WO1999033506A1

WO1999033506A1 - Resuscitation device and method of using the same

Info

Publication number: WO1999033506A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/027679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jill Copeland
Original assignee: Jill Copeland
Priority date: 1997-12-29
Filing date: 1998-12-28
Publication date: 1999-07-08
Also published as: AU2017399A

Abstract

The present invention is a resuscitation device (10) for permitting effective mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a victim. The device comprises a central portion (12) with an opening (14) formed therein, a flange (16) extending from the perimeter of the central portion, and a tubular member (20) extending outwardly from the front face of the central portion. The flange is designed to be partially situated between the gum line, and the lips of a victim.

Description

DESCRIPTION

RESUSCITATION DEVICE AND

METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Technical Field

The present invention is directed toward a resuscitation device and,

more particularly, to such a device which is adapted to be internally secured within

a victim's mouth to facilitate the formation of an air tight seal. The present

invention also relates to a method of using the resuscitation device.

Background Art

When a person stops breathing, air must be forced into his or her

lungs at regular intervals in order to provide the interchange of air necessary for

respiration. While mechanical respirators have been developed for use in

performing respiration, such devices are inconvenient to carry and, in emergency

situations, are not typically available. Accordingly, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

must be administered in order to restore respiratory function to the victim.

With the rise of communicable diseases such as acquired immune

deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis A, B and C, herpes simplex, tuberculosis,

and mononucleosis, individuals have been increasingly reluctant to administer

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation since direct contact between the rescuer and the

victim is required. This is particularly true in cases where the victim is unknown to

the rescuer.

In recognition of the foregoing, various non-mechanical, respiration

devices have been disclosed which are designed to reduce the risks associated with

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Such known devices typically include a tube which is adapted to be inserted into the breathing passage of the victim. A common

drawback associated with many of these known devices is that a substantially

airtight seal cannot established over the victim's mouth. This has an adverse

impact on the efficiency of such devices.

Improvements in resuscitation devices were made with the

development of the "donut mask" which includes an inflatable contact rim which,

when filled, becomes resiliently elastic and can therefore adapt itself to cover the

face of a victim and obtain a relatively effective seal. However, such masks

typically do not create an effective seal with (1) victims who have facial hair; (2)

victims with thin faces, and/or (3) victims who do not have any teeth. Further,

existing donut masks are positioned over the victim's mouth and generally must be

repositioned every time the victim's head is moved. Lastly, many donut masks

obstruct the rescuer's view inside the patient's mouth. Accordingly, the rescuer

cannot readily determine if the victim's breathing passage is blocked with, by way

of example, vomit, blood and/or other matter.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of

the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the invention to provide a device

which is adapted to be partially inserted into a victim's mouth in order to create an

air tight seal with the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a resuscitation

device which allows a rescuer to readily determine whether the victim's breathing

passage is obstructed with vomit, blood or other matter. In accordance with the illustrative embodiments, demonstrating

features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a resuscitation

device for permitting effective mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a victim. The

device comprises a central portion with an opening formed therein, a flange

extending from the perimeter of the central portion, and a tubular member

extending outwardly from the central portion. The central portion includes a front

face and a rear face. The tubular member extends outwardly from the front face of

the central portion. The flange is sized to be partially situated between the gum line

and the lips of the victim.

A method of using the resuscitation device is also provided.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be

readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment

thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the

accompanying drawings one form which is presently preferred; it being understood

that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and

instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a lateral perspective view of the resuscitation device of the

present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear planar view of the resuscitation device of the present

invention;

FIG. 3 is a front planar view of the resuscitation device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device shown situated within the

mouth of a victim.

Best Mode of Carrying Out Invention

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference

numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements,

there is shown in the figures a resuscitation device constructed in accordance with

the principles of the present invention and designated generally as 10.

The resuscitation device 10 allows a rescuer to provide effective

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a victim. The device essentially includes a central

portion 12 having an opening 14 formed therein, a flange 16 extending outwardly

from the perimeter 18 of the central portion, and a tubular member 20.

The central portion 12 has a front face 22 and a rear face 24, and

preferably is elliptically shaped as best shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred

embodiment, the central portion is comprised of a translucent, polymeric material.

It is desirable for the central portion 12 to be comprised of a translucent material to

provide the rescuer with a relatively unobstructed view into the mouth of the

victim to determine if the victim's breathing passage is obstructed with blood,

vomit or other matter. The diameter of the opening 14 is preferably from about 2.0

cm to about 4.0 cm.

