CA1266413A - Multipurpose nasal airway - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A nasal airway in a preferred embodiment includes a tubular housing and an airway tube which in the storage position is received at least partially within the tubular housing and in a second position projects outwardly there-from. The airway tube may have one or more auxiliary openings disposed between the ends thereof. A first closure may close the end of the tubular housing to which the airway tube may be secured and a second closure may close the other end. Tracheostomy cutting means may be associated with the second closure. A tracheostomy tube and associated cannula are provided. The multipurpose nasal airway may also be provided with writing equipment such as a reservoir of ink and associated discharge point or a flashlight or other independently useful article.

Description

MULTIPURPOSE NASAL AIRWAY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relate!s generally to nasal airwa~s and, more specifically, to such airways which are Gf rela-l tively small size and are adapted to serve an independently useful purpose as well as providing means for performing anemergency tracheostomy.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been known during surgical procedures for anesthesiologists to place an airway into the mouth of a 10 i~ patient. The airway, which generally consists of a curved, plastic tube serves to keep the patient's mouth open and permits ready insertion of tubes for administering anesthesia, withdrawing mucous by suction, as well as other purposes.
Il It is also known to employ airways which are inserted into a 15 " patient's mouth in order to initiate emergency resuscitation procedures. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,021,836 and 3,297,027 show two ! examples of tubes which are introduced into a patient's mouth for resuscitation purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,590 1~ discloses a resuscitation training device.
20 1l It has been known to provide blades in pen-like housings. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,444,155 and 1,611,171. It has also been known to combine a pencil holder and inhaler.
See U.S. Pat. No. 973,427.
It has been known to provide surgical blades and Il, tubes in multipiece housings. See U.S~ Patent Nos. 3,307,551 and 3,706,106. U.S. Patent No. 1,390,720 discloses a surgical knife and case.

~i64~3 United States Patent No 3,508,543 discloses a resuscitation tube adapted to be introduced into the patient's mouth and having auxiliary ~ubes adapted to be introduced into the patient s nostrils.
In respect of most medlcal emergencies where resuscitation is needed, time is of the essence and, with the exception of hospitals and certain clinics and doctor's offices, in general, airways will not be readily available at the site of the emergency need. As a result of the size, ~ost and single-purpose nature of known airways, there remains a very real and substantial need for an airway of such design and construction as to be effective in use and to be likely to be available more readily at the scene o~ an emergency.
SUM~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has met the above-described need by providing a multipurpose airway which is, as a result of its size and multipla uses, more likely to be carried about by physicians and other medically or para-medically trained individuals thereby enhancing the likelihood that ~he airway will be available where needed when needed.
The present invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed in Wadhwa United States Patent No.
4,440,161.
In the present invention, a nasal airway includes a tubular housing hav:Lng an associated airway tube which may ,'t"~ 2 ~2~i6413 be stored in a first position and secured for use in a second position. In addition, the article may function as a writing implement, flashlight or other useful purpose and may provide means for performing an emergency tracheostomy.
As the nasal airway of the present invention is preferably relatively small, such as the si~e of a conventional fountain or ballpoint pen, for example, and it is adapted, in one embodiment, to function as a writing implement, this addi-tional function enhances the likelihood that an individual 10 ! will carry the instrument on his or her person.
It is an object of the present invelltion to provide a nasal airway which is compact, economical to manufacture and easy to use.
', It is a further object of the present invention 1- to provide such a nasal airway which has means permitting it ' to function as a writing implement or other useful article.
I' It is another object of the present invention ¦I to provide such a nasal airway which has means for perform-¦l ing an emergency tracheostomy and includes tracheostomy tube 20 !¦ means and an associated catheter.
It is a further object of this invention to pro-vide airway means which will permit the one rendering medical assistance to avoid concern about the medical back-~1 ~round of the one needing help and to avoid the need for 1 skin, mucous membrane or mouth to mouth contact.
It is yet another object of the present invention to increase the likelihood that emergency resuscitation procedures may be undertaken effectively at the scene of an emerqency in prompt fashion.

-3-~2~;~4~3 These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the description of the invention on reference to the illustrations appended hereto.
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~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

5 ~ FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a form of nasal airway assembly of the present invention.
Il FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a portion of il the airway of FIG. 1 which is adap~ed to function as a tracheostomy blade.
10 ' FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the tracheostomy blade of FIG. 2 with the blade protective covering not illustrated.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional illustration of the " blade assembly taken through 4-4 of FIG. 3.
~l FIG. 5 is a front-elevational view of the nasal 15 ,l airway of FIG. 1 with the closure portions removed~
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional illustration of a form ~i of nasal airway of the present invention showing the airway ¦ tube in storage position.
¦ FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional illustration of a form I of nasal airway of the present invention showing the airway tube in usable position.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional illustration of a portion of a nasal airway of the present invention.
Il FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cross-sectional 25 1¦ illustration of a portion of a nasal airway of the present invention showing th~ assembly.
FIG. 10 is an elevational view showing a trache-ostomy tube of the present invention.

