Endotracheal tube holder
An endotracheal (“ET”) tube holder which securely holds the ET tube and enables a healthcare provider to quickly and easily move the ET tube laterally at various positions. The ET tube can be secured to a carriage that slides laterally and can optionally be stopped at one or more predetermined locations, which predetermined locations can optionally be noted with unique identifiers which enable the healthcare provider to accurately document the position of the ET tube. A foam layer is preferably provided to keep rigid plastic components from applying directly contacting and directly applying pressure to the patient's skin.
1 . An endotracheal (“ET”) tube holder comprising:
a neck strap;
a track comprising a bridge portion, said bridge portion comprising identifiers positioned at predetermined locations along said bridge portion,
wherein said track comprises openings through which said neck strap is attached;
a carriage, said carriage movably positionable along said bridge portion,
wherein a stop is disposed on said bridge portion that prevents the carriage from sliding off of the bridge portion,
wherein a securing device to secure an ET tube is disposed on said carriage,
wherein the securing device comprises a belt and a clamping buckle disposed on said carriage, said clamping buckle configured to secure said belt; and
a pad coupled to said track, said track disposed on a front side of said pad,
wherein said pad is shaped to fit snugly against a patient's face extending from one cheek to the other cheek and on patient's upper lip,
wherein said bridge portion is connected to the pad at the bridge portion's end points and projects away from the pad,
wherein there is separation between the pad and the bridge portion such that the carriage is not in contact with the pad when the carriage is disposed on the bridge portion, and
wherein said carriage comprises a push button mechanism that is communicably coupled to a tongue such that the tongue can lock into and be removed from locking detents disposed on the bridge portion which enables said carriage to be locked into one or more locations along said bridge portion.
2 . The ET tube holder of claim 1 wherein said belt comprises one or more holes and wherein said clamping buckle further comprises a peg configured to engage said one or more holes.
3 . The ET tube holder of claim 1 wherein said securing device further comprises a hook and loop fastener.
4 . The ET tube holder of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive, said adhesive disposed on a back side of said pad.
5 . The ET tube holder of claim 4 wherein said adhesive is disposed only on an upper portion of said back side of said pad.
6 . The ET tube holder of claim 1 further comprising an orogastric (“OG”) or nasogastric (“NG”) tube holder.
7 . The ET tube holder of claim 6 wherein said OG or NG tube holder is disposed on said track.
8 . The ET tube holder of claim 1 further comprising an actuator communicably coupled to said carriage.
9 . The ET tube holder of claim 8 wherein said actuator is an electrically powered actuator.
10 . The ET tube holder of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to contact patient skin when said ET tube holder is positioned on a patient in the intended operating position.
11 . The ET tube holder of claim 10 wherein said temperature sensor comprises a color changing material.
12 . The ET tube holder of claim 10 wherein said temperature sensor comprises an electrical temperature sensor.
13 . An endotracheal (“ET”) tube holder comprising:
a neck strap;
a head strap;
a track comprising a bridge portion, said bridge portion comprising identifiers positioned at predetermined locations along said bridge portion;
a carriage, said carriage movably positionable along said bridge portion; and
a pad coupled to said track, said track disposed on a front side of said pad,
wherein said pad is shaped to fit snugly against a patient's face extending from one cheek to the other cheek and on patient's upper lip,
wherein said track comprises openings through which said neck strap and head strap are attached, and
wherein the bridge portion is connected to the pad at the bridge portion's end points and projects away from the pad
wherein there is separation between the pad and the bridge portion such that the carriage is not in contact with the pad when the carriage is disposed on the bridge portion.