The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 02, 2000
Peter M. Bonutti, Effingham, IL (US);
The Bonutti 2003 Trust -A, Effingham, IL (US);
Abstract
A tracheal tube positioning apparatus is located relative to a patient's trachea by engaging the patient's Adam's apple. Indicia on relatively movable sections of the positioning apparatus provides an indication of the distance between the patient's mouth and the patient's larynx. A flexible guide rod is moved through a distance corresponding to the distance between the patient's mouth and larynx, as determined by the positioning apparatus. A magnet is utilized to attract a leading end portion of the guide rod. A plurality of emitters may be disposed in an array around the patient's Adam's apple. Outputs from the emitters are detected by a detector connected with the guide rod and by a detector connected with the tracheal tube. Alternatively, a plurality of detectors may be disposed in an array around the patient's Adam's apple to detect the output from an emitter connected with the guide rod and by an emitter connected with the tracheal tube. Expandable elements may be connected with the guide rod and/or tracheal tube to steer movement along an insertion path.