JPH0430309B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to chewing blocks, particularly those commonly used in conjunction with endoscopy, bronchoscopy, endotracheal intubation and similar medical-surgical procedures. Regarding chewing blocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Patients in hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units often require endotracheal intubation to mechanically support ventilation during periods of acute respiratory decline. The endotracheal tube is made of cylindrical flexible plastic with an internal diameter ranging from 4 to 9 millimeters.

Such patients are often initially unresponsive, but often struggle with both the endotracheal tube and the ventilator as their condition stabilizes and improves. Often, they bite downward against the endotracheal tube, making the necessary suction of pulmonary secretions difficult or impossible, or sometimes bite the endotracheal tube or its pilot balloon in two, causing potential resulting in a loss of control of the airway that is life-threatening.

The small chewing blocks or oropharyngeal airways currently available on the market are unstable in maintaining their position and are easily displaced by movement of the patient's tongue or jaw. The present invention provides a chewing block that is shaped to fit the teeth, gums, jaw, palate, and lips so that removal by the patient is unlikely. The structure is configured to allow stabilization of the endotracheal tube and to allow catheter absorption of oropharyngeal secretions or regurgitated gastric contents and evacuation of gastric contents. The biting block prevents the patient from biting downward onto the endotracheal tube or absorption catheter.

Other uses of the invention include aiding in fiber optic endoscopy and preventing the patient from biting downward onto the endoscope, thereby preventing fiber optic components from Prevent costly damage to.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a chewing block useful in conjunction with endoscopy, bronchoscopy, endotracheal intubation, and similar procedures, the chewing block comprising: (a) a first and a second a "U" shaped plate having ends, each end being at the end of a separate upright leg of the "U", said plate being intermediate between the first and second ends to connect them; The board body has (a) an upper surface formed by an edge, an inner edge, and an outer edge region, and (b) a lower surface formed by an edge, an inner edge, and an outer edge region. (c) has an inner surface fringed by an end and an upper edge and a lower edge region; (d) an outer surface fringed by an end and an upper edge and a lower edge region; the inner surface joins the inner edge region of the upper surface at its upper edge region and the inner edge region of the lower surface at its lower edge region;
the outer surface joins in its upper edge region with the outer edge region of the upper surface and in its lower edge region with the outer edge region of the lower surface; (f) a groove on the upper surface between the inner and outer marginal areas of the upper surface adapted by size and contour to receive the lower human teeth (or, in the absence of teeth, the associated gingiva); ) and a groove on the lower surface between the inner and outer border regions of the lower surface adapted by size and contour to receive the upper teeth or gingiva when the plate is inserted into the human oral vestibule. is received in the groove on the upper surface and held away by the plate body from the lower teeth or gingiva which is received in the groove on the lower surface, and (b) between the upper and lower border areas of the lateral surface of the bottom of the "U". (c) an upper flange projecting upwardly from and on the ridge terminus; The flange defines an open space between the upper flange, the upper edge region of the outer surface and the upper surface of the ridge, said space comprising:
sized and configured to receive the upper lip of a human being in sealing engagement with said flange, outer surface and ridge; (d) a lower flange projecting downwardly from and on the ridge termination; forming an open space between the lower edge region of the outer surface and the lower surface of the ridge, said space being sized and configured to receive the lower lip of a human being in sealing engagement with said lower flange, outer surface and ridge; and (e) a hole across the plate and the ridge at the bottom of the "U" communicating between the inside of the plate and the end of the ridge, said hole being an endoscope, bronchoscope, endotracheal tube or (f) optionally having at least one additional hole communicating between the inside of the plate and the ridge termination across the plate and the ridge adjacent to the bottom of the "U"; , the additional hole is sized to pass an endotracheal, oropharyngeal or orogastric tube, and the chewing block is large enough to allow a "U" shaped plate component to be inserted into the human oral vestibule as described above. and a profile whereby the ridge and flange components sealingly engage the vestibule of the oral cavity thereby restricting the oral cavity to communicate with the exterior through the aperture and any aperture.

