Airway assembly for tracheal intubation

摘要

In some embodiments, an airway assembly may be used in a procedure that requires tracheal intubation. The airway assembly may include a first conduit, a sleeve, and a stent. The first conduit and the sleeve may be relatively flexible, facilitating insertion of the airway assembly in a body lumen (e.g., an air passage way). The first conduit may function to deliver gases (e.g., air) to the body lumen and consequently the patient. The first conduit may be positioned in the sleeve during use. The sleeve may be removably coupled to the first conduit. In certain embodiments, a sleeve may function to inhibit a stent from expanding until desired. In some embodiments, an elongated member may be positionable in the first conduit. The elongated member may be configurable to substantially retain a new shape upon deformation. The stent may be coupled towards the distal end of the first conduit. The stent may function to inhibit the body lumen from collapsing. In certain embodiments, a stent may function to inhibit the body lumen from collapsing without exerting unnecessary outward pressures on the inner surface of the body lumen.

主权项

1. A method for endotracheal intubation, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting at least a distal end of an airway assembly in an air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of a patient, wherein the airway assembly comprises:
i) a first elongated tubular conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit tapers to a smaller diameter than the proximal end and is positionable within the air passage selected from one of the trachea, right bronchus or left bronchus of the patient and the proximal end of the first elongated tubular conduit remains outside the patient's body, and wherein the first elongated tubular conduit is configurable to deliver gases to and withdraw gases from the patient;ii) a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent fixedly coupled to the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit, wherein the stent is diametrically expandable along an entire length of the stent from an unexpanded state, wherein a diameter of the unexpanded state of the stent is smaller than a diameter of the first elongated tubular conduit, and the stent is formed from a material that is less flexible than the first elongated tubular conduit; andiii) a sleeve, wherein at least a portion of the distal end of the first elongated tubular conduit and at least a portion of the stent are positionable in the sleeve during use, and wherein the sleeve inhibits the stent from expanding until the sleeve is removed from the stent.