Combination endotracheal tube stylet with medication atomization system
View Patent ↗A combination stylet device for use in guiding an endotracheal tube during an intubation procedure includes an elongated hollow sleeve having a fitting at one end configured for mating with a syringe and a nozzle at the second end for generating a fine spray of a liquid forward from the second end. An elongated bendable guiding stylet is disposed coaxially within the sleeve to define a channel through which pressurized liquid is conducted from the fitting to the nozzle. The sleeve is inserted into the endotracheal tube during intubation to guide the insertion and to allow for administration a medication from the end of the endotracheal tube.
1 . A combination stylet device for use in guiding an endotracheal tube during an intubation procedure, the device comprising:
an elongated sleeve having a hollow interior, a sleeve inner diameter, and a sleeve length;
a fitting disposed at a proximal end of the sleeve, the fitting having a connector opening configured for mating with a syringe and a cylindrical extension having an outer diameter configured to closely fit the sleeve inner diameter at the proximal end of the sleeve;
a nozzle disposed at a distal end of the sleeve, the nozzle comprising a cylindrical body having an outer diameter configured to closely fit the sleeve inner diameter at the distal end of the sleeve to form a liquid-tight seal, the cylindrical body having a concentric bore extending therethrough with an outlet at a distal tip, wherein the outlet is configured to project a fine spray axially forward beyond the distal tip when a pressurized liquid is introduced into the sleeve; and
an elongated bendable guiding stylet disposed coaxially within the sleeve between the fitting and the nozzle, the stylet having a stylet diameter and a stylet length, wherein the stylet diameter is smaller than the first inner diameter so that a channel is defined between an outer surface of the guiding stylet and an inner surface of the sleeve, and wherein the stylet length is less than the sleeve length so that a gap is defined between a distal end of the stylet and a proximal end of the nozzle, wherein pressurized liquid introduced through the fitting into the sleeve is communicated by the channel and the gap to the bore of the nozzle;
wherein the sleeve is configured for insertion into the endotracheal tube during intubation, and wherein the sleeve length is configured to position the nozzle near to and partially protruding from a distal end of the endotracheal tube while the combination stylet device only projects the fine spray axially forward the distal end of the endotracheal tube.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fitting is configured for releasable attachment to the syringe, and wherein the syringe generates sufficient pressure to force liquid in the syringe out of the nozzle.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a topical anesthetic.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fitting further comprises an insertion stop configured to limit an insertion length within the endotracheal tube.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fitting comprises a Luer-style fitting configured for releasably mating with a Luer-style syringe.
6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a connector disposed at an end of an elongated tubing, the connector configured for releasably mating with the fitting and the elongated tubing having a length configured to allow administration of additional liquids at a non-interfering distance from the intubation procedure.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a removable stop configured for attachment to the fitting or the sleeve to limit insertion of the device to a predetermined insertion depth within the endotracheal tube.
8 . A stylet device for guiding an endotracheal tube during intubation, the device comprising:
an elongated cylindrical sleeve having a hollow interior and a sleeve length, the sleeve formed from a flexible medical grade plastic material;
an elongated bendable guiding stylet disposed coaxially within the sleeve, the guiding stylet having a stylet length and an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the sleeve so that a channel is defined between the guiding stylet and the sleeve;
a fitting disposed at a proximal end of the sleeve to define a liquid-tight seal, the fitting having a connector opening configured for mating with a syringe; and
a nozzle disposed at a distal end of the sleeve, the nozzle comprising a cylindrical body having an outer diameter configured to closely fit the sleeve inner diameter at the distal end of the sleeve to form a liquid-tight seal, the cylindrical body having a concentric bore with an outlet at a distal tip, wherein the stylet length is less than the sleeve length so that a gap is defined between a distal end of the guiding stylet and a proximal end of the nozzle, wherein pressurized liquid introduced through the fitting into the sleeve is communicated by the channel and the gap to the bore of the nozzle, wherein the outlet is configured to project a fine spray of the liquid axially forward beyond the distal tip;
wherein the sleeve is configured for coaxial insertion into the endotracheal tube during intubation, and wherein the sleeve length is configured to position the nozzle near to and partially protruding from a distal end of the endotracheal tube while the combination stylet device only projects the fine spray axially forward the distal end of the endotracheal tube.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the fitting is configured for releasable attachment to the syringe, and wherein the syringe is configured to generate the pressure.
10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the liquid is a topical anesthetic.
11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the fitting further comprises an insertion stop configured to limit an insertion length within the endotracheal tube.
12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the fitting comprises a Luer-style fitting configured for releasably mating with a Luer-style syringe.
13 . The device of claim 8 , further comprising a connector disposed at an end of an elongated tubing, the connector configured for releasably mating with the fitting and the elongated tubing having a length configured for administration of additional liquids at a non-interfering distance from the intubation procedure.
14 . The device of claim 8 , further comprising a removable stop configured for attachment to the fitting or the sleeve to limit insertion of the device to a predetermined insertion depth within the endotracheal tube.