초록 ▼

An endotracheal tube (10) is adapted to cooperate with a marking insert (36) for the purpose of providing means for the indication of a correct depth of placement of the endotracheal tube as it resides appropriately positioned within the intubated pathway. The marking insert is included to the recep

An endotracheal tube (10) is adapted to cooperate with a marking insert (36) for the purpose of providing means for the indication of a correct depth of placement of the endotracheal tube as it resides appropriately positioned within the intubated pathway. The marking insert is included to the receptive interior of a secondary passage (26) defined by the wall (14) of the tubular member (12) of the endotracheal tube and is slidably adjusted into a postion to space-relate a suitable portion of the marking insert with a stationary reference means such as the patient\s lips (56A and 56b). The adjustment of the insert into a marking position is made at a time when the position of the forward end (20) of the endotracheal tube is known to be correctly distant from the tracheal bifurcation (54). The forward termination (40) of the insert may be used to adjacently space-relate with the stationary reference means and may be visible through the transparent wall of the endotracheal tube. Alternately, an insert tab (44), useful in adjusting the marking insert, could serve to adjacently or distantly space-relate with the stationary reference means, the tab being unconfined by the secondary passage and clearly visible to the clinician. The clinician (58) is alerted to a malposition of the endotracheal tube when the forward termination of the marking insert, or its tab member, is significantly dislocated from the intended spaced relation with the stationary reference means. A novel method of manufacturing and supplying the marking insert is disclosed in two alternative embodiments.

대표청구항 ▼

A marking system for indicating a correct placement depth of a tubular apparatus inserted within an anatomical pathway, said apparatus comprising an elongated tubular means including a wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, a forward portion and end for residing at a depth within

A marking system for indicating a correct placement depth of a tubular apparatus inserted within an anatomical pathway, said apparatus comprising an elongated tubular means including a wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, a forward portion and end for residing at a depth within said anatomical pathway, and a rearward portion and end for residing a distance outside said anatomical pathway, said marking system comprising: guide means of longitudinal extent provided by the wall of said tubular means and adapted for positionally retaining an insert means, said guide means comprising a passage means recessively defined by said tubular means and an elongated wall separation in the wall of said tubular means leading from said outer wall surface to said passage means, said passage means and said wall separation in combination in the rearward portion of said tubular means and extending in combination a substantial distance toward said forward end; insert means of longitudinal extend adapted for inclusion and slidable adjustment within said guide means, said insert means including a laterally projecting side member for extending within said wall separation, and also presenting a distinguishing means suitable for space-relating to a stationary reference means, said stationary reference means located apart from said apparatus and stationary with respect to a range of locations within said anatomical pathway; whereby, said insert means may be included to said guide means and adjusted within the same as said side member extends within said wall separation, said side member suitable for manipulating said insert means along said guide means and into a position so that said distinguishing means may be space-related to said stationary reference means when said tubular means is inserted within said anatomical pathway to a desired depth, so that a continuation of the spaced relation between said distinguishing means and said stationary reference means indicates a continuation of a correct depth of placement of said tubular means within said anatomical pathway, and a substantial departure of the spaced relation between distinguishing means and stationary reference means indicates a departure from a correct depth of placement of said tubular means within said anatomical pathway.