Medical placement device

Abstract

An apparatus for establishment of an airway in transtracheal intubation via the cricothyroid membrane is disclosed in which the design integrates within a single unit a curvilinear needle with cutting blade, stylet, syringe and non-metal airway cannula in an over-the-needle position. The integrated design enhances quick and accurate placement of the airway in both emergency and non-emergency applications.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for performing transtracheal intubation via the cricothyroid membrane comprising, in combination: a syringe means comprising at least one hollow barrel with a distal end adapted for attachment of integral apparatus means;   a plunger means slideably disposed within said hollow barrel of said syringe means;   a flexible stylet means slideably disposed within said barrel of said syringe means;   a hollow curvilinear needle means integrally attached to said distal end of said syringe means, said needle means having at its distal end a sharpened edge to serve as a cutting blade; and   a non-metal hollow tube airway means which is slideably disposed over said needle means.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said syringe means is comprised of a double-barrel means in which said plunger means is slideably disposed within one barrel, and said stylet means is slideably disposed within the other barrel. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said stylet means is integrally attached to said plunger means. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises a hollow tube means for dilation of the trachea which is slideably disposed over said hollow tube airway means. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said stylet means is hollow. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said needle means further comprises a hollowed conduit along the entire length of said needle means. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said needle means is straight. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said hollow tube airway means may be manufactured of a material which retains a preformed shape original to its manufacture once placed within the body cavity. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said hollow tube airway means is curvilinear and of a semi-rigid material. .Iadd. 
     
     
       10.  A tube introduction apparatus for intratracheal, intravenous, intraplural, intraabdominal or urological use, comprising: a hollow barrel having a proximal end and a distal end;   an elongated member partially disposed within said barrel and moveable with respect to said barrel between a proximally retracted position and a distally inserted position;   said elongated member having the proximal end thereof protruding proximally outwardly of said proximal end of said barrel;   a hollow needle attached to the distal end of said barrel, said needle having at its distal end a sharpened edge to serve as a cutting blade;   a flexible stylet telescopically and slideably disposed within said needle, said stylet having the proximal end thereof protruding into said barrel and being at least distally moveable by said member such that when said member is in the retracted position the distal end of said stylet is located proximally of said sharpened edge of said needle, and when said member is in the inserted position the distal end of said stylet is located distally of said sharpened edge;   a hollow conduit telescopically and slideably disposed on said needle wherein the distal end of said conduit is initially proximal of said sharpened edge of said needle, such that when said member is in the inserted position, said stylet forms a guide for said hollow conduit as said conduit is distally slideably removed from said needle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said barrel is a syringe barrel and said elongated member is a syringe plunger. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said needle is straight. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said needle is curved. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said member is permanently affixed to said stylet and said stylet is moveable both proximally and distally with said member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 and further comprising means for permitting fluid flow from said needle to said barrel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for permitting fluid flow comprises said stylet being hollow to define a fluid passageway therethrough. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein:   said barrel is a syringe barrel and said member is a syringe plunger;   said plunger being retractably moveable with respect to said stylet;   means for providing a fluid communication between the distal end of said needle and the distal end of said plunger,   whereby when said plunger is retracted in said syringe barrel, fluid will   
     
     
        be drawn into said barrel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein: said means for permitting fluid flow comprises said stylet being hollow to define a fluid passageway therethrough. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. An apparatus for introducing a conduit into a mammalian body, comprising:   a hollow syringe barrel with a proximal end and a distal end, said barrel being open at its ends only;   a plunger slideably disposed within said hollow syringe barrel, said plunger being manually movable back and forth in said syringe barrel and having the proximal end thereof protruding from the proximal end opening of said hollow barrel;   a hollow needle attached to the distal end of said syringe barrel, said needle having at its distal end a sharpened edge to serve as a cutting blade;   a flexible stylet slideably disposed within said needle, said stylet being moveable at least distally with the distal end of said plunger such that when said plunger is moved to its distal position said stylet extends distally beyond said sharpened edge of said needle;   a hollow conduit slideably disposed over said needle, said stylet extending through said hollow conduit and out the distal end thereof when the plunger is moved to its distal position in the syringe barrel, such that said stylet forms a guide for said hollow conduit as said conduit is slideably moved distally over the needle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said stylet is integrally attached to said plunger. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which said needle, said stylet and said hollow conduit are co-axial.