Intubating Airway Device with Ramp Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laryngeal airway devices often misguide endotracheal tubes during intubation, causing them to enter the oesophagus instead of the laryngeal inlet, leading to airway blockages and complications.
Innovation Solution
An airway device with an intubating ramp on the internal wall of the airway tube, directing the endotracheal tube to follow its natural curve and ensuring correct insertion into the laryngeal inlet, combined with a non-inflatable laryngeal cuff providing an anatomical fit and improved oesophageal seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the airway tube follows a curved path to fit anatomical structures, then the device can be inserted more easily, but the endotracheal tube is misdirected into the oesophagus instead of the laryngeal inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The airway device is divided into distinct functional segments: the curved airway tube for anatomical fit, the intubating ramp as a separate guiding structure, and the laryngeal inlet direction indicator. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with others, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and correct tube placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The intubating ramp acts as an intermediary structure between the curved airway tube and the laryngeal inlet. It provides a dedicated pathway that redirects the endotracheal tube from the curved path toward the correct anatomical target, mediating between the anatomical fitting requirement and the correct placement requirement.
2Reliability
If the laryngeal cuff is inflatable to provide a seal, then the airway seal is improved, but the device complexity and risk of complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a non-inflatable, pre-formed laryngeal cuff made of soft material that provides sealing through its anatomical shape rather than inflation. This disposable-like approach eliminates the complexity of inflation mechanisms while maintaining reliable sealing through clever geometric design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cuff design changes from an inflatable variable-volume structure to a fixed-volume pre-formed structure with specific geometric parameters optimized for sealing. The parameter change from inflatable to pre-formed simplifies the device while maintaining or improving seal reliability through anatomical conformity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the airway tube is straight for simple construction, then manufacturing is easier, but it cannot follow the natural anatomical curve required for correct tube insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The airway tube is deliberately designed with a curved path matching the natural anatomical curve from the oral cavity through the pharynx to the laryngeal inlet. This curvature is built into the tube's geometry during manufacturing, allowing it to follow anatomical structures naturally and guide the endotracheal tube correctly without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
An airway device (10) for human or animal use comprising an airway tube (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16), the first end of which is surrounded by a laryngeal cuff (20) configured to fit over the laryngeal inlet of a patient when in situ, wherein the first end of the airway tube is of widened diameter or flared.