Airway Assist Device
An airway assist device and methods of making and using an airway assist device to assist in opening an airway or removing fluid or material obstructing an airway of a subject.
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This United States patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/895,941, filed Jun. 8, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/210,944, filed Jul. 15, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,675,393, issued Jun. 9, 2020, each hereby incorporated by reference herein.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTIONAn airway assist device and methods of making and using an airway assist device to assist in opening an airway or removing fluid or material obstructing an airway of a subject.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA chocking person alone may not be able to perform the Heimlich maneuver on himself or herself. Another person if present may lack the physical strength, be untrained, or be too afraid to perform the Heimlich maneuver on the chocking person.
There would be a substantial advantage for a chocking person to have access to an airway assist device that can be readily used with or without assistance of another person to open the airway when chocking.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA broad object of particular embodiments of the invention can be to provide an airway assist device including a barrel having an open barrel proximal end and a barrel distal end having a first opening and a second opening. A plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end slidably moves within said barrel. A first one-way valve fluidically coupled to the first opening at the barrel distal end allows fluid or materials to pass into the barrel upon outward draw of the plunger in the barrel and a second one-way valve fluidically coupled to the second opening allows fluid or materials to pass out of the barrel upon inward push of the plunger in said barrel. A throat tube fluidically coupled to the first opening passes through a face mask configured to engage the face of a subject with the throat tube inserted into the airway of the subject. A receptacle fluidically coupled to the second opening receives fluid or materials drawn or dislodged from the subject's airway.
Another broad object of particular embodiments of the invention can be to provide an airway assist device including a barrel having an open barrel proximal end and a barrel distal end having an opening. A plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end slidably moves within said barrel. A first concentric ring, a second concentric ring and a third concentric ring disposed in spaced apart relation encircle the plunger proximate said plunger distal end. A first seal encircles the plunger between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring and a second seal encircles the plunger between the second concentric ring and the third concentric ring. A one-way valve fluidically coupled to the first opening at the barrel distal end allows fluid or materials to pass into the barrel upon outward draw of the plunger in the barrel. A throat tube fluidically coupled to the opening passes through a face mask configured to engage the face of a subject with the throat tube inserted into the airway of the subject.
Another broad object of embodiments of the invention can be a method of making an airway assist device including forming a barrel having an open barrel proximate end opposite a barrel distal end having a first opening and a second opening and slidably engaging a plunger within said barrel. Fluidically coupling a first one-way valve to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel and fluidically coupling a second one-way valve to the second opening through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel. Fluidically coupling a throat tube to the first opening which passes through a face mask configured to engage the face of a subject with the throat tube inserted into the airway of the subject. Fluidically coupling a receptacle to the second opening to receive fluid or materials drawn or dislodged from the subject's airway.
Another broad object of particular embodiments of the invention can be a method of using an airway assist device including slidably engaging a plunger in a barrel, wherein the barrel has a barrel distal end including a first opening including a first one-way valve which allows fluid and materials to pass into the barrel upon outwardly drawing the plunger in the barrel, and a second one-way valve which allows fluid to pass from the barrel upon inwardly pushing of the plunger in the barrel. Fluidically coupling a throat tube which passes through a face mask to the first opening. Inserting throat tube into an airway of a subject and engaging the mask about the mouth and nose of the subject and outwardly drawing the plunger slidably disposed within said barrel to generate a suction in throat tube, and drawing fluid or material under said suction from said throat of the subject into the barrel.
Naturally, further objects of the invention are disclosed throughout other areas of the specification, drawings, photographs, and claims.
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In particular embodiments, one or more seals (25) can, but need not necessarily, encircle the plunger (14) proximate the plunger distal end (16) and contact the barrel internal surface (8) upon sliding engagement of the plunger (14) in the barrel (2). In the particular embodiments shown by the Figures, a first seal (25A) and a second seal (25B) can be disposed in spaced apart relation each encircling the plunger (14) proximate the plunger distal end (16). The seals (25) can be configured as any form of mechanical gasket which can be affixed or removably affixed to the plunger (14) and compressed between the barrel (2) and barrel internal surface (8) to reduce transfer of air in the annular space (26) between the plunger (14) and the barrel internal surface (8). In particular embodiments, the one or more seals (25) can comprise one or more O-rings.
In particular embodiments, the plunger (14) can, but need not necessarily, further include one or more concentric rings (27) radially extending from and encircling the plunger (14) proximate the plunger distal end (16). The term “concentric rings” broadly encompasses a continuous concentric ring (27) or concentric ring segments which partially encircle the plunger (14). In particular embodiments, a first concentric ring (27A) can be disposed to encircle and radially extend the plunger distal end (16) of the plunger (14). As shown in the illustrative example of
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Upon proper positioning of the throat tube (39) within the person's throat (T), the method can further comprise outwardly drawing the plunger (14) slidably disposed within said barrel (2)(depicted by arrow A2) to generate a suction in the throat tube (39) which causes air to be drawn into the throat tube second end (41)(depicted by arrow A9)(as shown in the example of
As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of an airway assist device (1) and methods for making and using such airway assist device including the best mode.
