referring now to the figures , and more particularly to fig1 thereof , there is illustrated a medical instrument 10 which incorporates the principles of the present invention therein . the instrument 10 is illustrated in use in carrying out an intubation procedure in a patient p , the instrument 10 being held by the hand h of a physician , not illustrated . disposed on the instrument 10 is an endotracheal tube t having a fixture f for attachment to a cuff inflation apparatus , well known in the art , fixture f being coupled to the tube t by a conduit c . disposed within the instrument 10 is an endoscope e , as hereinafter further described . although an endoscope e is illustrated , it is to be understood that other types of medical visualization scopes sometimes called telescopes , bronchoscopes , or the like can also be employed . with reference to fig2 , and 4 , the structure of the instrument 10 can be observed . the instrument 10 includes a handle 12 which is fixedly secured to an elongated obturator element 14 . the elongated obturator element 14 is sized to accommodate the endotracheal tube t thereon and includes a collar portion 16 for frictionally engaging the end of the endotracheal tube t . the collar portion 16 has an annular recess 18 formed therein for engaging the end of the endotracheal tube t with an annular recess 18 being sized to cause frictional engagement . a trigger 20 , which essentially functions as a lever , is pivotably mounted by a pivot mounting 22 to the handle 12 . an end 24 of trigger 20 is shaped so that it engages a protrusion pr , commonly annular in shape , disposed on the endotracheal tube t adjacent to the end thereof . when the trigger 20 is drawn by the user toward the handle 12 , the end 24 of the trigger 20 pushes the protrusion pr overcoming the frictional engagement between the endotracheal tube t and the collar 16 , thereby causing the endotracheal tube to be forced out of engagement with the collar portion 16 and causing the endotracheal tube to be ejected from the elongated obturator element 14 . the handle 12 includes a plurality of undulations 26 to enhance the comfort of the handle 12 in the hand h of the physician , as illustrated in fig1 and the trigger 22 is placed in a position relative to the undulations 26 so that it is readily accessible to the physician . the elongated obturator element 14 has a longitudinal lumen 28 disposed therein which is sized to removably receive therein a portion of the endoscope e , as illustrated in fig3 and 4 . also disposed longitudinally in the elongated obturator element 14 are a longitudinal gas delivery lumen 30 and a longitudinal suction lumen 32 which each terminate and open through the end 34 of the elongated obturator element 14 . the longitudinal gas lumen 30 and the longitudinal suction lumen 32 are in communication , respectively , with conduits 36 and 38 disposed in the handle 12 of the instrument 10 . the conduits 36 and 38 terminate , respectively , in fittings 40 and 42 which are configured to affix to a conventional gas supply and suction apparatus , an example of which is the sanders venturi system . alternately , one of the other numerous high frequency ventilation systems used in resuscitation and endoscopic procedures can be employed . a pair of vents 44 and 46 are in communication , respectively , with the conduits 36 and 38 and are mounted on the handle 12 . the fittings 40 and 42 , vents 44 and 46 , and the conduits 36 and 38 can be integrally formed with the handle 12 or can be incorporated therein from separate components during manufacture . the vents 44 and 46 are provided to control , respectively , the delivery of gas through the longitudinal gas lumen 30 and the provision of suction to the longitudinal suction lumen 32 . when the vents 44 and 46 are uncovered , nothing is delivered or suctioned from the end 34 of the elongated obturator element 14 . if the vent 44 is covered by a finger of the physician , gas , usually oxygen , which must be supplied to the patient , is not permitted to exit the vent 44 and is forced through the conduit 36 to the longitudinal gas lumen 30 and out the end thereof . when the finger is removed from the vent 44 , the gas does not flow through the longitudinal gas lumen 30 and escapes through the vent 44 . by covering the vent 46 , suction is created in the conduit 38 , by virtue of a suitable suction source being connected to fitting 42 , and this causes suction to also be created in the longitudinal suction lumen 32 . when the vent 46 is uncovered , the suction in the conduit 38 and the longitudinal suction tube 32 is terminated since atmospheric air can be sucked in through the vent 46 . although vents 44 and 46 are illustrated for modulating the delivery of gas and the provision of suction , it is to be understood that those skilled in the art could substitute alternate means for accomplishing this end . what has been described is a medical instrument which permits simultaneous visualization and illumination , through use in conjunction with an endoscope , as well as suction , ventilation , and a support or obturator for the intubation of an endotracheal tube . this apparatus can be employed with the use of just one hand of a physician , all of these functions being accomplishable simultaneously . furthermore , the endoscope can be interchanged or replaced as desired without removal of the instrument from its placement within a patient . as illustrated in fig1 when the instrument is held in a semi - vertical or suspension position it can provide anterior lift during intubation . once the obturator element 14 of the apparatus is in position , the endotracheal tube or the like , which is to be left in the patient after the instrument 10 is withdrawn , is separated therefrom easily and quickly by pulling of the trigger 20 and the pivoting thereof , without the necessity of any more than a single handed operation . an alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in fig5 and 6 . the variation in construction of this embodiment is in the handle portion of the apparatus and therefore that is the only section which is illustrated . in fig5 and 6 , a handle 48 having suitable undulations 50 is shown fixedly secured to an elongated obturator element 52 . the elongated obturator element 52 is mounted to the handle 48 intermediate the ends thereof so that the physician &# 39 ; s hand , as illustrated in fig6 can grip the handle with the elongated obturator element 52 suspended between the fingers of the hand h of the physician . a pair of vents 54 and 56 are provided and perform the same function as the vents 44 and 46 , previously described . similarly , an aperture 58 is provided , the aperture 58 being the end of a longitudinal lumen which extends through the elongated obturator 52 for accepting therein an endoscope . a differently configured trigger 60 is incorporated in the handle 48 for separating therefrom the end of an endotracheal tube , the trigger 60 being mounted to the handle in the same pivotal relationship as is the trigger 20 . this configuration is provided and suggested since it may be of a more comfortable arrangement for some of the required intubation positions . it is also to be understood that other modifications of the structure of the present invention and in particular in regard to the handle portion thereof may be made within the principles and scope of the invention . additionally , locations of the vents can be such that they are disposed other than in the positions illustrated . the apparatus hereinbefore described can find application in emergency resuscitation as a replacement for the much less sophisticated or dangerous esophageal obturator . in addition , it can be used as a temporary safe ventilation system at disaster scenes or in wartime positions in the field . in ear , nose , and throat medical practices , it may find use as an adjunct in endoscopic procedures and in the intensive care unit it can be employed for airway inspection and changing of endotracheal tubes or the like . in general , the apparatus will find use in the critical care endoscopy and maxillofacial surgery branches of medicine . it will be understood that various changes in the details , materials , arrangements of parts and operational conditions , which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention , may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention .
a medical instrument for facilitating endotracheal intubation in a patient , the instrument including a handle and an elongated obturator element extending therefrom , the obturator element for releasably retaining thereon a selected endotracheal tube for positioning within the patient , a mechanism being provided for selectively retaining and ejecting the endotracheal tube from the obturator element , the obturator element accommodating therethrough an endoscope to permit visualization at the end thereof to facilitate placement of the endotracheal tube , the apparatus also including structure for providing controlled suction at the end of the obturator element .