-~lv~ 4~3 FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the trache-ostomy tube of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the cannula employed in the assembly of FIG. 9.
FIG. 13 is a right side elevational view of the cannula of FIG. 12 FIG. 14 is a partial cross-sectional illustration of a modified form of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

10 1 As used herein, in the absence of an express indication to the contrary at a particular location, the Il term "patient" shall refer to members of the animal kingdom, including human beings.
Il Referring now in greater detail to FIG. 1, there ~ is shown an embodiment of the miniaturized nasal airway of li the present invention which may conveniently have the dimensions of a commercially available fountain or ballpoint ~i pen. It may, for example, have a length of about 4 to 6 Il inches and a width of about 1/2 to 7/8 inch. In the form 20 1¦ shown, the nasal airway has a tubular housing 2 which has a j closure 4 provided with a clip 6 so as to secure the same to a pocket and a lower closure 8.
Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 2 through , 4, the tracheostomy blade feature of the present invention 25 ll will be considered in greater detail. In the event that the apparatus of the present invention were needed to be employ-ed to perform a tracheostomy on an emergency basis, closure ~3~;4~3 8, which is preferably threadeclly or snap-fit secured to tubular housing 2, would be removed. As removed, it would assume the appearance shown in FIG. 2 wherein the closure 8 may serve as the handle portion for permitting use of the projecting blade member 10, The blade member 10 may advan-ll tageously be composed of stainless steel, plastic or other noncorrosive material. In the form shown in FIG. 2, a protective material 12 such as a plastic film is positioned Il over the blade 10 in order to maintain blade cleanliness, avoid inadvertent cutting by the blade and, in the event of I use of a-corrosion-susceptible material in the blade, to resist corrosion. The film or cover 12 would be stripped .
from the blade member 10 thereby permitting use of the 1 same.

15 ~¦ Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is noted that in i order to reinforce the connection between the blade 10 and , the closure 8, a pedestal 14 which surrounds and suppor~s ¦¦ the lower portion of the blade is provided.

!I While in the preferred embodiment of the invention 20 I the blade 10 will be presecured to the closure 8, the blade may be provided separately in a compartment in the ~i housing with or without provision for subsequent attachment Il of the blade t:o closure 8, if desired.

¦I Disposed within the housing 2, but not illustrated 25 ',¦ in these figures, are a tracheostomy tube which has a cannula 'I passing theret:hrough and projecting therebeyond toward the ,¦ first end of t:he housing. In a preferred embodiment of th~

invention, the closure 8 may be secured to the lower end of l .

~6~3 the housing or, in the alternat:ive, may be secured to the tracheostomy tube which is disposed within the housing.
Integrally formed threads or snap-fit engagement, for - example, may be employed for this purpose. In use of the invention with the tracheostomy tube and associated cannula, the tracheostomy blade 10 would be used to create an initial I opening and the cannula-tracheostomy tube assembly would be passed into the trachea region of the patient through the l! opening formed by blade 10. The cannula could then be I withdrawn from the tube. The tracheostomy tube has a por-tion adapted to be disposed externally of the patent which may be engaged by the medical practitioner's mouth, an ambu bag or may be connected to other equipment being used to ll treat the individual. Further details regarding these com~
¦ ponents and their interrelationship to the assembly illus-i¦ trated in FIGS. 1 through 7 will be provided hereinafter.
j The external thread 16 on closure 8, shown in FIG.
¦ 4 could cooperate with internal threads on the lower portion Il of housing 2 to permit threaded engagement between closure 8 20 ¦ and tubular housing 2. Alternately, the threads on the I closure 8 could engage threads on the tracheostomy tube.Also, as a further alternate a snap fit engagement or resilient interfit can be employed. Referring now in Il greater detail to FIG. 5, there is shown the nasal airway of 25 ll the present invention with closures 4 and 8 both removed.
'¦ As will be noted at the lower end of housing 2, internal threads 20 are provided so as to cooperate with external thread 16 o~ closure 8.

