Airway Assist Device

Abstract

An airway assist device and methods of making and using an airway assist device to assist in opening an airway or removing fluid or material obstructing an airway of a subject.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a barrel having an open barrel proximal end and a barrel distal end having a first opening and a second opening;   a plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end, said plunger slidably disposed within said barrel;   a first one-way valve coupled to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel;   a second one-way valve coupled to said second opening through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel;   a face mask coupled to said first opening; and   a receptacle coupled to said second opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second one-way valves comprise duck bill valves. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said face mask has a dome extending to a dome outer periphery configured to engage a subject. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said dome comprises a clear material allowing a user to observe a subject engaged to said face mask or a material drawn up from a throat of said subject. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an annular cuff engaged to said dome outer periphery. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said annular cuff comprises an inflatable tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a sealable fluid port coupled to said inflatable tubular member through which fluid ingresses or egresses said annular cuff. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said face mask comprises a plurality of face masks which interchangeably couple to said first opening. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of face masks include a range of different sizes. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a throat tube passing through said face mask, said throat tube having a tube first end fluidically connected to said first opening on said barrel distal end and a tube second end. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more notches disposed in said throat tube second end. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said throat tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone and neoprene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an aperture disposed in said receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising filter coupled to said aperture disposed in said receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said filter allows passage of air and precludes passage of liquids or solids. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a perforated filter retainer coupled to said aperture in said receptacle, said fluid filter disposed in said perforated filter retainer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a perforated filter retainer closure removably or fixedly coupled to said perforated filter retainer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , where said filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a porous foam material, a mesh of treated with a hydrophobic coating, a porous membrane of fluoroplastic, cellulose acetate, polyethersulfone, nylon, cellulose nitrate, and glass fiber, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first seal encircling said plunger proximate said plunger distal end. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first seal and a second seal disposed in spaced apart relation each encircling said plunger proximate said plunger distal end. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a first concentric ring and a second concentric ring encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a first concentric ring, a second concentric ring, and a third concentric ring encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring and said second seal encircling said plunger disposed between said second and third concentric ring. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of any one of  claim 21  or  22 , further comprising a plunger retainer ring having a radially inwardly directed annular lip defining a plunger retainer ring opening, said plunger retainer ring removably coupled to said barrel proximal end with said plunger extending through said plunger retainer ring opening, said annular lip engageable with said second or third concentric ring to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said barrel. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to said plunger proximal end. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory containing a program code executable to produce sound, said microprocessor coupled to said apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a barrel having an open barrel proximal end and a barrel distal end having a first opening;   a plunger slidably disposed within said barrel, said plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end;   a one-way valve coupled to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel;   a face mask coupled to said opening;   a throat tube passing through said dome of said face mask, said resilient tube having tube first end fluidically connected to said opening on said barrel distal end and a tube second end;   a first concentric ring, a second concentric ring and a third concentric ring disposed in spaced apart relation about said plunger proximate said plunger distal end;   a first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring; and   a second seal encircling said plunger disposed between said second concentric ring and said second concentric ring;   wherein outward draw of said plunger creates a suction drawing air into said barrel through said one-way valve on said barrel distal end, causing air to be drawn into said throat tube second end.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a second opening disposed in said barrel distal end through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a second one-way valve coupled to said second opening. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of any one of  claim 27 , further comprising a receptacle coupled to said second opening. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising an aperture disposed in said receptacle. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising a filter coupled to said aperture disposed in said receptacle. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein said filter allows passage of air and precludes passage of liquids or solids. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising a perforated filter retainer coupled to said aperture disposed in said receptacle, said filter disposed in said perforated filter retainer. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising a perforated filter retainer closure removably or fixedly coupled to said perforated filter retainer. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , where said filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a porous foam material, a mesh of treated with a hydrophobic coating, a porous membrane of fluoroplastic, cellulose acetate, polyethersulfone, nylon, cellulose nitrate, and glass fiber, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein said first and second one way-valves comprise duck bill valves. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said face mask has a dome extending to a dome outer periphery configured to engage a subject. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein said dome comprises a sufficiently transparent material allowing visual observation through said dome of said subject or a material drawn up from a throat of said subject. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising an annular cuff engaged to said dome outer periphery. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said annular cuff comprises an inflatable tubular member having a sealable fluid port through fluid ingresses or egresses said annular cuff. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of face masks which interchangeably couple to said first opening. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said plurality of face masks include a range of different sizes. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a throat tube passing through said face mask, said throat tube having a throat tube first end fluidically connected to said first opening on said barrel distal end and a throat tube second end. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , further comprising one or more notches disposed in said throat tube second end and open to said throat tube second end. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein said throat tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone and neoprene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a plunger retainer ring having a radially inwardly directed annular lip defining a plunger retainer ring opening, said plunger retainer ring removably coupled to said barrel proximal end with said plunger extending through said cap opening, said annular lip engageable with said third concentric ring to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said barrel. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a handle attached to said plunger proximal end of the plunger. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a microprocessor including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory containing a program code executable to produce sound, said microprocessor coupled to said apparatus. 
     
