Oral intubation is a procedure by which a tube is inserted through the mouth down into the trachea, the large airway from the mouth to the lungs. The tube is often inserted with the a laryngoscope, an instrument that permits the person inserting the tube to see the upper portion of the trachea, just below the vocal cords. During the procedure, the laryngoscope is used to hold the tongue to the side while the tube is inserted into the trachea. Critical to the procedure is that the head of the patient be positioned in the appropriate manner to allow for proper visualization. Additionally, pressure is typically applied to the thyroid cartilage (or Adam's apple) to allow better visualization of the trachea and to prevent possible aspiration.
Oral intubation is often a difficult medical procedure because the anatomy of some patients makes it difficult to view the patient's vocal chords, which is essential for successful intubation. Examples of patients where oral intubation is difficult include overweight patients, patients with an anterior placed trachea, patients with a short neck such as pediatric patients, and/or patients requiring intubation out in the field in an emergency situation. The existing methods of oral intubation involve prying forward on the patient's upper lip and teeth with the standard laryngoscope blade which often causes injury and, most importantly, results in an unsuccessful intubation or view of the patient's vocal chords. When the laryngoscope blade is tilted back into the upper lip and teeth, injury to the patient, such as broken teeth and lacerations to the interior of the mouth, may occur.
A device for oral intubation that may be easily used to provide successful oral intubation to difficult-to-intubate patients is needed. A device that uses a hard palate pivot support as a safe anchor point to push against the roof of a patient's mouth and consequently open the airway (or oropharynx) in order to visualize the vocal chords is needed.