U.S. patent number RE32,306 [Application Number 06/742,286] was granted by the patent office on 1986-12-16 for intubating device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Biosearch Medical Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to William E. Waters.
United States Patent |
RE32,306 |
Waters |
December 16, 1986 |
Intubating device
Abstract
An intubating device has a flexible tube with an open proximal
end and a discharge opening adjacent its distal end. A hollow
stylet connector plug is removably secured to the proximal end of
the tube. A stylet is secured to the plug and extends through the
interior of the tube to a point adjacent the distal end of the
tube. The stylet has an outer diameter smaller than the inner
diameter of the tube and smaller than the inner diameter of the
plug to permit the passage of fluid between the stylet and the tube
and between the stylet and the plug. A hollow connector fitting is
integral with the plug and has a passage communicating with the
interior of the plug. A stop accurately locates the stylet with
respect to the tube preferably extending the tube.
Inventors: |
Waters; William E. (Malvern,
PA) |
Assignee: |
Biosearch Medical Products,
Inc. (Somerville, NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
26926959 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/742,286 |
Filed: |
June 7, 1985 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
233482 |
Feb 11, 1981 |
04388076 |
Jun 14, 1983 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/165.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J
15/00 (20130101); A61M 39/10 (20130101); A61J
15/0007 (20130101); A61M 16/0461 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61J
15/00 (20060101); A61M 25/00 (20060101); A61M
39/10 (20060101); A61M 39/00 (20060101); A61M
025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/207.14,207.15,200.26,4,205.13,136
;604/54,77,95,170,164,165,280,283 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Recla; Henry J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hoffmann, Dilworth, Barrese &
Baron
Claims
I claim:
1. An Enteric feeding device comprising:
.[.a flexible tube.]. .Iadd.a tube having unrestricted flexibility
in all directions and .Iaddend.having a self-sustaining diameter,
free to be in any position at rest, and having an open proximal end
and a discharge opening adjacent its distal end;
a hollow stylet connector plug having an inner diameter and
removably secured to the proximal end of the tube;
a stylet .[.extending into the bore of said plug and.].
.Iadd.immovably .Iaddend.secured to said plug .Iadd.substantially
against longitudinal movement therebetween .Iaddend.and extending
through the interior of the tube to a point adjacent the distal end
of the tube .Iadd.when the plug is mounted to the proximal end of
the tube.Iaddend.;
said stylet having an outer diameter smaller than the inner
diameter of the tube and smaller than the inner diameter of the
plug for passage of fluid .Iadd.through said plug and
.Iaddend.between the stylet and the tube .[.and the stylet and the
plug.].; and
a hollow connector fitting integral with said plug and having a
passage communicating with the interior of the plug.
2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the stylet has a
hook at its proximal end engaging the interior of the stylet
connector plug.
3. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the stylet
connector plug and the hollow connector fitting are coaxial.
4. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the distal end of
the stylet is in engagement with the distal end of the tube and the
stylet extends the distal end of the tube.
5. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which the tip of the
distal end of the stylet is enlarged.
6. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a syringe is
connected to the hollow connector fitting.
7. A device in accordance with claim 1 having stop means for
accurately positioning the stylet with respect to the tube.
8. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the discharge
opening is in the side of the tube.
9. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the discharge
opening is at the distal end of the tube.
10. An enteric feeding device comprising:
a flexible tube, having an open proximal end, a closed distal end,
and a discharge opening adjacent its distal end;
a hollow stylet connector plug having an inner diameter and
removably secured to the proximal end of the tube;
a stylet having a hook proximal end engaging the interior of said
plug and having an enlarged distal end engaging the interior of the
distal end of the tube and extending the tube;
said stylet having an outer diameter smaller than the inner
diameter of the tube and smaller than the inner diameter of the
plug for passage of fluid between the stylet and the tube and the
stylet and the plug;
stop means for accurately positioning the stylet with respect to
the tube; and
a hollow connector fitting coaxial and integral with said plug and
having a passage communicating with the interior of the plug and
too small for the passage of the hook end of the stylet.
