Airway indicator device

Details Airway indicator device Airway indicator device

1995-10-23

1997-04-15

Sykes, Angela D.

Surgery

Truss

Pad

128773, 128725, 128730, 128721, 604100, A61B 507, A61M 2900

Patent

active

056200048

ABSTRACT:
An indicator device for verifying the correct placement of an endotracheal tube within an intubated patient's airway and for detecting the presence of a collapsed lung in an intubated patient. The device has an open proximal end and open distal end and an air conducting lumen therebetween. The distal end is attached to the non-invasive end of an endotracheal tube. The proximal end is attached to a ventilating apparatus or "ambubug." A vibrating element mounted within the device produces an audible vibration either actively in response to an electrical driver, or passively in response to air flowing through the device. As the ambubag is squeezed, air is forced through the air conducting lumen and into the intubated patient's airway. An audible sound produced by the vibrating element is mechanically coupled into the air conducting lumen and conducted through the patient's airway. A stethoscope placed upon the chest adjacent to the lungs of the intubated patient readily detects the audible sound thereby verifying airway patency and the correct positioning of the tube within the patients airway. Alternatively, an electrical driver may be used for controlling the vibrating element. The device can be used to detect a hemothorax or a pneumothorax in an intubated patient by measuring and comparing the attenuation or amplification of the audible sound transmitted to various positions on the chest. A preferred embodiment of the device includes a syringe-receiving port for attaching an aspirating syringe to the air conducting lumen. The syringe provides means for additional confirmation of a patent airway and/or for the delivery of medicament to the intubated patient.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5295489 (1994-03-01), Bell et al.
patent: 5487731 (1996-01-01), Denton

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Airway indicator device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Airway indicator device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Airway indicator device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-354376