Embodiment Referring first to FIG. 1, a chewing block 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention shows the internal or rear structure.
You can see the front view. Biting block 10 includes a generally U-shaped plate 1 having a first end 14 and a second end 16.
It is 2. Each of the ends 14, 16 is at the end of a separate upright leg of the "U" and corresponds to the end of the plate 12 that is first inserted into the human oral vestibule during use. Intermediate between and connecting the ends 14, 16, the plate 12 has an upper surface 18 which is circumscribed by the ends and an inner edge region 20 and an outer edge region 22. The underside 24 of the plate 12 is also circumscribed by the ends 14, 16 and by the inner edges 26 and outer edges 28. The plate 12 also has an upper 32 and a lower 3
It is delimited by an inner surface 30 having an edge area of 4. The outer surface 36 of the plate 12 is circumscribed by corresponding upper and lower edge regions 38, 40, respectively (not visible in FIG. 1, see FIG. 3). The outer surface 36 joins the outer edge region 22 of the upper surface 18 at an upper edge region 38 and joins the outer edge region 22 of the upper surface 18 at a lower edge region 40.
It is joined to the outer edge region 28 of No. 4. Inner edge surface 30 joins inner edge region 20 of upper surface 18 at its upper edge region 32 and joins lower surface 24 at its lower edge region 34 .

Additionally, the plate 12 has a groove 50 on the top surface 18 between the inner edge and outer edge regions 20, 22 of the top surface 18;
Said groove 50 is adapted by size and contour to receive therein the upper teeth, or in the absence of teeth, the associated gingiva of a human being. Similar grooves 52 are provided at the inner edge of the lower surface 24 and at the outer edge regions 26,2.
It is located on the lower surface 24 between 8 and 8. Groove 52 similar to groove 50
When the plate 12 is inserted into the human oral vestibule,
Adapted in size and profile to receive the lower human teeth or associated gingiva. With the plate 12 inserted in this manner, the human's upper teeth or gums are received in grooves 50 on the upper surface and are held apart by the plate body from the lower teeth or gums, which are received in grooves 52 on the lower surface 24.

Now, referring to Figure 2, line 2-2 in Figure 1
A cross-sectional side view along the . As shown in FIG. 2, the outer surface 36 of the plate 12 has a ridge 56 located at the bottom of the "U" between the upper outer edge region 38 and the lower outer edge region 40 and Extending outwardly from side surface 36 to a raised endpoint 58 . An upper flange 60 on and projecting upwardly from the ridge end point 58 provides an open space 62 between the upper flange 60 and the upper edge region 38 of the outer surface 36 and the upper side of the ridge 56. space 62
The human upper lip is attached to the flange 60 and the outer surface 36.
and sized and configured to receive in sealing engagement with ridge 56 . A lower flange 64 on and projecting downwardly from the ridge end point 58 provides an open space 66 between the lower flange 64, the lower edge region 40 of the outer surface 36, and the lower surface of the ridge 56. Space 66 is sized and configured to receive a human lower lip in sealing engagement with lower flange 64, outer surface 36, and ridge 56. Hole 70 cuts across plate 12 and ridge 56 at the bottom of the "U" and extends through plate 1.
The aperture 70 is sized to pass an endoscope, bronchoscope, endotracheal tube, or the like. In the preferred embodiment of the biting block 10, the holes 72 are additionally provided.
and 74 communicate at the bottom of the "U" across the body of the plate 12 and the ridge 56 between the inner surface 30 of the plate 12 and the ridge end point 58. Apertures 72 and 74 are sized to pass through an endotracheal, oropharyngeal or orogastric tube, and also provide an airway to the chewing block 10 when inserted into the patient's oral cavity. The entire chewing block 10 is sized and configured to be used by inserting the ends 14, 16 into a human's mouth, leaving the ridges 56 and flanges 60, 64 outward to the mouth, as described above. When the chewing block is so inserted into the patient's oral vestibule, the ridge 56 and flanges 60, 64 cooperate in sealing engagement with the upper lip so that the patient's oral cavity is exposed to the outside through the holes 70, 72, and 74. be restricted to communicate with The chewing block 10 can be made in a range of standard dimensions selected to suit the human range, from children to adults.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the chewing block 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, showing additional details of the chewing block 10. Front surface 82 above endpoint 58 can be used to hold adhesive tape to secure tubing through holes 70, 72 or 74. Biting block 1 is secured by a length of such tape passing around the back of the patient's neck and adhesively attached anteriorly to surface 82.
Deliberate exclusion of zeros is prevented.

The chewing block 10 is used by inserting it into the vestibule of the human oral cavity when desired. The patient's natural reflex of biting downward onto the chewing block 10 locks it in place, thereby preventing the patient from injuring himself or herself with the chewing reflex. The chewing block 10 perfectly conforms to the shape of the upper and lower jaw arches, so that it remains securely in the vestibule of the oral cavity without shifting its position. The chewing block 10 is stable with respect to movement and comfortable for the wearer. while being stably maintained in place;
Medical-surgical procedures such as endoscopy or bronchoscopy and similar tests can be performed by inserting appropriate instruments into the holes 70.
When inserting the chewing block, insert the end near the center of the body into the previously placed endotracheal tube through hole 7.
0, 72 or 74. When necessary, oropharyngeal or gastric suction of natural secretions can be effected through holes 72,74.
All these procedures can be performed without discouraging the patient from biting down on instruments, tubing, or the like. Once the particular procedure is completed, the chewing block can be kept in place to serve as an airway and/or the chewing block can be removed as desired.

