Nasal intubation device and system for intubation

{
  "publication_number": "US6543452B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Nasal intubation device and system for intubation",
  "abstract": "A nasal intubation device is used to penetrate a nasal region and provide irrigation and/or medication to the nasal region. This intubation device can also be used in other applications. The intubation device comprises a flexible tube and a distal tip at the distal end of the flexible tube. The distal tip includes flanges forming a generally arrow shape that is capable of penetrating the nasal region and allowing the intubation device to remain within the nasal region. The flexible tube includes a passageway communicating with a perforated region proximate the distal end to provide the irrigation and/or medication. An implantation device, such as a canula-trocart, can be used to implant the intubation device.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A nasal intubation device comprising: a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway extending from said proximal end to said distal end; and a distal tip located at said distal end of said flexible tube, said distal tip including a pointed end and flanges extending toward said proximal end of said flexible tube and at an angle with respect to said flexible tube, said distal tip being made of a material sufficiently hard so as to be able to penetrate nasal bone and further including a support member disposed beneath said flanges for receiving pressure toward said distal tip during insertion.",
    "2. The nasal intubation device of claim 1 wherein said flexible tube includes a perforated area proximate said distal end, and wherein said passageway communicates with said perforated area.",
    "3. The nasal intubation device of claim 1 wherein said support member includes a ring disposed around said distal end.",
    "4. The nasal intubation device of claim 1 wherein said flanges form an angle of about 30° with respect to said flexible tube.",
    "5. The nasal intubation device of claim 1 wherein the width of said flanges tapers outwardly away from said pointed end.",
    "6. A nasal intubation system comprising: a flexible tube having a tube proximal end, a tube distal end, and a tube passageway extending from said tube proximal end to said tube distal end; and a distal tip located at said tube distal end of said flexible tube, said distal tip being generally arrow-shaped and having at least two flanges, and further including a support member disposed beneath said flanges for supporting said distal tip on a distal end of an implantation device, said distal tip being made from a material sufficiently hard so as to be able to penetrate nasal bone; and said implantation device including a proximal end, said distal end, and a passageway extending from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said flexible tube of said nasal intubation device is adapted to be positioned within said passageway of said implantation device such that said distal tip of said nasal intubation device and the support member are supported on said distal end of said implantation device.",
    "7. The nasal intubation system of claim 6 wherein said flexible tube includes a perforated area proximate said tube distal end, and wherein said passageway communicates with said perforated area.",
    "8. The nasal intubation system of claim 6 wherein said implantation device includes a bend proximate said distal end of said implantation device.",
    "9. The nasal intubation system of claim 6 wherein said implantation device is a canula-trocart.",
    "10. The nasal intubation system of claim 6 wherein said flanges form an angle of about 30° with respect to said flexible tube.",
    "11. The nasal intubation system of claim 6 wherein the width of said flanges tapers outwardly away from said pointed end.",
    "12. The nasal intubation system of claim 6 wherein said implantation device is adapted to provide at least one of suction and irrigation."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to tubes for medical applications and more particularly, to a nasal intubation device for penetrating and irrigating the ethmoid sinus region.\n\nIntubation devices, in general, are well known in the medical field. Tubes are often inserted into body passageways or cavities of a patient to ventilate, drain, and/or irrigate the cavity into which the tube in inserted. Continuing efforts are being made to design intubation devices that are easily and comfortably inserted into a patient, particularly when the tube must be left in place within the patient.\n\nOne medical use for an intubation device is in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). CRS is a disease of the nasal and paranasal sinuses characterized by the symptoms of facial pain, nasal obstruction, and rhinorrhea. Dysfunction of the anterior ethmoidal cells is the main cause of chronic sinusitis. The ethmoid sinus is a complex labyrinth formed by independent cells. Under normal conditions, narrow spaces such as fissures and ostia are very resistant to infection. When corresponding mucosal areas are firmly pressed together, however, secretions cannot be eliminated by ciliary transport, providing ideal conditions for viral and bacterial growth.\n\nWhen recurrent infection and clinical symptoms are not improved by medical therapy, surgery may be performed involving the removal of ethmoidal tissue and middle meatus antrostomy. The current surgical intervention that is recommended in these patients is functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).",
  "cpc": [
    "A61M 25/04"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61M 25/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Medilyfe Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Francois Lavigne"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2000-11-16",
  "publication_date": "2003-04-08",
  "grant_date": "2003-04-08",
  "priority_date": "2000-11-16",
  "application_number": "US-71407500-A",
  "family_id": "24868663",
  "cited_by_count": 622,
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}