     
         49 . A method, comprising:
 forming a barrel having an open barrel proximate end opposite a barrel distal end having a first opening and a second opening;   slidably engaging a plunger within said barrel, said plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end;   coupling a first one-way valve to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel;   coupling a second one-way valve to said second opening through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel;   coupling a face mask to said first opening; and   coupling a receptacle to said second opening.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said first and second one-way valves comprise duck bill valves. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said face mask has a dome extending to a dome outer periphery configured to engage a subject. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said dome comprises a sufficiently transparent material allowing visual observation through said dome of a subject engaged to said face mask or a material drawn up from a throat of said subject. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising engaging an annular cuff to said dome outer periphery. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising inflating a tubular member of said annular cuff, said annular cuff having a sealable fluid port through fluid ingresses or egresses said annular cuff. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising interchangeably coupling a plurality of face masks in a range of different sizes to said first opening. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising passing a throat tube through said face mask, said throat tube having a tube first end fluidically connected to said first opening on said barrel distal end and a tube second end. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising disposing one or more notches throat tube second end. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising disposing an aperture in said receptacle. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising coupling a fluid filter to said aperture disposed in said receptacle. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising coupling a perforated filter retainer to said aperture disposed in said receptacle, and disposing a fluid filter in said perforated filter retainer. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising removably coupling a perforated filter retainer closure to said perforated filter retainer. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising encircling said plunger proximate said plunger distal end with a first seal. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end with a first seal and a second seal. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end with a first concentric ring and a second concentric ring, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said distal end of said barrel with a first concentric ring, a second concentric ring, and a third concentric ring, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring and said second seal encircling said plunger disposed between said second and third concentric ring. 
     
     
         66 . The method of any one of  claim 64  or  65 , further comprising removably coupling a plunger retainer ring to said barrel proximal end, said barrel cap having a radially inwardly directed annular lip, said annular lip engageable with said second concentric ring to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said barrel. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising attaching a handle to said plunger proximal end of the plunger. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising coupling to said apparatus a microprocessor including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory containing a program code executable to produce sound. 
     
     
         69 . A method, comprising:
 slidably engaging a plunger in a barrel, said barrel have a barrel distal end including a first opening including a first one-way valve which allows fluid ingress into said barrel upon outwardly sliding said plunger in said barrel, and a second one-way valve which allows fluid egress from said barrel upon inwardly sliding said plunger in said barrel;   coupling a resilient tube to said first opening;   coupling a face mask about said resilient tube, said resilient tube outwardly extending from said face mask;   inserting said resilient tube into a throat of a subject;   engaging said mask about the mouth and nose of a subject;   outwardly drawing a plunger slidably disposed within said barrel to generate a suction in said resilient tube; and   drawing said fluid or material under said suction from said throat of said subject into said barrel.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising removing said resilient tube from said throat of said subject. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising inwardly pushing said plunger disposed in said barrel to generate a positive pressure in said barrel. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising expelling said fluid or material from said barrel through said second one-way valve disposed in said second opening at said barrel distal end. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , further comprising collecting said fluid or material expelled from said barrel into a receptacle fluidically coupled to said second opening. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising interchangeably coupling a plurality masks to said resilient tube.