FR2562413A1 - Optical mandrel for tracheal intubation - Google Patents

Abstract

Optical mandrel intended to perform tracheal intubations easily and in complete safety with visual monitoring. The intubation technique relating to the present invention is to introduce in advance, inside an intubation tube, an optical apparatus of small size (optical mandrel) which is rigid and bent at its end in order to preform the intubation tube and thus to perform in all cases the tracheal intubation in complete safety and while being able to see the vocal cords. The optical mandrel comprises a rigid stainless steel sheath 1 in which there is positioned an image guide optical system 2, at the periphery of which there is situated a light guide 3. The end of the optical mandrel 4 is bent and makes an angle of approximately 30 DEG with the principal axis of the mandrel. The stainless steel sheath 1 is coated with a plastic sheath 5 allowing easy sliding of an intubation tube 6. An objective 7 allows the image to be picked up and an eyepiece 8 allows the eye 9 to see it. The optical mandrel according to the invention is intended to facilitate tracheal intubations with visual monitoring and in complete safety.

Description

The present invention relates to an optical mandrel intended to perform tracheal intubations in an easy and safe manner under visual control.

To intubate a patient, a flexible plastic intubation tube must be passed between the vocal cords without creating trauma.

 As everyone knows, the vocal cords are not visible when opening the mouth, it is necessary to lift the tongue, on the other hand the plane of the vocal cords forms an angle with respect to the axis of the mouth, which leads to the need for 'have an angle probe end to penetrate between them.

During their career, anesthesiologists are either unable to practice tracheal intubation of their patient, or to practice it with enormous difficulty for the following Grincipal reasons - Short neck of particular anatomical arrangements , or - From a wthological deviation of the glottis.

 These difficulties can lead to trauma in the patient, ranging from simple lesions of the soft palate or pharynx, to those of the larynx as well as ovulations and dental fractures.

The ir.tubation technique currently applied by the practitioner is to use a laryngoscope which allows the tongue to recline and thus make the vocal cords visible from the outside in the majority of cases, the pI # ticie # EssaJe then to introduce the intubation probe with all the difficulties and risks involved such as those mentioned above.

Other intubation techniques could come to mind, using optical instruments such as, the rigid endoscope and the flexible fibroscope. For this application, these devices have significant drawbacks, which makes them unusable; the rigid endoscope is straight, therefore does not make it possible to visualize the vocal cords and to preform the intubation probe before its introduction, the fibroscope, its flexibility does not allow to maintain the intubation probe, therefore a fiortori of the introduce.

the intubation technique relating to the present invention is to introduce beforehand inside the intubation probe, a small optical device (optical mandrel) rigid, bent at its end in order to preform the probe and thus in all cases, perform the tracheal intubation safely and by visualizing the vocal cords.

Once the probe is in place, the optical mandrel is easily removed
The optical mandrel object of the invention, by its small size 4 to 6 min in diameter, allows to slide around it the intubation probe; its bent part at the end allows the probe to be preformed, that is to say to take the shape of the optical mandrel and thus to be able to be introduced into the trachea passing between the vocal cords under permanent visual control and so safely.

Figure 1 shows the optical mandrel according to the invention.

The optical mandrel according to FIG. 1 comprises an outer sheath made of rigid stainless steel with a diameter of 4 to 6 mm and a length of approximately 250 to 300 mm (1) in which an optical image guide system is installed ( 2) either by lenses or by image-conducting fibers, around which is located a light guide (3) by optical fiber. The end of the optical mandrel (4) is bent over a length of 20 to 50 mrn and made with the main axis of the optical mandrel, an angle of about 300.

 The stainless steel sheath (1) is covered with a plastic sheath (5) over the entire length of the optical mandrel allowing easy sliding of the intubation probe (6). An objective (7) makes it possible to capture the image and an eyepiece (8) makes it possible to restore it to the eye (9).

A connection (10) makes it possible to bring the light from an external source which is transmitted to the end of the mandrel via the light guide (3).

The optical mandrel according to the invention is intended to facilitate tracheal intubation under visual control and in complete safety.

Claims (5)

 1) - Optical device (optical mandrel) comprising a rigid stainless steel outer sheath (1) with a diameter - not exceeding 6 mm and a length of approximately 250 to 300 mm (1) in which a system is installed. image guide optics (2) either by lenses or by image conductive fibers, around which is located a light guide (3) by optical fibers. The end of the optical mandrel (4) is bent over a length of 20 to 50 mm and made with the main axis of the optical mandrel, an angle of about 300. The stainless steel sheath (1) is covered with a plastic sheath (5) over the entire length of the optical mandrel allowing easy sliding of the intubation probe (6). An objective (7) makes it possible to capture the image and an eyepiece (8) to restore it to the eye (9).  2) - Apparatus according to claim (1) characterized in that it is introduced into an intubation probe (6) and that it takes the form of the optical mandrel (1).  3 ") - Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the bent end (4) of the mandrel allows viewing during the introduction of the intubation probe (6).  4) - Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the optical mandrel can be easily removed by the practitioner after the establishment of the intubation probe (6).  5) - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intubation probe (6) remains in place after the withdrawal of the optical mandrel.