Single-Hand Intubation Device for Difficult Airways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endotracheal intubation techniques often require an assistant to hold the stylet, complicating the process, especially in difficult airways where vocal cords are anteriorly located or partially visualized, leading to challenges in inserting the endotracheal tube without causing mechanical trauma.
Innovation Solution
An intubation device that allows a single-handed operation, using the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger to hold the stylet and endotracheal tube in position, while the index finger and thumb advance the tube over the stylet into the trachea, eliminating the need for an assistant to hold the stylet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an assistant is used to hold the stylet during intubation, then the stability and positioning of the stylet is improved, but the device complexity and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stylet holder and endotracheal tube holder into a single integrated device that can be held by one hand. The stylet holder and tube holder are merged structures with separate finger engagement features, allowing simultaneous control of both stylet and tube without requiring an assistant. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining stylet stability while eliminating the need for additional personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-handed intubation device performs multiple functions: holding the stylet, holding the endotracheal tube, and enabling coordinated advancement of both components. The device serves as both stylet holder and tube holder simultaneously, providing multi-functionality that replaces the need for separate assistants while maintaining reliable positioning of both components.
2Ease of operation
If the endotracheal tube is advanced at a sharper angle around the epiglottis, then the ease of insertion through the trachea is improved, but the risk of mechanical trauma to the vocal cords increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device allows preliminary positioning and alignment of the endotracheal tube with the tracheal opening before advancement. The index finger and thumb can adjust the tube's angle and position while the stylet remains held by the other fingers, enabling careful preliminary alignment that reduces the risk of trauma during the actual insertion through the vocal cords.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides dynamic control during intubation, allowing the operator to adjust the angle and position of the endotracheal tube in real-time. The independent control of tube and stylet enables gradual angle adjustment during advancement, optimizing the insertion path to navigate around the epiglottis while minimizing trauma risk to the vocal cords.
3Measurement precision
If both hands are used to hold the laryngoscope and advance the tube, then the visualization and insertion control is improved, but the ability to hold the stylet still and point it accurately towards the vocal cords deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the control functions across different fingers of one hand: the middle, ring, and little fingers hold the stylet and device body, while the index finger and thumb specifically control the endotracheal tube advancement. This segmentation allows the stylet to be held still and positioned accurately while the tube is advanced, resolving the contradiction between visualization control and stylet positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
Intubation devices and method of intubation are provided for a medical provider to firmly hold an intubation stylet with the middle, the ring, and the little finger of one hand, point the tips of the intubation stylet and an endotracheal tube towards the opening of the trachea, and then advance the endotracheal tube over the stylet into the trachea with the index finger and the thumb of the same hand without an assistant to hold the stylet, while the user can use another hand to hold a laryngoscope to perform laryngoscopy to visualize the vocal cords during endotracheal intubation. The intubation device comprises a handle, a stylet holder, and an arm which is connected to both the stylet holder and the handle. The intubation device further includes a tube support, and a tube holder to further support the endotracheal tube.