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “filter” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “filtering”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “filtering”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “filter” and even a “means for filtering.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. A numerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited numeric value or having the same function or result. Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly, the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have a range of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider as having the same function or result. When a particular element is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element forms another embodiment.
Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwise limited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the airway assist devices herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a barrel having an open barrel proximal end and a barrel distal end having a first opening and a second opening;
- a plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end, said plunger slidably disposed within said barrel;
- a first one-way valve coupled to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel;
- a second one-way valve coupled to said second opening through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel;
- a face mask coupled to said first opening; and
- a receptacle coupled to said second opening.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second one-way valves comprise duck bill valves.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said face mask has a dome extending to a dome outer periphery configured to engage a subject.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said dome comprises a clear material allowing a user to observe a subject engaged to said face mask or a material drawn up from a throat of said subject.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an annular cuff engaged to said dome outer periphery.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said annular cuff comprises an inflatable tubular member.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a sealable fluid port coupled to said inflatable tubular member through which fluid ingresses or egresses said annular cuff.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said face mask comprises a plurality of face masks which interchangeably couple to said first opening.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of face masks include a range of different sizes.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a throat tube passing through said face mask, said throat tube having a tube first end fluidically connected to said first opening on said barrel distal end and a tube second end.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising one or more notches disposed in said throat tube second end.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said throat tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone and neoprene, and combinations thereof.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an aperture disposed in said receptacle.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising filter coupled to said aperture disposed in said receptacle.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said filter allows passage of air and precludes passage of liquids or solids.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a perforated filter retainer coupled to said aperture in said receptacle, said fluid filter disposed in said perforated filter retainer.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a perforated filter retainer closure removably or fixedly coupled to said perforated filter retainer.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, where said filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a porous foam material, a mesh of treated with a hydrophobic coating, a porous membrane of fluoroplastic, cellulose acetate, polyethersulfone, nylon, cellulose nitrate, and glass fiber, and combinations thereof.
19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first seal encircling said plunger proximate said plunger distal end.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first seal and a second seal disposed in spaced apart relation each encircling said plunger proximate said plunger distal end.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a first concentric ring and a second concentric ring encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring.
22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a first concentric ring, a second concentric ring, and a third concentric ring encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring and said second seal encircling said plunger disposed between said second and third concentric ring.
23. The apparatus of any one of claim 21 or 22, further comprising a plunger retainer ring having a radially inwardly directed annular lip defining a plunger retainer ring opening, said plunger retainer ring removably coupled to said barrel proximal end with said plunger extending through said plunger retainer ring opening, said annular lip engageable with said second or third concentric ring to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said barrel.
24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to said plunger proximal end.
25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory containing a program code executable to produce sound, said microprocessor coupled to said apparatus.
26. An apparatus, comprising:
- a barrel having an open barrel proximal end and a barrel distal end having a first opening;
- a plunger slidably disposed within said barrel, said plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end;
- a one-way valve coupled to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel;
- a face mask coupled to said opening;
- a throat tube passing through said dome of said face mask, said resilient tube having tube first end fluidically connected to said opening on said barrel distal end and a tube second end;
- a first concentric ring, a second concentric ring and a third concentric ring disposed in spaced apart relation about said plunger proximate said plunger distal end;
- a first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring; and
- a second seal encircling said plunger disposed between said second concentric ring and said second concentric ring;
- wherein outward draw of said plunger creates a suction drawing air into said barrel through said one-way valve on said barrel distal end, causing air to be drawn into said throat tube second end.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a second opening disposed in said barrel distal end through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel.
28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a second one-way valve coupled to said second opening.
29. The apparatus of any one of claim 27, further comprising a receptacle coupled to said second opening.
30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an aperture disposed in said receptacle.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a filter coupled to said aperture disposed in said receptacle.
32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said filter allows passage of air and precludes passage of liquids or solids.
33. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a perforated filter retainer coupled to said aperture disposed in said receptacle, said filter disposed in said perforated filter retainer.
34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a perforated filter retainer closure removably or fixedly coupled to said perforated filter retainer.
35. The apparatus of claim 31, where said filter comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a porous foam material, a mesh of treated with a hydrophobic coating, a porous membrane of fluoroplastic, cellulose acetate, polyethersulfone, nylon, cellulose nitrate, and glass fiber, and combinations thereof.
36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said first and second one way-valves comprise duck bill valves.
37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said face mask has a dome extending to a dome outer periphery configured to engage a subject.
38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said dome comprises a sufficiently transparent material allowing visual observation through said dome of said subject or a material drawn up from a throat of said subject.
39. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising an annular cuff engaged to said dome outer periphery.
40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said annular cuff comprises an inflatable tubular member having a sealable fluid port through fluid ingresses or egresses said annular cuff.
41. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of face masks which interchangeably couple to said first opening.
42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said plurality of face masks include a range of different sizes.
43. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a throat tube passing through said face mask, said throat tube having a throat tube first end fluidically connected to said first opening on said barrel distal end and a throat tube second end.