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Referring to the upper portion of FIG. 5, it is noted that in this embodiment a writing implement which has a supply of material to be deposlted during writing and means for permitting contact between the material and a , writing surface are provided. In the form shown the writing implement is a pen having a cone 22 terminating in a pen i point 24 through which ink stored in a reservoir (not shown ~¦ in this view) may be discharged. The lower portion of the Il cone 22 has external threads which cooperate with internal 10 ,1 threads (not shown) of the end of airway tube 26 so as to ¦I permit threaded interengagement therebetween. It is also noted that the airway tube 26 has external threads 28 which cooperate with internal threads (not shown in this view) within the upper portion of housing 2 to permit securement 5 1i of the airway tube to the housing in a storage position.
Referring to FIG. 6 in greater detail there is ¦ shown a cross-sectional illustration of the nasal airway of the present invention. It is noted that the housing 2 is i provided with an outwardly projecting annular rib 30 over 20 ¦ which closure 4 is adapted to be engaged in snap-fit ar-,~ rangement. In general, the interior surface of closure 4 Il generally toward the lower extremity thereof would have an ¦l inwardly projecting annular rib which would permit the ¦~ desired snap-f;it securement.
25 'I As is shown toward the upper portion of FIG. 6, an ink reservoir 32 is operatively associated with pen cone 22 and externa:L threads 34 on pen cone 22 cooperate with internal threads 36 on the nasal airway tube 26. It is also

4~3 noted that the external threads 28 on airway tube 26 co-operate with internal threads 40 to secure the airway tube 26 to the housing 2.
~ In the form shown in FIG. 6, the airway tube 26 is in storage position with a major portion of the tube 26 being disposed within tubular housing 2. In this position the lower end opening 44 of airway tube is disposed closer to the lower end 46 of housing 2 than is the upper end 48 of , tube 26. The pen reservoir 32 is received within tube 26.
10 il While not shown in this view, the blade 10 may be received within the opening or bore of tube 26, may be positioned beside the same or the relative lengths of tube 26 and blade 10 may be such as to create axial spacing along the housing Il interior therebetween.
15 il In a preferred form, the airway tube 26 will be composed of a resilient material such as a material ¦ selected from the group consisting of natural or synt~etic Il rubber, such as latex, for example or plastic. Also, it is ! preferred that the outer surface of the airway tube 26 20 1 either be composed of a somewhat resilient material or that I at least a portion of the tube adjacent tube end 44 be i¦ covered by a water soluble lubricant such as lanolin, for example. Also, products sold under the trade designation l Acid Mantle (buffered aluminum acetate) or the trade 25 1 designation Aqua-phor may be used. This will serve to facilitate insertion of the tube into the nasal passageway of the patient:.

_g_ 64~3 Another preferred feature of the invention illus-trated in FIG. 6 is the auxiliary opening 50 in tube 26 which is disposed in relative close proximity to tube end 44. In the event that through mucous or other means block-; age o the end 44 occurs, functioning of the airway cancontinue through opening 50 whic~h has its closest portion preferably spaced about 1/2 inch to 1 inch from end 44. It will be appreciated that a plurality of such openings 50 may ~, be provided, if desired. The positioning and number of openings 50 may be varied as a function of the softness of the material with fewer openings being employed in softer materials.
' FIG. 7 shows the airway in the position in which ', it would appear during usage with the tube 26 projecting ! outwardly and being threadedly or otherwise secured to ' housing 2. The end 44 of nasal airway would be inserted ;i into the patient's nostril and the end 46 of tubular housing ,, 2 would be inserted into the mouth of the individual applying ¦¦ resuscitative procedures.
15 1l FIG. 8 shows a portion of a preferred construetion l! for tube 26. While the tube 26 may be formed as a unitary i!
article, in the form shown in FIG. 8, it is multipiece. The upper sleeve 27 terminates in an inwardly offset downwardly ~ ¦ projecting flange 290 The lower portion of the tube 26 may 20 11l be secured, as by self-bonding or adhesive means to the I radially outer portion of flange 29. This permits the use ¦l of different materials for the two portions of tube 26 without engaging in complex molding procedures.

i ! .... . . .
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~LZ~i641~ .

