WO2012113933A1

WO2012113933A1 - Buccopharyngeal router

Info

Publication number: WO2012113933A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/053211
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Lucchina; Stéphane Checcaroni
Original assignee: Pascal Lucchina; Checcaroni Stephane
Priority date: 2011-02-25
Filing date: 2012-02-24
Publication date: 2012-08-30
Also published as: FR2971945A1; FR2971945B1

Abstract

Buccopharyngeal router comprising: a head (30) to be positioned outside a buccopharyngeal cavity, a tube (10) to be placed in the buccopharyngeal cavity and comprising: a body (23) of longitudinal extension, a proximal end (11) connected to the head (30), a distal end (12), a distal respiratory orifice (13) to be connected to the larynx, a respiratory conduit connecting said distal respiratory orifice (13) to a proximal respiratory orifice (33) arranged in the head (30), and a casing (40) matching the outer shape of said tube (10) when deflated, matching the volume of the buccopharyngeal cavity when inflated, and covering the tube (10), except for the distal respiratory orifice (13), over a large part of the insertable useful surface area of the tube (10).

Description

Oropharyngeal Router

The present invention relates to an oral-pharyngeal router. An oral-pharyngeal router is a medical or veterinary device of a new kind. It is intended to be introduced into the bucco-pharyngeal cavity of a human or animal patient at the crossroads of the respiratory and digestive tracts. Its function is to isolate and protect the respiratory and digestive tracts in order to allow their natural or assisted functioning, while allowing the passage of diagnostic or surgical instruments.

There is currently no device in the prior art that provides all the functions of such a router.

However some devices approach it by performing at least partially some of these functions. We can thus cite two groups:

Laryngeal masks include a mask that caps the larynx entrance to isolate it from the pharynx. The mask is connected to a duct connecting the mask and the larynx inlet to a proximal orifice located outside the mouth and allowing bidirectional circulation of the respiratory gases;

the balloon tubes comprise a tube equipped with two balloons. A first proximal balloon occludes the pharynx above the larynx entrance, while a second balloon occludes the pharynx or esophagus below the laryngeal inlet. Thus, the balloons isolate a pharyngeal space around the entrance of the larynx. The tube still carries a conduit between a distal orifice located between the two balloons and therefore in connection with the entry of the larynx and a proximal orifice located outside the mouth, allowing bidirectional circulation of respiratory gases.

Such devices are described in patents US 5976072, WO 02 32490, US 5665176, GB 2319182, GB 2373188, US 6318367, WO 0061213, WO 9712640, EP 1875937.

All these devices have varying but significant degrees of comorbidity. Their use can cause unacceptable physiological changes and / or temporary or permanent anatomical or structural damage. Mortality cases, directly or indirectly, attributable to the use of these devices have also been reported.

The causes of these serious functional, anatomical, ergonomic, technical or economic problems are, among others, the following.

The devices of the laryngeal mask type are put in place on the entrance of the larynx. However, they tend to go too far in penetrating the laryngeal lumen, at the risk of creating lesions. In addition, an undesirable reflex response is caused by the presence of a tube in the trachea, as well as by the prior laryngoscopy necessary for setting up the device.

Another disadvantage associated with the use of an inflatable balloon for sealing is that a relatively large pressure must be applied to epithelial surfaces whose important and highly specialized functions may be compromised due to support of reduced dimensions. In fact, the tissues of the pharynx, esophagus and / or laryngo-pharynx are very sensitive and include insulated blood vessels and motor nerves that can be damaged. The vocal cords can also be damaged. The architecture of the upper airways is also distorted. In general, the principle of these devices based on the search for a tightness by a balloon, a pad or a ring, inflatable or not, is detrimental to the safety of the patient because the support on the tissues is concentrated on a small surface, at the risk of irreparably creating points of compression and blockage, in particular, vascularization and nerves.

This disadvantage is further accentuated by the fact that to obtain a satisfactory seal, the balloons must often be over inflated, which has the effect of hardening them excessively, especially when, as often, their walls are too thin and preformed to receive a pre-established air volume.

