US3006337A

US3006337A - Airway for artificial respiration

Info

Publication number: US3006337A
Application number: US836812A
Authority: US
Inventors: Aguado Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-08-28
Filing date: 1959-08-28
Publication date: 1961-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-31

Description

Oct. 31, 1961 E. AGUADO 3,006,337

AIRWAY FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Filed Aug. 28, 1959 a FIG. IQ

INVENTOR, EDWARD A6U/ADO.

A TTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,006,337 AIRWAY FOR ARTEFICIAL RESPIRATION Edward Aguado, P 0. Box 4525, Plaza Station, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Aug. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 836,812 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-29) This invention relates generally to improvements in an airway for artificial respiration, and more particularly to an improved device of this type used in oral resuscitation.

After centuries of progress in inhalation therapy, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation has been found superior to modern scientific methods. However, modern knowledge of the importance of keeping the passageway from mouth to lungs open while applying any form of artificial respiration is something which has apparently escaped practically everybody from biblical times to the present. It is now known that in the unconscious person, especially one lying on his back, the tongue falls back and blocks the trachea, often completely. If artificial respiration of any sort is undertaken without first correcting this condition, the effort will fail.

It is an important and major objective of the present invention to provide an oral airway that is capable of easy insertion into the victims mouth and which acts to depress the tongue forwardly so as to maintain the trachea open.

Another important object is achieved by the provision of an elongate, curved, hollow tongue depresser having one end in communication with a main tube through which the rescuer breathes, and having the other end open and adapted to communicate directly with the trachea when inserted into the victims mouth. The tongue depresser is of sutiicient length to provide a more patent air passage.

It is an important object in one embodiment of the invention to form the mouthpiece and the tongue depresser as an integral terminal fitting on one end of the airway main tube so that various sizes of such fittings can be selectively connected to adapt the unit for adults, children or infants.

Still another important object is realized by the particular structural arrangement and construction of the mouthpiece so as to provide a better and more comfortable seal from escaping air and to assure a more positive ow of air from the rescuers lungs to the victims lungs.

Other important advantages are realized by the provision of biting surfaces on the mouthpiece which preclude closing the victims mouth and of the air passageway provided by the hollow tongue depresser.

Yet, another important object is achieved by the inclusion of a secondary tubing communicating with the main tube of the airway for the selective introduction of oxygen to supplement the oxygen of the rescuers lungs, and by the provision of a slidable collar on the main tube adapted to seal an aperture through which the secondary tubing extends when such tubing is removed.

Another important object is to provide an airway device that is simple and durable in construction, efiicient in operation, economical to manufacture, and which can be utilized by anyone with only a minimum of instruction.

The foregoing md numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and modifications thereof, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of the airway;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 2 2 of FIG. l, the broken lines indicating the flexible nature of the main tube;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view as seen from the right of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one end of the airway illustrating a modified construction.

For completeness of disclosure, a brief description of the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation method will be given in order to more fully understand the operation and functional advantages of the present airway.

The first step in this technique for administering artificial respiration is to clear the mouth of any foreign matter with the ngers and press the victims tongue forward. In the case of a child, the child is placed in a face-down, head-down position and patted firmly on the back to dislodge any foreign object in the air passage. Next, the patient is placed on his back and the middle fingers of both hands are used to lift the lower jaw from beneath and behind so that it juts out. The jaw is then held in this forward position with one hand. ln some cases, it is possible merely to tip the patients head back and pull the jaw forward with one hand until there is partial dislocation of the joint. The other hand is utilized to pinch the nose closed.

Then, the rescuers mouth is firmly placed over the victims mouth. After taking a deep breath, the rescuer blows into the victims lungs. This blowing action is accomplished forcefully for adults and gently for children. When the victims chest beings to rise, the rescuer removes his mouth to allow the patient to exhale. This exchange of oxygen from rescuer to victim is repeated approximately twenty times per minute.

Because of the objection at times to the intimate mouthto-mouth Contact and in order to provide more effective exchange of air from the rescuer to the victim the airway of the present invention was developed. Y

The airway includes a main tube 1i)` preferably constructed of a soft, flexible non-toxic plastic material. The main tube 10 is open at both ends. As is indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2, the main tube 10 can be easily bent to accommodate the different relative positions between rescuer and victim.

A mouthpiece generally indicated at 11 is detachably connected to one end of the main tube l. rihis particular mouthpiece 11 is adapted for use by the rescuer during the resuscitation procedure. The mouthpiece 11 includes a hub 12 resiliently mounted about the end of main tube 10 and includes an ovoid, arcuate flange 13 adapted to fit between the gums and lips of the rescuer to provide an effective air seal. Of course, the end of main tube 10 opens through the center of the mouthpiece 11 for communication with the interior of the rescuers lmouth for the free passage of air. A pair of biting surfaces 14 extend inwardly from the ovoid flange 13 and are located on opposite sides of the main tube end. These biting surfaces 14 extend between the upper and lower sets of teeth when the mouthpiece 11 is worn orally to prevent accidental closing of the airway.

Referring first to the embodiment of the airway illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawing, it is seen that a terminal tting indicated generally at 15 is placed as a unit on the opposite end of main tube 10. The fitting 15 includes a mouthpiece 16 having a hub 17 mounted over and resiliently gripping the end of main tube 10, and includes an ovoid, arcuate flange 20 adapted to fit between the gums and lips of the victim to provide an effective air seal.