It will be appreciated that while the principal objective of the present invention is to provide readily available, miniaturized resuscitation equipment and this may be accomplished without providing the tracheostomy blade and the writing instrument such as a pen, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the presence of the tracheostomy ! blade may be advantageous in respect of numerous emergencies and the pen will not only provide a further ~unction for the I apparatus, but also greatly enhance the likelihood that the ~ individual will have the instrument in his or her possession when an emergency occurs. While a blade 10 has been illus-trated and disclosed it will be appreciated that other cutting means suitable for creating the desired initial l, opening may be employed.
15 ,¦ Referring to FIGS. 9 through 13, preferred features of the present invention will be considered. It is seen i that the housing 2 has the airway tube 26 secured in its storage position in this view. A tracheostomy tube 70 is I disposed within the housing. The tube has a first generally 20 ¦ cylindrical portion 74 connected to a second generally cylindrical portion 72 by transitional section 78. In the i preferred embodiment, the first generally cylindrical portion 74 will be of larger diameter than the second ll generally cylindrical portion 72 with the preferred ratio o~
25 1! diameters measured internally being about 3:1 to 5:1.
il It will be appreciated that a bore 7~ extends through the smaller diameter portion 72 and is in communication with a counter-bore portion 79 of the large dia~eter portion 74.

i4~L3 It will also be noted that, in the preferred form, ~he second portion 74 preferably has a greater axial extent than the first portion 72. The ratio of the axial extent of the second portion 72 to that of the first portion is preferably about 0.75:1 to 3:1. In the form illustrated, the cylindri-cal portion 74 has external threads which cooperate with internal threads 20 of the houc~ing tube to thereby effect a threaded connection. A cannula 90 having a shank portion 91, an end opening 92 and a handle portion 94 is preferably 10 'I received within the first portion 72 of the tracheostomy tube 70 and passes through bore 76 preferably projecting I therebeyond. The cannula 90 has a handle portion 94 and a "i tubular bore 96 to thereby permit communication therethrough.
1' The handle 94 of cannula 90 is preferably composed of 15 l, resilient material so as to be received in snap-fit or resilient engagement within the bore 79 of portion 74. By way of example, large diameter portion 74 may have an external diameter of about 15mm and small diameter portion Ii may have a diameter of about 3 to 6mm. The large diameter 20 ¦I portion 74 may have an axial extent, for example, of about 1 to 3 inches and the smaller diameter portion may have an axial extent of about 1-1/2 inches.
Closure 80 has an endwall 82 with a pedestal 84 , and a lateral wall 86. A blade member 88 is fixedly secured 25 ~I to the pedestal 84. The external portions of lateral wall 86 are provided with external threads which are threadedly li engaged with threads (not shown) disposed on the lower portions of the inner surface of cylindrical or annul-r wall I! :

~l2~

74. Resilient or snap-fit could be employed if desired. It will be also noted that wall 74 preferably projects down-wardly beyond the lower extremity 46 of housing 2. In this ~ manner, when it is desired to gain access to tracheostomy performing a~paratus, one need merely open closure 80 to thereby provide a means for emp:Loying blade 88. Subse-quently, the tracheostomy tube 70 and its associated cannula 90 may be withdrawn from the housing. It will be noted that ll in the form illustrated, the free end 92 of the cannula 10 ll extends into the hollow portion of airway tube 26.
'I Assuming that the tracheostomy blade and writing ¦i implement are part of the particular embodiment of the ¦l invention being carried by an individual, the procedure for I¦ operating the same will now be considered. First of all, in 15 ,I the orm shown should a tracheostomy be required, the l~ individual need merely remove closure 8 or 80 by unthreading the same from tubular housing 2 and remove the protective covering material 12 from the blade 10 or 88 thereby exposing ' the blade and permitting closure 8 to function as a handle in using the same. The blade 10 or 88 is employed to provide the desired opening. Subsequently, the tracheostomy tube 70 and its associated cannula 90 which have been I¦ removed from the housing 2 are introduced through the ¦¦ opening with the cannula being used to create an opening of 25 1I the desired size in any portion of the neck region which was not fully opened by the blade 10, 88. ~fter this has been accomplished, the cannula 90 may be withdrawn from the tracheostomy tube 70 and an individual's mouth may be , ', .

.

~2~ 3 applied to the first portion 72 in order to permit air to be introdu~ed through the apparatus. Alternately, portion 72 is so sized as to readily recei.ve an ambu bag or to permit securement to ventilating equipment. Assuming that the , airway is to be employed, the pen cone 22 is unthreaded from ,. the airway tube 26 and the airway tube 2~ is unthreaded from !, the tubular housing 2. Subsequlently, the airway tube 26 is removed from the housing 2, is reversed and then threadedly ' connected to the housing at either thread 20 or thread 36 j thereby permitting insertion of the airway tube 26 into the patient's trachea (or in the event of no tracheostomy, into the nostril) and administration of air or other material i through end 46 of housing 2. The sequence in which these ,i two unthreading operations is accomplished is not critical.
, If desired, the tube 26 could be removed from housing 2 first and subsequently the pen cone 22 removed from tube 26.
l Referrin~ to FIG. 14, a .further embodiment of the 'I invention will be considered. In this embodiment, the 20 ,l airway 26 and the connection portion 27 are secured to a ¦ flashlight. The flashlight has a bulb 96, a transparent I dome 98, a switch 100 and a battery 102, all of which is !¦ contained within the housing 104 which may be threadedly ¦~ secured to annular member 27. In this fashion, a useful article of another type may be employed. If desired, a closure (not shown) may be fitted over dome 98 so as to protectively surround the flashlight portion.

