This invention generally relates to a multipurpose intra-oral device that can be inserted in the mouth of a patient to gain access to the mouth and throat of the patient.
Presently there is no device that protects the upper and lower dentition, helps to direct the endotracheal tube into the trachea and helps to visualize the pharyngeal area. There has been a commonly fabricated mouthguard device which is used for several purposes, (1) protection for upper and lower teeth especially while sleeping to prevent damage from grinding and clenching, (2) protect upper and lower teeth while playing any sports where an object or another person might cause damage to the persons teeth, and (3) relaxation of the musculature of the face from bruxing, and thereby protect against myofacial pain dysfunction and even reduce possible damage to temperomandibular joint (TMJ). However, these uses for conventional mouthguards do not make them useful to open the mouth sufficiently to provide a 12.5 to 15 mm opening for a child""s throat, and a 17.0 mm to 21.0 mm opening for an adult throat, which permits the endotracheal tube to easily extend into the trachea. Furthermore, for many years, there has been a need for an intubation protection device that helps to protect the upper and lower dentition from damage during the use of the laryngoscope and other similar devices, and a device which helps the physician to visualize the back of the throat for improved operational function.
Devices known in the prior art are in U.S. Pat. Nos., 4,270,531, 4,425,911, 5,623,924, 5,590,643, and 2,669,988. None of these devices provide the flexibility of the present device with a detachable tongue retractor feature, a detachable throat opener, as well as separately engagable and sizable wedges to connect to the respective mouthguards for enabling many different sizes of mouths and types of operations to be accommodated.
The invention is a multipurpose intra-oral device made of a fastener, two mouthguards, a tube, and at least one post. Each mouthguard is connected to a fastener and engages a tooth and the buccal, lingual, and occlusal surface of the mouthguard. The tube is connected to one of the mouthguard""s surfaces. A post is connected to the other mouthguard""s surface for engaging the tube.
The invention is also the above multipurpose intra-oral device made of two fasteners, two mouthguards, a second mouthguard, a first tube and a first post.
The invention is a method for intubating a patient by inserting a tube down a patient""s throat. The method involves opening the patient""s mouth, inserting the multipurpose intra-oral device over the residual ridge, opening the multipurpose intra-oral device by adjusting the fasteners to an open position, insert a throat opener into the channels of the multipurpose intra-oral device, opening the throat. Next, the method involves inserting a tongue retractor into the tongue retractor holder, depressing the tongue, and inserting a tube into the patient""s throat.
The invention is a method for illuminating a patient""s throat. The method includes opening the patient""s mouth having a tongue, inserting a multipurpose device into the patient""s mouth and over the residual, opening the multipurpose intra-oral device by adjusting the fastener to an open position, inserting a throat opener into the channels of the multipurpose intra-oral device, and opening the throat with the throat opener.
Next, the method involves inserting the tongue retractor into the tongue retractor holder, depressing the tongue, and illuminating the patient""s throat.