Endotracheal Tubes

Summary of the endotracheal tube

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to endotracheal tube and methods for using endotracheal tubes. The endotracheal tubes may be adapted for use with any suitable patient. Patients may include animals or humans of any suitable size. However, embodiments of the laryngeal mask airway are especially useful when the patients are infants such as neonates.

Another embodiment of the oxygen mask is directed to a method of inserting an endotracheal tube in a patient, the method comprising: a) obtaining an endotracheal tube comprising a tubular member including a distal end and a proximal end, and a plurality of visually distinct regions at a proximal portion of the tubular member, wherein each of the distinct regions comprises a respectively different color; b) inserting the distal end of the tracheostomy tube into a patient; and c) aligning one visually distinct region of the visually distinct regions with an anatomical structure of the patient.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of inserting an endotracheal tube in a patient, the method comprising: a) obtaining an endotracheal tube comprising a tubular member including a distal end and a proximal end, and a plurality of visually distinct regions at a proximal portion of the tubular member, wherein each visually distinct region is spaced from other visually distinct regions; b) inserting the distal end of the feeding tubes into a patient; c)

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the distinct regions on the endotracheal tube are brightly colored lines. During intubation, one of the lines is selected and localized at, for example, a fixed anatomical location such as the upper gingival ridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a portion of an endotracheal tube that is suitable for use with an infant.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an endotracheal tube according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of an endotracheal tube according to an embodiment of the invention as it is being used in a newborn infant.

FIG. 4 shows a bar graph of the number of intubated infants that do or do not have right mainstem bronchial intubation (RMSBI) as a complication of their size at a given gestational age (weeks after conception).

FIG. 5 shows a bar graph of a controlled clinical trial that had one group of newborn infants use a standard endotracheal tube during intubation (Group I), while a second group of infants (Group II) had the newly invented endotracheal tube inserted during intubation.

Originally published here.

The present invention is directed to an endotracheal tube which can be inserted through the mouth or nose and past the larynx of a patient and into the tracheal and mainstem bronchial passages. Extending from the tracheal portion of the tube is a bronchial portion which may be placed in either the left or right mainstem bronchus (singular) of the patient. The bronchial portion is angled with respect to the tracheal portion. The size of the angle corresponds to the angle between the trachea and the mainstream bronchus of the patient. Generally, these angles are age dependent and are known. The single lumen of the endobronchial tube of the present invention has an inner diameter sufficient to allow access through the single lumen to the patient’s lungs and respiratory system with additional instrumentation, as required. The bronchial portion of the endotracheal tube has a balloon situated on the inside of the tube which can be inflated or deflated. By inflating the balloon, the lung into which the bronchial portion has been advanced can be collapsed so that selected surgical procedures may be performed on the collapsed lung.

Positioned along the tracheal portion of the endobronchial tube of the present invention is at least one external balloon cuff which can be selectively inflated and deflated. When inflated, the tracheal balloon cuffs prevent retrograde air from escaping between the endotracheal tube and the trachea. Positioned between the external tracheal balloon cuff and the distal end of the endotracheal tube is an air outlet port from the tube through which oxygen from a respirator input to the endobronchial tube can escape into the patient’s respiratory system in order to ventilate at least one of the lungs. In one embodiment of the invention, the opening includes an extendable tube which can be inflated to extend it into the bronchus of the patient.

Located at a distal end of the bronchial portion of the endobronchial tube is a second air outlet port through which air may exit to allow successful collapse of the lung. Thus this acts as a vent. The internal bronchial balloon serves to provide a seal so that the collapsed lung is not ventilated when the tracheal portion is actively ventilated. The second air outlet may also be used to provide oxygen at low flows when deemed necessary clinically.

An endotracheal tube has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a tracheal portion having an opening at the proximal end and a bronchial portion attached at an angle to the tracheal portion. The bronchial portion has an opening at the distal end of the endotracheal tube. A balloon is positioned within the endotracheal tube. The balloon blocks the flow of gas through the bronchial portion of the endotracheal tube when inflated. The endotracheal tube also has an opening positioned between the proximal end and the balloon. The opening in the endotracheal tube between the proximal end and the balloon is positioned to allow ventilation of the lung opposite the lung into which the bronchial portion is adapted to extend into. The endotracheal tube further includes an inflatable bronchial extension tube having a first end and second end. One of the first end and the second end corresponds to the opening in the endotracheal tube positioned between the proximal end and the balloon and the other of the first end and the second end adapted to extend into a bronchus of a patient when inflated. In some embodiments, the endotracheal tube also includes a cuff positioned around the end of the bronchial extension tube adapted to extend into a bronchus of a patient when inflated. The cuff is separately inflatable from the inflatable bronchial extension tube. In other embodiments, the balloon positioned within the end of the bronchial extension tube is adapted to extend into a bronchus of a patient when inflated. The balloon is separately inflatable from the inflatable bronchial extension tube. The inflatable bronchial extension tube may include a bellows. The inflatable bronchial extension tube may also be adapted to extend at a selected angle from the tracheal portion of the endotracheal tube.

Originally published here.