The chewing block 10 may be made of any conventional material, but must be strong enough to resist chewing by the patient, yet not injurious to the patient's teeth and/or gums. A sufficiently elastic polymeric resin is desirable. chewing block 10
is preferably made of polyethylene, polypropylene and similar polymer resins.

In one embodiment of the invention, the chewing block 10 includes:
It can be made of ethylene-vinyl acetate or similar material that softens at temperatures of about 45° to 100°C. The chewing block 10 can be molded to the exact contours of a particular patient's upper and lower jaw, including the teeth and gums, by soaking it in hot water to soften it. Softened ethylene
After the vinyl acetate surface chewing block 10 is removed from the soaking fluid, it can be inserted into the oral vestibule of a particular individual (if necessary, it can be cooled first to avoid burns to the individual). The person then presses their jaws together in a precise manner, displacing the softened thermoplastic material. In this manner, grooves 50 and 52 are matched to the anatomical structure of the individual's teeth and/or gums. The biting block 10 is then removed and recured. Then, chew it with 10 blocks.
can still be used in the medical-surgical procedures described above, perfectly adapted to the oral vestibule of the individual patient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a chewing block according to an embodiment of the invention showing the inner or rear structure; FIG.
3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 12... U-shaped plate, 14... first end, 16...
...Second end, 18...Top surface, 24...Bottom surface, 30
...Inner surface, 36...Outer surface, 50...Groove on top surface, 52...Groove on bottom surface, 56...Protuberance, 60...
Upper flange, 62...open space, 64...
Lower flange, 66...open space, 70...
Holes, 72, 74...additional holes.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. In a chewing block useful in conjunction with endoscopy, bronchoscopy, endotracheal intubation and similar procedures, comprising: (a) a "U" having first and second ends; a "U"-shaped plate, each end of which is at the end of a separate upright leg of a "U", said plate comprising a plate body intermediate between and joining the first and second ends; The main body of the board includes (a) an upper surface formed by a ring formed by an end, an inner edge, and an outer edge region, (b) a lower surface formed by a ring formed by an end, an inner edge, and an outer edge region, and (c) an end portion. (d) an outer surface having a fringed end and an upper edge and a lower edge region, the inner surface having a fringed edge region; The inner edge area of the upper surface is joined to the inner edge area of the upper surface, and the lower edge area thereof is joined to the inner edge area of the lower surface,
the outer surface joins in its upper edge region with the outer edge region of the upper surface and in its lower edge region with the outer edge region of the lower surface; (f) a groove on the upper surface between the inner and outer marginal areas of the upper surface adapted by size and contour to receive the lower human teeth (or, in the absence of teeth, the associated gingiva); a groove on the lower surface between the inner and outer border regions of the lower surface adapted by size and profile to receive the upper teeth or gingivae when the plate is inserted into the human oral vestibule. (b) at the bottom of the "U" between the upper and lower border regions of the lateral surface; (c) an upper flange projecting upwardly from and on the ridge end; defines an open space between the upper flange, the upper edge region of the outer surface and the upper surface of the ridge, said space comprising:
sized and configured to receive the upper lip of a human being in sealing engagement with said flange, outer surface and ridge; (d) a lower flange projecting downwardly from and on the ridge termination; forming an open space between the lower edge region of the outer surface and the lower surface of the ridge, said space being sized and configured to receive the lower lip of a human being in sealing engagement with said lower flange, outer surface and ridge; and (e) a hole across the plate and the ridge at the bottom of the "U" communicating between the inside of the plate and the end of the ridge, said hole being an endoscope, bronchoscope, endotracheal tube or (f) optionally having at least one additional hole communicating between the inside of the plate and the ridge termination across the plate and the ridge adjacent to the bottom of the "U"; , the additional hole is sized to pass an endotracheal, oropharyngeal or orogastric tube, and the chewing block is large enough to allow a "U" shaped plate component to be inserted into the human oral vestibule as described above. a chewing block having a contour and a contour whereby the ridge and flange components sealingly engage the oral vestibule thereby restricting the oral cavity to communicate with the exterior through the aperture and any aperture. 2. A chewing block according to claim 1, having at least two additional holes as defined in 2(f).