Hinged Intubating Airway for Safe Tube Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oral airways limit the ability to remove the intubating device without disrupting the placement of an endotracheal tube, increasing the risk of complications during fiber-optic intubation procedures.

Innovation Solution

An intubating airway with a first guiding surface and a second articulating component attached via a hinge, allowing for a closed configuration to facilitate conduit formation for fiber-optic scope or endotracheal tube passage, and an open configuration for removal without disrupting the endotracheal tube placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional hollow plastic tube oral airway is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to remove the intubating device without disrupting the endotracheal tube placement is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability of endotracheal tube placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oral airway is divided into two separate components: a first component that defines a passage and a second component that forms a guiding surface. These components can be separately manufactured and then assembled, combining manufacturing simplicity with improved functional reliability for safe removal without disrupting the endotracheal tube.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a conventional oral airway is used, then the device complexity is low, but the capability to facilitate fiber-optic intubation and safe removal is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcapability to facilitate fiber-optic intubation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The second component is provided with a specific guiding surface configured to direct the fiber-optic scope and endotracheal tube through the vocal cords. This localized functional enhancement provides the necessary adaptability for fiber-optic intubation while maintaining overall device simplicity through the two-component design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the intubating airway is removed in conventional design, then the airway can be taken out, but the endotracheal tube placement may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of removalVSAvoidstability of endotracheal tube placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The two-component design with the guiding surface acts as an intermediary mechanism during removal. The first component defines a passage that allows the endotracheal tube to pass through, while the second component provides guidance. This intermediary structure enables the intubating airway to be removed without directly interfering with the positioned endotracheal tube, thus maintaining placement stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12023442B2Intubating airway for bronchoscopic tracheal intubations

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUND

AI summary

An intubating airway can include a first having a first guiding surface and a second articulating component that is attached to the first component via a hinge and has a second guiding surface. In a closed configuration, the first and second guiding surfaces can be flush with one another so that the first and second components collectively define a conduit having an interior passage that is dimensioned to direct a fiber-optic scope or an endotracheal tube extending through the interior passage for tracheal intubation. In an open configuration, the first and second guiding surfaces are not flush with one another so that no such conduit is formed.