Formed integrally with the mouthpiece 16 is a curved, elongate tongue depresser 21. Such tongue depresser is hollow and generally tubular to provide an air passageway 22 therethrough. One end of tongue depresser 21 operatively communicates with the open end of the main tube 1t). The opposite end of the tongue depresser 21 is open to provide direct communication with the trachea for the transmission of air.

A pair of biting surfaces 23 are formed on the ovoid flange and project inwardly along opposite sides of the tongue depresser 21. In other words, the tongue depresser 21 extends between the biting surfaces 23. In use, the biting surfaces 23 extend between the upper and lower teeth of the victim, thus preventing the teeth from clinching or otherwise closing. Severance of the tongue depresser 21 is prevented and an open airway is maintained that directly communicated the lungs of the rescuer with the lungs of the victim.

Because the fitting 15 is formed as an integral unit, such fittings of various sizes can be selectively attached to the end of the main tube 10 in order to accommodate adults, children or infants.

A modification of the airway is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive. In this modification, the mouthpiece 24 is formed separate from the tongue depresser 25. The mouthpiece 24.includes a hub 26 slidably mounted and resiliently engaging the end of main tube 10, and includes an ovoid, arcuate flange 27.A One end of the tongue depresser is formed integrally with the end of the main tube 10 so as to place the air passageway 30 of the tongue depresser 25 in direct communication with the interior of tube 10.

A pair of biting surfaces 31 are formed integrally with the ovoid flange 27 of mouthpiece 24, such biting surface 31 extending inwardly from ovoid flange 27 on opposite sides of the tongue depresser 25.

The mouthpiece 24 can be selectively adjusted in position longitudinally along the main tube 10 in order to vary the length of the tongue depresser 25 extending beyond the mouthpiece 24. Adjustment of the mouthpiece 24 in this manner assures that a tongue depresser 25 of appropriate length will be inserted into the victims mouth so that the tongue depresser 25 not only dcpresses and moves the tongue forward, but in addition communicates directly with the trachea.

Provided in the side of main tube 10 is an aperture 32. A secondary tubing 33 is selectively inserted into the aperture 32 for direct communication with the interior of main tube 10. The secondary tubing 33 is adapted to be connected to a source of oxygen and is used to introduce a iow of pure oxygen into the airway to supplement the oxygen of the rescuers lungs. Tubing 33 may also be optionally employed to withdraw phelgm or any blocking liquid in the trachea. When so used tubing 33 is projected through tongue depressor tube 25 a suitable distance into the throat of the patient, and the opposite end is connected to a vacuum source.

There are times when it is not necessary or desirable to utilize the secondary tubing 33. In this event, the secondary tubing 33 is removed from the aperture 32. A exible resilient collar 34, preferably constructed of rubber or plastic material, is mounted on main tube 10. When the secondary tubing 33 is removed, the collar 34 is moved longitudinally along the main tube 10 to a position in which the collar 34 completely covers and seals the aperture 32.

It is thought that the operation and functional results of the airway have become fully apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the parts, but for completeness of disclosure and utilization of this particular airway will be brieiiy described.

The iirst step is to select an airway of appropriate dimensions depending upon the size of the victim. In utilizing a terminal fitting of the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4 in which the tongue depresser 21 is formed integral with the mouthpiece 16, such fitting of proper size is selected and attached to the end of main tube 10V.

On the other hand if the airway is of the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. l-S inclusive in which the tongue depresser 25 is formed integrally with the main tube 10 and the mouthpiece 24 is formed separately from the tongue depresser, the rescuer chooses a main tube 10 having a tongue depresser of proper size and attaches an appropriate cooperating mouthpiece. Then, the rescuer adjusts the position of the mouthpiece 24 on the main tube 10 to make the extension of the tongue depresser 25 of a predetermined length to assure communication with the trachea.

Then, the rescuer places the tongue depresser into the mouth of the victim so that the depresser pulls the tongue forward and opens the trachea for a clear passageway to the victims lungs. The mouthpiece is fitted into the victims mouth with the ovoid ange between the gums and lips to provide an effective seal. The rescuer places the mouthpiece 11 at the opposite end of the airway into his mouth with the ovoid flange 13 between the gums and lips to provide an air seal.

If desired, the resilient collar 34 may be moved longitudinally along main tube 10 to open the aperture 32 to permit the insertion of secondary tubing 33 for the introduction of an additional supply of oxygen. If additional oxygen is not needed or desirable, the rescuer makes sure that the resilient collar 34 is in a position to completely cover and seal the aperture 32 when the secondary tubing 33 is removed.

The rescuer then performs the cycle of breathing operations previously described to exchange oxygen directly from the lungs of the rescuer into the lungs of the victim.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment and modification thereof, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

In an airway for artificial respiration, a main tube, a

mouthpiece connected to one end of said tube, a curved,V

hollow tongue depresser having one end communicating with the interior of said main tube and having the opposite end open, said tongue depresser extending outwardly from the center of said mouthpiece, the mouthpiece having an ovoid flange adapted to it between the gums and lips of the victim, and having biting surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said tongue depresser, said main tube being provided with an aperture, a secondary tubing selectively located in said aperture and communicating with said main tube so as to introduce a supply of oxygen, and a resilient collar slidably mounted on said main tube yet tightly gripping the periphery of said tube, the resilient collar selectively covering said aperture upon removal of said secondary tubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,280,050 Alexander et al Apr. 2l, 1942 2,669,988 Carpenter Feb. 23, 1954 2,882,893 Godfroy Apr. 2l, 1959 2,912,982 Barsky Nov. 17, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,736 Canada Apr. 28, 1959