is greater than or equal to the signal at the previous moment, then the endotracheal tube intubation is accurate; otherwise, the intubation is incorrect.

2. The method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (2), the specific sound wave signal is a sound that is distinct from environmental noise.

3. The method for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step (2), the specific sound wave signal is a signal generated by the superposition of two sound waves.

4. The method for endotracheal intubation based on acoustic signals according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: In step (2), the frequency of the specific acoustic signal is 20Hz~20000Hz.

5. The method of facilitating oral tracheal intubation with the aid of acoustic signals according to claim 1, wherein: In step (2), a specific sound wave signal is obtained by adjusting the frequency and amplitude of the sound wave signal generator.

6. The method for endotracheal intubation assisted by acoustic signals according to claim 1, characterized in that: The method also includes step (7), removing the sound receiver, removing the plastic interface, pulling the guidewire out of the endotracheal tube, and connecting one end of the endotracheal tube to the ventilator.

7. A device for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals, characterized in that: It includes: Display screen (1), plastic interface (2), speaker (3), guide wire (4), endotracheal tube (5), sound wave signal generator, sound wave receiver (6), signal processing unit; A sound wave signal generator emits a specific sound wave signal, and a loudspeaker is placed in the patient's larynx. The specific sound wave signal emitted by the sound wave signal generator causes the patient's cricoid cartilage to vibrate through the loudspeaker, thereby transmitting it to the patient's airway and vocal cords. The plastic interface has two through holes, a large hole and a small hole. The guide wire is inserted into the endotracheal tube, and one end of the endotracheal tube is passed through the small hole of the plastic interface. The sound wave receiver is inserted into the large hole of the plastic interface. When the endotracheal tube passes through the patient's glottis, a specific sound wave signal is obtained by the sound wave receiver through the endotracheal tube. The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the obtained specific sound wave signal and compares it with the signal from the previous moment in real time. The display receives the comparison result from the signal processing unit and displays the result.

8. A device for endotracheal intubation assisted by sound wave signals, characterized in that: It includes: Display screen, plastic interface, speaker, guide wire, endotracheal tube, sound wave signal generator, sound wave receiver, signal processing unit; The plastic interface has two through holes, a large hole and a small hole. The guide wire is inserted into the endotracheal tube, and one end of the endotracheal tube is passed through the small hole of the plastic interface. The sound wave signal generator emits a specific sound wave signal. The sound wave signal generator and the speaker are inserted into the large hole of the plastic interface. When the endotracheal tube passes through the patient's glottis, a specific sound wave signal passes through the airway and vocal cords, causing the patient's cricoid cartilage to vibrate. A sound wave receiver is placed in the patient's larynx to receive the specific sound wave signal. The signal processing unit filters and performs analog-to-digital conversion on the obtained specific sound wave signal and compares it with the signal from the previous moment in real time. The display receives the comparison result from the signal processing unit and displays the result.

9. The device for endotracheal intubation based on acoustic signals according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: Amplifiers are placed between the signal generator and the speaker, and after the sound wave receiver, to amplify the specific sound wave signal.

10. The device for endotracheal intubation based on acoustic signals according to claim 9, characterized in that: The signal processing unit includes a filter, an analog-to-digital converter module, and a comparator. The filter eliminates environmental noise, the analog-to-digital converter module converts analog signals into digital signals, and the comparator compares the signal at the current moment with the signal at the previous moment.

11. The device for endotracheal intubation based on acoustic signals according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The sound wave receiver includes a Bluetooth module, and the display includes a Bluetooth module, a signal processing unit, and a display screen. After the two Bluetooth modules are paired, the signal is received by the signal processing unit, and the display screen shows the comparison result of the signal processing unit.

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