GB2446577A

GB2446577A - Airway access valve

Info

Publication number: GB2446577A
Application number: GB0703124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Frederick Shie Sellers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-02-17
Filing date: 2007-02-17
Publication date: 2008-08-20
Also published as: GB0703124D0

Abstract

An airway access valve which comprises a plastic anaesthetic T-piece having anaesthetic compatible 15 millimetre and 22 millimetre connections into which a rubber duck bill valve 3 is inserted which seals against airway devices inserted through it to allowing spontaneous and/or assisted ventilation to take place. The airway access valve may be connected to a variety of airway devices which allow access to the trachea such as an anaesthetic face mask or laryngeal mask. Oxygen or anaesthetic gas may be supplied via a side ventilation arm 2.

Description

Airway access valve This invention allows access to the human trachea

without interrupting ventilation of the lungs.

The human nose, mouth and trachea are delivery routes to the lungs for oxygen and gases used in anaesthesia and intensive care. If the trachea is difficult to intubate because anatomical, traumatic or tumor reasons prevent a direct laryngoscopic view, or when suction of an existing tracheal or tracheostomy tube is required, disconnection of anaesthetic and intensive care gas delivery tubing is necessaly to pass either suction tubing, a fibreoptic endoscope (through which you can see a route into the trachea), or airway bougie guides and tracheal tubes to gain unvisualised access to the trachea.

The present invention uses an existing manufactured rubber "duck bill" non-return valve. This valve is removed by dismantling a laproscopic surgery "Premium trocar system C0600 universal" made by Applied Medical, Rancho Santa Margarita California, 92688 USA who have given verbal permission for this application The valve fits into a plastic T' piece anaesthetic delivery tube and can then be connected to a variety of equipment used in patient care, including; anaesthetic face mask, laryngeal mask airway (which is positioned hi the pharynx), an rntubating laryngeal mask airway, and a tracheostomy tube. Gas delivery can take place through the side arm of the T' piece at the same time as airway access manoeuvres. Through the "duck bill" valve, a fibreoptic endoscope loaded with a tracheal tube, or a 60cm or 70cm long airway bougie, a tracheal tube, or a suction catheter may be inserted on the long axis of the T' tube without loss of gases, with the side arm of the "1'" tube connected to an oxygen or anaesthetic gas delivery system fur spontaneous or assisted ventilation. The dimensions of the T' tube are; length 72mm; at the patient end, 22mm outside diameter and 15mm inside diameter (both anaesthetic standard taper fit), the "T" side arm 22mm outside diameter anaesthetic standard taper fit, and the rubber non return valve end 22mm internal diameter non taper fit. The rubber "duck bill" valve is 40mm long, has a 32mm diameter, a 2mm thick flange above a 22mm tapering neck.

The airway access valve is a single use disposable item.

The invention will be further described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the plastic "1" piece, Figure 2 shows the rubber "duck bill" valve, Figure 3 shows a longitudinal cross section of the "duck bill" valve, Figure 4 shows an end view of the valve Figure 5 shows the assembled unit Figure 6 shows the unit attached to an anaesthetic face-mask with an airway bougie being passed, Figure 7 shows the unit attached to a laryngeal mask with a fibreoptic endoscope loaded with a tracheal tube being passed.

Figure 1 shows the plastic T' tube patient end 1, valve end 2 and side-ventilating arm 3.

Figure 2 is the rubber "duck bill" valve with flange blocking downward egress of the valve 1 and the "duck bill" 2.

Figure 3 shows the internal diaphragm with 3mm hole I and the sealing "duck bill" which closes when gas pressure rises 2.

Figure 4 shows the cruciate arrangement of the distal end of the valve I. Figure 5 shows the assembled unit, patient end 1, side ventilation arm 2, and valve 3.

Figure 6 shows the unit 1, the facemask 2, and an airway bougie 3.

Figure7shows the unit l,attachedtoalaiyngealmask2andafibreopticendoscope 3 with tracheal tube 4 attached and sealed 5. Clain

Claims

1. An airway access valve comprising a lastic anaesthetic T' piece

with anaesthetic compatible I 5am and flnvn connections into which is inserted a rubber "duck bill" valve which seaJs airway devices inserted through it allowing ap siI nous aador assisted ventilation to lake place.

2. An airway access valve according to claim 1 that can be connected to a variety of airway devices that allow access to the trache& Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A disposable airway access valve enabling diagnostic, therapeutic and teaching procedures to be performed by entering into the trachea and lungs of normal patients or patients with difficult airways which will maintain airway safety and security comprising a disposable rubber seal "duck bill" valve made by Applied Medical, California, United States of America which fits into one long axis end of a clear green plastic "T" piece or 3 way connector with anaesthetic compatible dimensions, the fit and seating of the upper flange of the rubber seal "duck bill" preventing it being pushed down the long axis of the 3 way connector or "T" piece when tubes and instruments are passed through it; at the proximal or patient end of the "r' piece or 3 way connector an interference fit is made to anaesthetic face masks, pharyngeal airways, intubating pharyngeal airways, tracheal tubes and tracheostomy tubes, the side arm of the 3 way connector or stalk of the "T' piece accepting breathing tubing to either ventilate the lungs or allow the patient to breathe spontaneously without leak or loss of pressure of oxygen or anaesthetic gases during instrumentation using either fibreoptic endoscopes, airway bougies, tracheal tubes and suction tubes when they are passed through the disposable seal rubber valve along the longitudinal axis of the 3 way connector or "T" piece into the pharynx, through the vocal cords into the trachea and lungs or directly into the trachea through a tracheostomy tube.

Claims 2. A disposable seal rubber "duck bill" non return valve for gases according to claim 1 made by Applied Medical USA and normally used for surgical laproscopic operations to prevent escape of gases from the abdomen when surgical instruments are passed through the disposable seal and used in this airway access valve in a similar manner to allow ventilation of the lungs or spontaneous breathing while diagnostic, therapeutic or teaching procedures occur through the seal of the access valve without loss of airway control or leak of gases such as oxygen, anaesthetic gases or helium in oxygen mixtures.

3. A "r' piece or 3 way clear green thin and stiff plastic tubular connector according to claim 1 of dimensions 72mm long with one long axis end accepting a 22mm outside diameter flanged tight fitting disposable rubber seal valve the other long axis patient end of 22mm outside diameter male anaesthetic standard tapered interference fit and of 15mm inside diameter female anaesthetic standard tapered interference fit and the side arm or stalk of the "T" piece of 22mm inside diameter female anaesthetic standard tapered interference fit which fits the breathing tubing of anaesthetic circuits allowing delivery of gases to a patient without gas escape while instruments and tracheal tubes, themselves sealed to prevent leakage, are passed through the disposable rubber seal valve in the long axis of the 3 way connector or "T" piece into the trachea and lungs.