Endotracheal Tube Insertion Guide with Radiused Distal Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Orotracheal intubation is challenging due to the need for skilled personnel to accurately insert an endotracheal tube into the trachea without traumatically impacting surrounding tissues, and there is a risk of improper insertion into the esophagus, leading to complications like pulmonary aspiration and anoxia, especially in medical emergencies where specialized equipment may not be available.

Innovation Solution

An insertion guide with a radiused and angled portion at its distal end, made of a relatively rigid material, is designed to protrude beyond the endotracheal tube, guiding it past the epiglottis and into the trachea, reducing the difficulty and skill required for insertion and compatible with various intubation methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a standard endotracheal tube is used for orotracheal intubation, then the tube can be inserted through the mouth, but it is difficult to accurately guide the distal end into the trachea without traumatic impact to surrounding tissues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of ETT placementVSAvoidtraumatic impact to surrounding tissues

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an insertion guide as an intermediary device between the endotracheal tube and the patient's airway. The guide includes a distal end that protrudes beyond the ETT and features a radiused portion and/or angled portion specifically designed to navigate past the epiglottis and guide the ETT into the trachea, reducing traumatic impact while improving placement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion guide incorporates a radiused portion at its distal end, creating a curved geometry that complements the natural anatomy of the larynx and tracheal entrance. This curvature allows the guide to smoothly navigate the anatomical pathway past the epiglottis without causing trauma to surrounding tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If specialized insertion facilitating equipment such as laryngoscope or bronchoscope is used, then the difficulty of identifying vocal chords and guiding ETT into trachea is reduced, but the device complexity and availability in emergency situations worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of ETT insertionVSAvoidcomplexity of insertion equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential guiding function from complex equipment like laryngoscopes and bronchoscopes, creating a standalone insertion guide that can be used independently. The guide's distal end with radiused and/or angled portions provides the necessary guidance without requiring the complex optical systems and additional equipment of traditional intubation tools

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion guide is designed as a simple, potentially disposable device that can be readily available in emergency situations. By simplifying the guiding mechanism to basic geometric features (radiused and angled portions) rather than complex optical systems, the device becomes more accessible and easier to deploy in resource-limited emergency settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If the distal end of ETT is guided past the epiglottis without proper guidance, then insertion speed may be increased, but the risk of unintended insertion into esophagus and traumatic impact to corniculate cartilage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of intubation procedureVSAvoidreliability of correct tracheal insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion guide serves as a mediator that enables faster insertion while maintaining reliability. The guide's distal end protruding beyond the ETT provides continuous visual and tactile guidance through the laryngeal inlet, allowing rapid passage past the epiglottis while ensuring correct tracheal placement and preventing esophageal insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion guide is pre-positioned within the ETT before insertion, with its distal end already configured with the appropriate radiused and/or angled portions. This preliminary preparation ensures that the guiding geometry is in place before the ETT enters the larynx, enabling both rapid and reliable insertion without requiring adjustments during the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10426908B1Insertion guide for endotracheal tube

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 DR BURTON HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

An insertion guide facilitates insertion of an endotracheal tube (ETT) into the trachea of a patient instead of the esophagus of the patient. The ETT includes an elongated, somewhat flexible, generally hollow tube and the insertion guide includes an elongated, solid and relatively rigid shaft that is configured to be positioned within the hollow tube of the ETT. The shaft is provided with a radiused portion and/or an angled portion adjacent a distal end of the insertion guide that protrudes outwardly beyond a distal end of the ETT. The radiused portion and/or the angled portion of the shaft facilitate insertion of the distal end of the ETT past the epiglottis and into the trachea of the patient instead of into the esophagus of the patient.