Endotracheal Tube Insertion Guide with Radiused Shaft
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Orotracheal intubation is challenging due to the need for skilled personnel and specialized equipment to accurately insert endotracheal tubes 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 emergency situations where equipment may not be available.
Innovation Solution
An insertion guide with a radiused or angled portion at its distal end, designed to fit within the endotracheal tube, facilitates atraumatic insertion by mimicking the curvature of the larynx and guiding the tube past the epiglottis, and includes a handle with a notch and O-ring for easy attachment and removal, allowing for apneic oxygenation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a straight endotracheal tube is used for intubation, then the insertion process is simpler in design, but the tube may traumatically impact the corniculate cartilage and surrounding tissue in the larynx
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion guide incorporates a radiused distal end portion with a curved configuration that mimics the natural curvature of the larynx. This curved design allows the endotracheal tube to follow the anatomical path through the vocal cords and into the trachea, preventing traumatic impact on the corniculate cartilage and surrounding tissues while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Measurement precision
If specialized equipment like laryngoscope or video laryngoscope is used to facilitate intubation, then the accuracy of tube placement is improved, but the device complexity and requirement for skilled personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion guide serves as a simple intermediary device that is inserted into the endotracheal tube to provide directional guidance. This mediator component has a radiused distal end that naturally guides the tube through the vocal cords and into the trachea, achieving accurate tube placement without requiring complex specialized equipment like laryngoscopes or video laryngoscopes, and can be used by personnel with basic training.
3Reliability
If the distal end of the endotracheal tube is directly inserted into the trachea, then the insertion process is faster, but there is a high risk of unintended insertion into the esophagus leading to anoxia
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion guide is pre-inserted into the endotracheal tube before the actual intubation procedure. The radiused distal end of the guide is positioned to lead the tube through the vocal cords and into the trachea. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the tube is rapidly advanced, it follows the pre-established safe path, reducing the risk of esophageal misplacement while maintaining rapid insertion capability for emergency situations.
Data Source
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.