Emergency airway management device

Abstract

An emergency airway tube for use in resuscitation of non-breathing patients by inserting the tube through the mouth until it randomly lodges either in the trachea or the esophagus. Only one insertion is needed. The tube is designed to ventilate the lungs regardless of which passageway it is lodged in. The tube has three tubes--the outer tube, an inner tube, which runs along and within the bore of the outer tube, and an air passageway for inflating an inflatable cuff located at the distal end of the outer tube which enters the trachea or esophagus. The end of the inner tube has a pneumatic seal for forming an airtight fit within and adjacent the distal end of the outer tube. The outer tube has a cluster of side air ports in its wall located generally midway between the ends of the tube. If the tip of the tube engages the trachea on insertion, the cuff is inflated and the inner tube will be the air passageway to ventilate the patient. If the tip of the tube engages the esophagus, the cuff will seal off the stomach. The outer tube will be the air passageway to ventilate the lungs by way of the side air ports in the outer tube's wall. A face mask is placed over the face of the patient to stop air leakage while the patient is being ventilated via the air ports.