11. The device of claim 10 in which a syringe is attached to the
hollow connector fitting.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention is in the field of devices used for medical
treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART
It is well known in the prior art to use stylets within tubes to be
inserted into a body in order to stiffen the tube to facilitate
insertion as seen, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 873,275,
2,188,631, 2,164,926, 3,397,699, 3,467,101, 3,672,372, 3,726,283,
3,924,632, 3,957,005, 4,073,287, 4,073,297, 4,111,190, 4,148,319,
4,155,364, and 4,160,446. Nasogastric and Nasojejunal tubes are
widely used for hyperalimentation. It is frequently necessary to
employ stylets with these tubes in order to introduce them into the
correct position in the patient. Existing devices require the
physician to either confirm the location of the tips of such tubes
by X-ray, which in some cases is an unnecessary expense and an
added risk to the patient, or to remove the stylet and confirm the
tube position by using other procedures. These procedures include
auscultation using air, injection of small quantities of water, and
aspiration of gastric contents for identification. With all of
these procedures the stylet is removed conventionally. If the tube
is found to be improperly positioned, the stylet must be
reintroduced into the tube in the patient which involves the risk
that the stylet will pass through the tube and puncture soft
gastrointestinal or respiratory tissues. This risk is unacceptable
and avoided by removing the tube and then reintroducing it after
the stylet has been inserted into the tube. This involves
discomfort for the patient and a loss of time. The problem is
greatly aggravated when it takes several repetitions of the
procedure before the tube is found to be in the proper
position.
In accordance with the invention, the above problem is solved by
having a combined tube and stylet which permits the carrying out of
the above discussed procedures without the removal of the
stylet.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An intubating device has a flexible tube with an open proximal end
and a discharge opening adjacent its distal end. A hollow stylet
connector plug is removably secured to the proximal end of the
tube. A stylet is secured to the plug and extends through the
interior of the tube to a point adjacent the distal end of the
tube. The stylet has an outer diameter smaller than the inner
diameter of the tube and smaller than the inner diameter of the
plug to permit the passage of fluid between the stylet and the tube
and between the stylet and the plug. A hollow connector fitting is
integral with the plug and has a passage communicating with the
interior of the plug. A stop accurately locates the stylet with
respect to the tube, preferably extending the tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stylet in accordance with the invention,
partially broken away;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an intubating tube;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an intubating device in accordance with
the invention, partially broken away;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the integral plug and
connector fitting of the intubating device of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross section, partially broken
away, of an alternative intubating tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 3, an intubating device 2 useful, for example,
for enteric feeding has a flexible tube 4 of any material
conventionally used for such tubes such as polyurethane,
polyethylene or polyvinylchloride. A female luer connector 6 has a
reduced portion 7 (FIG. 4) in which is secured the proximal end 8
of tube 4. Connector 6 has a closure plug 10 secured thereto by an
integral flexible strap 12. The distal end 16 of tube 4 is closed.
Adjacent distal end 16 are openings 18 and 20 for the passage of
fluid into or out of tube 4.
A stylet 24 has a wire body 26 (FIG. 1) the distal end 28 of which
is slightly enlarged in the form of a ball and is located adjacent
the distal end 16 of tube 4 (FIG. 3). The proximal end 32 of wire
26 is formed into a hook (FIG. 4) which engages the inside wall 34
of a hollow plug 36 of connector 38. Plug 36 is secured by a
pressed fit inside luer connector 6. A stop shoulder 34A on plug 36
is engaged by the flanged end 6A of luer connector 6 to provide for
precise positioning of the stylet with respect to the tube 4 with
stylet 24 extending tube 4 slightly to insure that the end 28
cannot pull back and pass through one of openings 18 or 20. The
wire is preferably steel such as stainless steel. Connector 38 is
preferably made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene,
polypropylene or polyvinylchloride which the hook end 32 can indent
slightly.
Integral with plug 36 in connector 38 is a female luer connector
40. A wall 42 separates the interior of connector 40 and plug 36,
but this wall has an opening 44 which is big enough for the passage
of fluid but too small to permit passage of the proximal hook end
32 of wire body 26. A raised ring portion 46 of connector 40
facilitates the minipulation of the connector 40 and plug 36. The
exterior 47 of connector 40 is shaped to cooperate with a standard
syringe locking sleeve (not shown) when one is used.
As seen in FIG. 3, a syringe 48 may conveniently have its nozzle 50
received inside connector 40 for forcing auscultation air through
tube 4 for the auscultation procedure or for the aspiration of
gastric contents from the patient for tube placement confirmation.
After the tube has been satisfactorily positioned, syringe 48 is
removed and stylet 24 is removed from tube 4 which may then be
connected in a conventional manner for example, to an enteric
feeding bag (not shown). In this manner the tube is properly
positioned without the necessity for its removal or reinsertion
since the stylet is retained in the tube until positioning is
completed. Further the device is simple in structure and hence of
relatively low cost and easy to handle.
In lieu of the openings 18 and 20 the intubating tube may have an
open end. Referring to FIG. 5, an intubating tube 60 is identical
to tube 4 with the exception that openings 18 and 20 of tube 4 are
eliminated, the tube is provided with an enlarged end 62 having an
opening 64 and the tube is lengthened sufficiently so that wire 26
cannot protrude through opening 64 beyond tube 60. Typically the
opening 64 will be about 2.5 cm beyond the distal end of wire 26
before the tube is inserted into a patient.
The above described embodiments are illustrative and are not
intended to be limiting.
* * * * *