In the opposite case of pad little or not inflated sealing is usually difficult to obtain.

Poor sealing leaves the field free for secretions and bacteria from the digestive tract that can flow passively by gravity or actively by pressure gradient. Similarly, secretions from the sinuses can flow passively by gravity. All these secretions meet and accumulate in the pharynx, which is the most sloping point of the aerodigestive junction. These accumulated secretions can then ooze and colonize the trachea, then the bronchi and pulmonary alveoli, thus creating serious attacks and infections to the tissues and respiratory tracts.

Poor sealing is still detrimental to the good flow of the vented air and can lead to problems with low pressure and / or inhalation.

This defect is amplified by the fact that the balloons and inflatable rings or not of the prior art are preformed to receive a predetermined volume of air and are therefore very little extensible. When they are at their inflation limits their walls are then hard and unable to expand flexibly to fill the voids and / or regulate the distortions of support, created by an unfortunate movement of the device, and / or the reflex movements and various of the patient, and / or the manipulations of the practitioner. In this way, leaks are produced that are latent and gastric and have serious and harmful consequences for patients.

In addition, the devices of the prior art lack, by their principle, stability. Indeed, the slightest force applied to the proximal end of such devices (rotation, torsion or lateral support and / or movements of patients and / or manipulations of the practitioner ...), is immediately leveraged by the effect of leverage on the only internal support points that constitute, the or pads, balloons, or rings and their punctual supports. This causes displacements affecting the positioning of the device. This can cause displacement of the distal airway. If it is no longer facing the entrance of the larynx, the respiratory function of the device is no longer assured. In addition a displacement calls into question, most often, sealing.

Through these disadvantages, the very reliability of such a device is questioned. However, reliability is paramount in terms of the functions performed and the serious and harmful consequences that a failure may cause to the patient.

The devices of the prior art often have poor anatomical shapes. Most are relatively rigid and all are curved. It appears that such a curvature is contrary to the anatomy of the oral cavity which, when the jaws are open, does not form a curve, between the outer edge of the upper lip until the beginning of the oropharynx, but rather a right. As a result, the insertion of a curved device into a substantially straight oral cavity is particularly difficult and requires the practitioner to search randomly and preventively for a better starting position and to perform a complex movement. and difficult to insert in rotation in space. This lack of ergonomics exposes the practitioner to uncertainties of installation, and wastes time, and exposes the patient to risks of injury and injury.

On the other hand, the purpose of this curvature is to seek to marry, after passage of the oral cavity, the curve of the oropharynx. However, this is in vain because the oropharyngeal geometry is variable from one individual to another and depends greatly on the positioning of the patient's head. As a result, it proves difficult or impossible to predict the radius of such a curvature. Also existing devices have a random curvature angle and rarely adapted to the oropharyngeal anatomy of the patient. This exposes the patient both at the start and over the entire insertion path of the device, to the risk of injury, as well as to constant pressure stresses after laying due to the opposing forces of the support points consecutive to differences in curvature associated with the rigidity of the devices.

The curvature imposed does not allow the device, once installed, to rotate on itself. This forces out the device and completely repeat the insertion, in case of incorrect installation, with all the aforementioned risks induced. This is particularly the case when the epiglottis is driven by the passage of the device and then closes the larynx inlet.

These disadvantages cause uncertainties of installation, loss of time and risk of injury and trauma for patients.

The non-concerted design of the devices of the prior art results in a superposition of devices dedicated to the various functions and most often to a tangle of ducts of various sections nested within each other and / or juxtaposed next to each other. Also, these conduits are, depending on the stresses exerted on the device or devices, caused to be obstructed partially or completely by other conduits. These conduits tend to crush when subjected to bending and / or twisting stresses caused by the patient's position, anatomy, or movements. These ducts then no longer have the internal diameter necessary for the passage of the instruments and to ensure their circulation functions. The insertion of instruments made difficult or impossible, forces the practitioner to force the passage excessively. This may displace the device, which may no longer perform its function, no longer be waterproof and / or cause injury to the patient.