The flange (or rim) 16 extends from the perimeter 18 of the central

portion 12 and is tapered downwardly from the center thereof. The flange is

designed to be partially situated between the gum line and the lips of the victim so

that an airtight seal can be formed therebetween. (FIG. 4) The resuscitation device 10 preferably has a length of about 8 cm to

about 12 cm (measured across the center of the device from opposing ends thereof)

and a height of about 3 cm to about 6 cm (measured from top to bottom along the

center of the device). The size of the device 10 will depend on whether it is to be

used on an adult, a child or an infant patient.

Obviously, a larger device will be selected if it is to be used on an

adult rather than on a child or an infant. It follows that a resuscitation device

which is to be used on a child will be larger than a device which is to be used on an

infant. It is important for the rescuer to select the correct size of the device for the

appropriate victim to ensure that an airtight seal will be formed between the gum

line and lips of the victim as more fully described below.

In the preferred embodiment, the dimensions of an adult sized

resuscitation device 10 are as follows: a length of about 12 cm (measured across

the center of the device from opposing ends thereof) and a height of about 5 cm

(measured from top to bottom along the center of the device). As stated above, the

dimensions of a child sized device are slightly smaller than the adult sized device.

Similarly, the dimensions of an infant sized device are slightly smaller than the

child sized device.

A nose clip 26 is secured to the front face 22 of the central

portion 12 by means of a tether line 28 as shown in FIGs. 1 and 3. Specifically, the

tether line 28 has one end 30 secured to the front face 22 of the mask and an

opposite end 32 secured to the nose clip. The nose clip 26 allows the rescuer to

occlude the victim's nose during resuscitation while allowing the rescuer's hand to remain free to perform other necessary functions The nose clip is

preferably comprised of a plastic material.

In the preferred embodiment, the tubular member 20 is formed

integrally with the central portion 12 of the device and extends outwardly from the

opening 14 therein. In an alternate embodiment, the tubular member may be

separate from the central portion and secured around the opening by means of an

elastomeric adhesive or the like. The diameter of the tubular member 20

corresponds to the diameter of the opening 14 in the central portion 12.

The tubular member 20 includes a portion which extends outwardly

from the front face 22 of the central portion 12 and which terminates in an end 36

as shown in FIGs. 1 and 3. The portion of the tubular member that extends

outwardly from the front face 22 of the central portion 12 is preferably from

about 1.5 to about 3 cm long.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the principles associated

with the present invention, its operation will now be briefly described. The

resuscitation device 10 is inserted into the victim's mouth so that the tubular

member 20 extends outwardly therefrom. As stated above, the particular size of

the device selected will depend on whether an adult, a child or an infant needs to be

resuscitated. The flange 16 is partially situated between the gum line and the lips

of the victim. The nose clip 26 is then positioned to squeeze the victim's nostril's

shut to avoid air from being misdirected. (FIG. 4)

With the device 10 properly in place, the rescuer forces air through

the tubular member 20 and into the lungs of the victim. Alternately, a mechanical device can be attached to the end 36 of the tubular member in order to force air into

the victim's lungs. Further, a filter can be secured to the end 36 of the tubular

member 20 in order to create a sanitary barrier between the rescuer and the victim

and prevent the transmission of disease.

Since the device of the present invention is designed to be internally

situated in a victim's mouth in the manner set forth above, the absence of teeth of

the victim or the presence of facial hair on the victim will not prevent an airtight

seal from being formed. Further, the device will not be readily dislodged if the

victim's head is repositioned and external pressure is not required to be applied to

the device in order to maintain it in place.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms

without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly

reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing

specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A resuscitation device for permitting effective mouth-to-

mouth resuscitation on a victim comprising:

a central portion having a front face and a rear face, said central

portion further having an opening therein;

a flange extending from the perimeter of said central portion, said

flange being sized to be partially situated between the gum line and the lips of the

victim, and

a tubular member having an end, said tubular member extending

outwardly from said front face of said central portion.

2. The resuscitation device of claim 1 further comprising:

a nose clip, and

a tether line having a first end and a second end, said first end of

said tether line being fixedly connected to said front face of said central portion,

said second end of said tether line being connected to said nose clip.

3. The resuscitation device of claim 1 wherein said central

portion is comprised of a translucent polymeric material.

4. The resuscitation device of claim 1 wherein said flange is

tapered downwardly from the center thereof.

5. The resuscitation device of claim 1 wherein said central

portion has a height of about 8 cm to about 12 cm and a length of about 3 cm to

about 6 cm.

6. A method of using the device of claim 1 comprising the

steps of:

positioning said flange into a victim's mouth so that said flange is

positioned between the gum line and the lips of a victim in order to form a tight

seal between the device and the victim's;

occluding the nostrils of the victim's nose, and

forcing air through said end of said tubular member in order to

inflate the victim's lungs.