44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising one or more notches disposed in said throat tube second end and open to said throat tube second end.
45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said throat tube comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone and neoprene, and combinations thereof.
46. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a plunger retainer ring having a radially inwardly directed annular lip defining a plunger retainer ring opening, said plunger retainer ring removably coupled to said barrel proximal end with said plunger extending through said cap opening, said annular lip engageable with said third concentric ring to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said barrel.
47. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a handle attached to said plunger proximal end of the plunger.
48. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a microprocessor including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory containing a program code executable to produce sound, said microprocessor coupled to said apparatus.
49. A method, comprising:
- forming a barrel having an open barrel proximate end opposite a barrel distal end having a first opening and a second opening;
- slidably engaging a plunger within said barrel, said plunger having a plunger proximal end and a plunger distal end;
- coupling a first one-way valve to said first opening at said barrel distal end through which fluid passes into said barrel upon outward draw of said plunger in said barrel;
- coupling a second one-way valve to said second opening through which fluid passes out of said barrel upon inward push of said plunger in said barrel;
- coupling a face mask to said first opening; and
- coupling a receptacle to said second opening.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein said first and second one-way valves comprise duck bill valves.
51. The method of claim 49, wherein said face mask has a dome extending to a dome outer periphery configured to engage a subject.
52. The method of claim 50, wherein said dome comprises a sufficiently transparent material allowing visual observation through said dome of a subject engaged to said face mask or a material drawn up from a throat of said subject.
53. The method of claim 51, further comprising engaging an annular cuff to said dome outer periphery.
54. The method of claim 53, further comprising inflating a tubular member of said annular cuff, said annular cuff having a sealable fluid port through fluid ingresses or egresses said annular cuff.
55. The method of claim 49, further comprising interchangeably coupling a plurality of face masks in a range of different sizes to said first opening.
56. The method of claim 49, further comprising passing a throat tube through said face mask, said throat tube having a tube first end fluidically connected to said first opening on said barrel distal end and a tube second end.
57. The method of claim 56, further comprising disposing one or more notches throat tube second end.
58. The method of claim 49, further comprising disposing an aperture in said receptacle.
59. The method of claim 58, further comprising coupling a fluid filter to said aperture disposed in said receptacle.
60. The method of claim 59, further comprising coupling a perforated filter retainer to said aperture disposed in said receptacle, and disposing a fluid filter in said perforated filter retainer.
61. The method of claim 60, further comprising removably coupling a perforated filter retainer closure to said perforated filter retainer.
62. The method of claim 49, further comprising encircling said plunger proximate said plunger distal end with a first seal.
63. The method of claim 49, further comprising encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end with a first seal and a second seal.
64. The method of claim 62, further comprising encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said plunger distal end with a first concentric ring and a second concentric ring, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring.
65. The method of claim 63, further comprising encircling said plunger in spaced apart relation proximate said distal end of said barrel with a first concentric ring, a second concentric ring, and a third concentric ring, said first seal encircling said plunger disposed between said first concentric ring and said second concentric ring and said second seal encircling said plunger disposed between said second and third concentric ring.
66. The method of any one of claim 64 or 65, further comprising removably coupling a plunger retainer ring to said barrel proximal end, said barrel cap having a radially inwardly directed annular lip, said annular lip engageable with said second concentric ring to prevent withdrawal of said plunger from said barrel.
67. The method of claim 49, further comprising attaching a handle to said plunger proximal end of the plunger.
68. The method of claim 49, further comprising coupling to said apparatus a microprocessor including a processor communicatively coupled to a non-transitory memory containing a program code executable to produce sound.
69. A method, comprising:
- slidably engaging a plunger in a barrel, said barrel have a barrel distal end including a first opening including a first one-way valve which allows fluid ingress into said barrel upon outwardly sliding said plunger in said barrel, and a second one-way valve which allows fluid egress from said barrel upon inwardly sliding said plunger in said barrel;
- coupling a resilient tube to said first opening;
- coupling a face mask about said resilient tube, said resilient tube outwardly extending from said face mask;
- inserting said resilient tube into a throat of a subject;
- engaging said mask about the mouth and nose of a subject;
- outwardly drawing a plunger slidably disposed within said barrel to generate a suction in said resilient tube; and
- drawing said fluid or material under said suction from said throat of said subject into said barrel.
70. The method of claim 69, further comprising removing said resilient tube from said throat of said subject.
71. The method of claim 70, further comprising inwardly pushing said plunger disposed in said barrel to generate a positive pressure in said barrel.
72. The method of claim 71, further comprising expelling said fluid or material from said barrel through said second one-way valve disposed in said second opening at said barrel distal end.
73. The method of claim 72, further comprising collecting said fluid or material expelled from said barrel into a receptacle fluidically coupled to said second opening.
74. The method of claim 69, further comprising interchangeably coupling a plurality masks to said resilient tube.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2023
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2023
Applicant: Dechoker LLC (Wheat Ridge, CO)
Inventor: Alan R. Carver (Erie, CO)
Application Number: 18/217,457