Intubation Device Distal Tip Articulation via Single Drive Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency intubations performed by less-experienced practitioners often result in high failure rates due to difficulty in accurately placing endotracheal tubes, leading to significant human and healthcare costs, with current training standards being inadequate for first-responders.
Innovation Solution
An intubation device with a distal tip portion that can articulate relative to the main body portion via a deflection system, allowing for controlled positive and negative flexural movement, enhancing the ability to place the tube accurately within the trachea, even in less-skilled hands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a standard rigid endotracheal tube is used for intubation, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to navigate anatomical variations and place the tube accurately is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the rigid endotracheal tube into a dynamically controllable structure with a deflection system. The distal tip portion can be articulated relative to the main body portion through a single drive member that exerts tensile force, allowing the tube to adapt to anatomical variations while maintaining structural integrity. This dynamic capability enables less-experienced practitioners to achieve accurate tube placement without requiring complex multi-component systems.
2Manufacturing precision
If extensive training is required to achieve proficient intubation skills, then tube placement accuracy improves, but the time and resources required for training increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the self-service principle by designing a device that compensates for operator inexperience through its inherent deflection control capabilities. The single drive member system provides intuitive control that allows less-trained users to achieve anesthesiologist-level success rates without requiring extensive training programs. The device essentially serves itself by providing the control mechanisms needed to overcome operator skill limitations.
3Measurement precision
If a deflection system with multiple drive members is used, then the control precision of the distal tip is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by consolidating multiple drive members into a single drive member that controls the distal tip portion. This single component provides sufficient control precision for accurate tube placement while significantly simplifying the device structure and ease of operation. The merged system maintains the ability to articulate the distal tip relative to the main body without the complexity of multiple independent control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device improves the efficacy and safety of emergency intubations by enabling less-experienced practitioners to achieve success rates comparable to highly trained anesthesiologists, reducing the risk of misplaced tubes and associated costs.
Implementation Method 1
The deflection system is operable to exert a tensile force upon the distal tip portion to articulate the distal tip portion relative to the main body portion
Data Source
AI summary
An intubation device having a main body portion defining a first longitudinal axis, a distal tip portion coupled to the main body portion and defining a second longitudinal axis, and a deflection system having a single drive member extending within at least the distal tip portion and coupled thereto. The deflection system is operable to exert a tensile force upon the distal tip portion to articulate the distal tip portion relative to the main body portion between a resting position and a positive incline position and a negative incline position.