Intubation Guide Rod With Active Tip Steering for Difficult Airways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intubation methods require multiple attempts and additional personnel to position an endotracheal tube (ETT) due to anatomical variations, leading to risks of oxygen deprivation, aspiration, and vocal cord injuries, especially in difficult airway scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument with a plastically deformable guiding rod and a bidirectionally deformable guiding element, controlled by a one-handed actuator and push-pull mechanism, allowing the ETT to be aligned and positioned without additional assistance, ensuring minimal caliber difference and gentle insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a guiding rod is used to facilitate ETT insertion, then the intubation process is supported, but the procedure requires multiple attempts and additional personnel to adjust the guiding rod shape empirically
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding rod incorporates a deformable section that can be actively shaped during insertion, allowing the device to adapt to anatomical variations dynamically rather than requiring multiple empirical adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual empirical shaping of the guiding rod with an active control mechanism (such as a wire or cable system) that allows precise control of the deformable section through remote manipulation
2Manufacturing precision
If the guiding rod is bent empirically to match anatomical conditions, then the ETT can be positioned, but the intubation process takes several minutes and requires interruption for ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding rod is pre-formed with a deformable section that can be actively shaped during insertion, eliminating the need for multiple empirical bending attempts and reducing the time required to achieve the correct anatomical alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual empirical shaping with an active control mechanism (such as a wire or cable system) that allows precise control of the deformable section through remote manipulation
3Ease of operation
If the guiding rod is removed or ETT is manipulated during positioning, then the ETT can be advanced, but the ETT may slip due to high frictional forces and require reinsertion
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding rod incorporates a deformable section that can be actively shaped during insertion, allowing the device to adapt to anatomical variations dynamically rather than requiring multiple empirical adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable guiding element acts as an intermediary between the operator and the ETT, providing controlled manipulation without the high frictional forces that cause ETT slippage when the guiding rod is removed
4Productivity
If rapid sequence induction is performed with pre-shaped guiding rod, then rapid intubation is enabled, but the procedure may be aborted requiring repeated pre-shaping and carries risk of oxygen deprivation and aspiration
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding rod incorporates a deformable section that can be actively shaped during insertion, allowing the device to adapt to anatomical variations dynamically rather than requiring multiple empirical adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual empirical shaping with an active control mechanism (such as a wire or cable system) that allows precise control of the deformable section through remote manipulation
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
Facilitates rapid, safe, and precise intubation with reduced risk of complications, enabling single-person operation and integration with robotic systems for emergency scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a bidirectionally deformable guiding element (5), with a distal and a proximal element end, the proximal element end (7) of which is joined to the distal rod end (4), and which is in operative connection with a control means (3)
Implementation Method 2
a guiding rod (1), which is plastically deformable at least in an axial portion
Data Source
AI summary
A medical instrument used for intubating a patient with an endotracheal tube, ETT for short, enclosing a hollow channel, and also with a guiding rod, which is arranged along the hollow channel, which is plastically deformable at least in an axial portion and has a distal rod end and a proximal rod end, attached to the distal rod end of which guiding rod is a bidirectionally deformable guiding element, which has a distal element end and a proximal element end. The proximal element end of the guiding rod element is joined to the distal rod end and the guiding element is connected to a control. The invention has an operating unit attached to the proximal rod end of the guiding rod and an actuator, connected to the control, and has a push-pull mechanism, in operative releasable connection with the ETT by which the ETT can be moved along the guiding rod, for intubing the ETT together with the guiding rod arranged in the hollow channel of the ETT along with the bidirectionally deformable guiding element attached thereto. The distal end of the ETT is dome shaped.