Patents by Inventor Gary H. Flam

Gary H. Flam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5607386
    Abstract: A malleable fiberoptic intubating apparatus has an elongate arcuate thin-walled tubular stylet which removably carries an endotracheal tube around it and the fiberoptic bundle of a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope within it, a handle at the rearward end of the stylet, and a telescoping bronchoscope support arm that releasably receives and carries a bronchoscope and moves relative to the handle. An adjustable endotracheal tube positioning element engages the proximal end of the endotracheal tube and positions it on the stylet. An adjustable fiberoptic bundle positioning element engages the flexible fiberoptic bundle of the bronchoscope and positions it within the stylet. The instrument is placed in the mouth, the larynx is identified, and the instrument is advanced as a unit into the trachea. Then the fiberoptic bronchoscope and stylet are removed from the mouth, leaving the endotracheal tube in the proper part of the trachea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Gary H. Flam
  • Patent number: 5590643
    Abstract: A mandibular protracting oral intubating airway has a rigid main body with a mouthpiece portion at the forward end. The mouthpiece portion has an annular front flange and a bite portion extending a short distance rearwardly therefrom which is generally oval-shaped in transverse cross section and has an annular rear flange at the rear end thereof. A flat, generally C-shaped tongue retractor portion extends rearwardly from the rear flange of the bite portion and curves downwardly. A resilient annular sleeve encircles the bite portion between the front and rear flanges and has a series of longitudinally spaced generally arcuate grooves extending transversely across its exterior top and bottom surfaces. When properly positioned in the mouth of a patient, the upper and lower teeth are retained in the grooves of the resilient sleeve with the mandible protracted maximally forward relative to the maxilla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Gary H. Flam
  • Patent number: 5513627
    Abstract: An esophageal tracheal intubator airway device which allows rapid blind access to the larynx and esophagus of a patient for lung ventilation, stomach suctioning, fiberscopic examination of the upper respiratory and upper gastrointestinal tracts, and passage of an endotracheal tube into the trachea. The device has a conical positioning element which conforms to the base of the throat beneath the epiglottis and an elongate tubular esophageal conduit which extends through the positioning element and rearwardly therefrom in an arcuate curve. The esophageal conduit is sized to allow passage of a gastric suction tube and related medical instruments therethrough into the patient's esophagus. A laryngeal channel extends inwardly from the positioning element proximal end and curves outwardly to define an opening through the side wall of the positioning element. The channel is sized to allow passage of a cuffed endotracheal tube and related medical instruments therethrough into the patient's larynx and trachea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Gary H. Flam
  • Patent number: 5431152
    Abstract: An endotracheal intubating instrument has an elongate curvilinear blade member releasably attachable to a handle and a central channel sized to removably receive and slidably engage an endotracheal tube therein, an elongate tubular housing removably connected at its forward end to the rearward end of the endotracheal tube which removably receives a fiberoptic scope having an eyepiece at a rearward end and a fiberoptic bundle extending forwardly within the endotracheal tube, and an adjustable positioning element through which the forwardly extending fiberoptic bundle passes for adjustably positioning and maintaining the tip end of the fiberoptic bundle relative to the forward end of the endotracheal tube. The apparatus is placed in the mouth, the larynx is identified, and the endotracheal tube, housing, and fiberoptic scope are advanced as a unit into the trachea as the blade is removed. Then the fiberoptic scope and housing are withdrawn, leaving the endotracheal tube in the desired part of the trachea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Inventors: Gary H. Flam, Susan W. Gilbert