1.

,. I

i4~L3 It will be appreciated that the housing and associated airway and tracheostomy apparatus may be incor-porated in other useful articles apart from pens and flash-lights and such other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
It will be appreciated, therefore, that the present invention provides an economical and effective means for starting emergency medical treatment when resuscitation is ' needed by way of airway or a tracheostomy need be performed.
1 o !l All of this is accomplished while permitting the apparatus ~!
to function as a writing implement, flashlight or other useful article thereby providing another dimension of utility and enhancing the likelihood that the instrument will be present during an emergency need.
15 ll Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

li, . .

Claims (25)

CLAIMS:

1. A nasal airway comprising a tubular housing having a first threaded portion adjacent to a first end thereof, said tubular housing having a second end, an airway tube having a threaded end and a free end insertable into a patient's nostril, said airway tube received within said tubular housing in a storage position, said airway tube when in said storage position having said free end within said tubular housing and said threaded portion secured to said first threaded portion of said tubular housing, tracheostomy tube means disposed within said housing generally adjacent to said second end, and cannula means removably received within said tracheostomy tube means.

2. The nasal airway of Claim 1 including, first closure means removably covering said first end, and second closure means removably covering said second end.

3. The nasal airway of Claim 2 including, said tracheostomy tube means having a first portion of larger diameter than a second portion thereof, and said first portion being closer than said second portion with respect to said second end of said housing.

4. The nasal airway of Claim 3 including, said tracheostomy cutting means disposed within a said housing.

5. The nasal airway of Claim 4 including, said tracheostomy cutting means being secured to said second closure means.

6. The nasal airway of Claim 5 including, said closure means being removably secured to said tracheostomy tube means.

7. The nasal airway of Claim 5 including, said first portion of said tracheostomy tube means being of sufficient size to have an ambu bag connected thereto.

8. The nasal airway of Claim 7 including, said tracheostomy tube means being removably secured to said housing.

9. The nasal airway of Claim 8 including, writing means having a supply of material to be deposited during writing extending into said airway tube and be removably secured to the threaded end of said airway tube and having a material discharge end underlying said first closure means, whereby removal of said first closure means, said second closure means and said writing means from said tubular housing will permit separation of said airway tube from said housing and threaded attachment of said airway tube threaded end to said housing first threaded end with said airway tube free end disposed exteriorly of said housing to create a nasal airway consisting of said housing and said airway tube.

10. The nasal airway of Claim 8 including, said housing being secured to battery receiving means, switch means and light means, whereby said housing may also function as a flashlight.

11. The nasal airway of Claim 9 including, said writing means having pen means with an ink reservoir operatively associated with a discharge point.

12. The nasal airway of Claim 11 including, said pen means reservoir extending into said airway tube when said airway tube is in said first storage position.

13. The nasal airway of Claim 12 including, said pen means having a threaded end adjacent said discharge point to threadedly secure said pen means to said airway tube.

14. The nasal airway of Claim 8 including, said airway tube having at least one auxiliary opening spaced from the ends of said airway tube.

15. The nasal airway of Claim 14 including, said auxiliary opening being disposed closer to said free end of said airway tube than to the threaded end of said airway tube.

16. The nasal airway of Claim 15 including, said auxiliary opening being disposed about 1/2 to 1 inch from said free end of said airway tube.

17. The nasal airway of Claim 14 including, said airway tube being composed of a resilient material.

18. The nasal airway of Claim 17 including, said airway tube being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

19. The nasal airway of Claim 18 including, lubricant means disposed on at least a portion of the exterior of said airway tube.

20. The nasal airway tube of Claim 4 including, said tracheostomy cutting means having blade means.

21. The nasal airway of Claim 4 including, removably protective means secured to said tracheostomy blade.

22. The nasal airway of Claim 3 including, said cannula means passing completely through said tracheostomy tube means and projecting therebeyond.

23. The nasal airway of Claim 22 including, said cannula means extending into the free end of said airway tube.

24. The nasal airway of Claim 5 including, said second closure means being threadedly secured to said tracheostomy tube means.

25. The nasal airway of Claim 24 including, said tracheostomy tube means being threadedly secured to said housing.