Bilateral Jaw Spacer Bite Block for Endotracheal Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bite blocks used during endotracheal intubation cause discomfort and potential injury due to high force transmission to the incisors, leading to loosening of teeth and trauma to the mouth tissues, as they are designed to be rigid and placed between the incisors, which cannot withstand the biting forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A bite block design that relocates the support to the posterior teeth, using bilateral jaw spacers wedged between the molars and a connecting bridge behind the incisors, distributing forces more evenly and reducing stress on the temporomandibular joint, while minimizing contact with the incisors and buccal mucosa to prevent discomfort and injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid bite block is placed between the patient's incisors to prevent biting compression of the endotracheal tube, then the endotracheal tube is secured and airflow is maintained, but the incisors experience high force and stress leading to loosening of teeth and trauma to mouth tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the biting force transmission from the incisors by relocating the bite block placement to the posterior teeth (molars and premolars). The bite block is specifically designed to be positioned between the posterior teeth, removing the harmful force transmission from the anterior incisor region while maintaining the function of preventing endotracheal tube compression.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the bite block between the front incisors as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the placement location to the posterior teeth. This inversion of the traditional approach allows the stronger posterior teeth to bear the biting forces that would otherwise damage the weaker incisors.
2Reliability
If a hard and rigid bite block tube is used to secure the endotracheal tube, then the tube is held securely in place, but injury or trauma to the patient's lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, or buccal mucosa can occur through rubbing or movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by designing the bite block with different surface characteristics in different regions. The portion contacting the posterior teeth is rigid to transmit biting forces effectively, while the portions adjacent to the lips, tongue, and buccal mucosa are designed with smooth, rounded surfaces or flexible materials to minimize irritation and trauma to these sensitive tissues.
3Ease of operation
If the patient's incisors are used to support the bite block, then the bite block can be held in place, but the incisors cannot withstand the high biting forces leading to tooth loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the load-bearing function from the incisors and transfers it to the posterior teeth. By positioning the bite block between the molars and premolars, the design utilizes the greater force capacity of posterior teeth while maintaining effective bite block positioning to prevent endotracheal tube compression.
Data Source
AI summary
A bite block provides a pair of bilateral jaw spacers positioned between the patient's posterior teeth to separate an interincisal distance between the jaw. A connecting bridge behind the patient's incisors joins the bilateral spacers at opposite sides of the jaw. The bilateral jaw spacers are positioned between the patient's upper and lower posterior teeth to transfer the forces against the bite block when the patient bites down to the stronger and wider posterior teeth that can withstand larger stresses. The posterior teeth have large, flat surfaces which can stably receive the bilateral jaw spacers without unwanted displacement.