Methods and Apparatus for Safe Application of an Intubation Device

Abstract

Intubation is a potentially dangerous invasive procedure with many plausible errors, such as over-inflation of a cuff and insertion of an intubation tube in the wrong lumen, potentially resulting in a patient's internal bleeding, suffocation, or even death. An intubation aide according to example embodiments of the present invention allows intubation of a patient, while eliminating potential injury to the patient, increasing accuracy and reliability of the placement of the intubation tube, and drastically decreasing procedural time. Within moments of insertion of the device into a patient, the medical caregiver knows, with complete certainty, the location of the intubation device without applying traditional time-consuming tasks. Embodiments also provide patient safety, if intubated for a prolonged periods, by regulating an inflation pressure of the cuff. The intubation aide can also be used for training purposes and is ideal for intubation in hospital and field settings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with an intubation device, comprising:
 a first structure having a stiffness configured to biomimick an anterior wall of a trachea or esophagus, the first structure further configured to be located proximal to a fore of at least one cuff coupled to an intubation tube of the intubation device; and   a second structure having a stiffness configured to biomimick a posterior wall of the trachea or esophagus, the second structure configured to be located proximal to an aft of the at least one cuff   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structures are further configured to be placed in a compartment of a container configured for functional testing or calibration of the intubation device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second structures are further configured to be placed in a lumen of a test dummy configured for functional testing or calibration of the intubation device or testing of a medical caregiver.