Endotracheal intubation device and related methods

Inventor: Anthony Alatriste (Windermere, FL)

A61B1/267 A61M16/0488

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12672769
App. No.: 18/462,706
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system may include a laryngoscope, and an intubation device configured to guide insertion of the laryngoscope into the throat of a patient. The intubation device may have a proximal end, a distal end, and a medial portion between the proximal and distal ends. The proximal and distal ends may be narrower than the medial portion, and the intubation device may have a first taper from the medial portion to the distal end and a second taper from the medial portion to the proximal end.

Claims (34)

1 . A system comprising:

a laryngoscope; and

an intubation device configured to guide insertion of the laryngoscope into a throat of a patient, the intubation device having a proximal end, a distal end, and a medial portion between the proximal and distal ends;

wherein the intubation device defines a sleeve configured to at least partially surround the laryngoscope;

wherein the laryngoscope has a curved body, and wherein the intubation device is curved to correspond with the curved body of the laryngoscope;

wherein the proximal and distal ends are narrower than the medial portion, and wherein the intubation device has a first taper from the medial portion to the distal end and a second taper from the medial portion to the proximal end; and

wherein the first and second tapers are in a range of 15-25% off of a width of the medial portion, and wherein the proximal and distal ends have a width of 4 cm or less, and the medial portion has a width of 5 cm or more.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the intubation device comprises rounded edges on opposing sides thereof.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the intubation device is integrally formed with the laryngoscope.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the laryngoscope comprises an endoscopic video laryngoscope.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first taper and the second taper each comprises a substantially linear taper.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the substantially linear taper of the first and second tapers extends continuously from the medial portion to the distal end, and from the medial portion to the proximal end, respectively.

7 . An apparatus configured to guide insertion of a laryngoscope into a throat of a patient and comprising:

a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a medial portion between the proximal and distal ends;

wherein the body defines a sleeve configured to at least partially surround the laryngoscope;

wherein the laryngoscope has a curved body, and wherein the body is curved to correspond with the curved body of the laryngoscope;

wherein the proximal and distal ends are narrower than the medial portion, and wherein the body has a first taper from the distal end to the medial portion and a second taper from the proximal end to the medial portion; and

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the body comprises rounded edges on opposing sides thereof.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first taper and the second taper each comprise a substantially linear taper.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the substantially linear taper of the first and second tapers extends continuously from the medial portion to the distal end, and from the medial portion to the proximal end, respectively.

11 . A method of performing a laryngoscopy comprising:

inserting an intubation device into a throat of a patient having a first taper from a medial portion and a distal end of the intubation device, the first taper causing swollen tissue within the throat to spread apart as the medial portion progresses into the throat;

inserting a laryngoscope into the throat using the intubation device to guide the laryngoscope;

performing the laryngoscopy with the laryngoscope;

removing the laryngoscope from the throat of the patient; and

removing the intubation device from the throat of the patient, the intubation device further having a second taper from the medial portion and a proximal end of the intubation device, and the second taper causing swollen tissue within the throat to gradually spread apart as the medial portion is removed from the throat to thereby facilitate removal and reduce trauma risk to the throat;

wherein the intubation device defines a sleeve configured to at least partially surround the laryngoscope when the laryngoscope is inserted into the throat;

wherein the first and second tapers are in a range of 15-25% off of a width of the medial portion; and

wherein the proximal and distal ends have a width of 4 cm or less, and the medial portion has a width of 5 cm or more.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the laryngoscope has a curved body, and wherein the intubation device is curved to correspond with the curved body of the laryngoscope.

13 . The method of claim 11 wherein the intubation device comprises rounded edges on opposing sides thereof.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the first taper and the second taper each comprise a substantially linear taper.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the substantially linear taper of the first and second tapers extends continuously from the medial portion to the distal end, and from the medial portion to the proximal end, respectively.