The present invention overcomes these various disadvantages.

The invention relates to an oral-pharyngeal router comprising: a head adapted to be positioned outside an oral-pharyngeal cavity, a trunk capable of being placed in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity comprising: an extension body longitudinal, a proximal end connected to the head, a distal end, an orifice distal respiratory tract, capable of being connected to the larynx, a respiratory duct connecting said distal respiratory orifice to a proximal respiratory orifice disposed in the head, and a casing conforming to the external shape of said horn when deflated, matching the volume of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity when inflated, and covering the trunk, excluding the distal respiratory orifice, over a large part of the insertable usable surface of the trunk.

Preferentially, the casing covers at least part of the surface and the insert of the trunk.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the casing is made of elastomeric thermoplastic material, with an average thickness of between 0.2 mm and 5 mm, and with a Shore A hardness between 0 and 15.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk has a rectilinear longitudinal extension of substantially cylindrical shape, and the distal respiratory orifice is formed in the lateral wall of said cylinder, the connection to the larynx being ensured by a positioning of said distal respiratory orifice in look at the entrance of the larynx.

According to an alternative characteristic of the invention, the trunk has a rectilinear longitudinal extension of substantially cylindrical shape, and the distal respiratory orifice is made in the end wall of said cylinder, the connection to the larynx being ensured by an insertion of the distal end. with the distal airway in the larynx.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk is made of a semi-rigid material, rigid enough to withstand buckling and allow insertion into the bucco-pharyngeal cavity, and flexible enough to allow continuous flexion, so that to adapt to the anatomical forms of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity, without folding of the trunk and without crushing of the transverse section of the trunk.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk has, at least at the approach of the distal end, a progressive reduction of the transverse section as the approach of the distal end approaches.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the horn has a transverse section adapted to resist torsion.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the transverse section of the trunk is symmetrical in its outer shape and in its inner forms and has a balanced distribution of the full and voids.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the transverse section is substantially triangular and has two convex sides and a concave side clearing a space for the tongue, at least near the proximal end.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk still comprises, between the distal respiratory orifice and the distal end, a reduction in the transverse section. forming a stop capable of bearing on a sub-arytenoid region.

According to another characteristic of the invention, a longitudinal distance between the abutment and the distal respiratory orifice is determined anatomically so that the distal respiratory orifice is opposite the larynx inlet when the abutment bears on the region. sub-arytenoid.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk also comprises, at least one fin disposed longitudinally, on at least one side of the distal respiratory orifice.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the router further comprises a ring adapted to be secured to the mouth and / or the teeth, and which can be selectively immobilized or mobilized longitudinally relative to the horn to adjust the depth of the depression. the said horn in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk also comprises at least one inflation duct connecting at least one distal inflation orifice disposed in the wall of the trunk and opening into the casing, to at least one proximal inflation orifice disposed in the trunk. head.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the head also comprises at least a second proximal inflation orifice, in order to allow the realization of a circulation of fluid in the casing, and / or a control in temperature and / or in pressure of said fluid.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the router further comprises a medical sensor, comprising a measurement cell integrated in the wall of the casing and a processing means integrated in the head.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the tube also comprises, at least one digestive tract connecting a distal digestive orifice disposed at the distal end and not covered by the casing, with at least one proximal digestive orifice disposed in the head, distal end being adapted to be introduced, with said distal digestive tract, into the esophageal sphincter.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ducts have a substantially constant section throughout the router.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the trunk has rounded external shapes, without asperity and without sudden change.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a router according to the invention, FIG. 2a shows a diagram of a router according to the invention in place in an oral-pharyngeal cavity according to a first embodiment, in which the distal respiratory orifice is opposite the laryngeal inlet,

FIG. 2b shows a diagram of a router according to the invention in place in an oral-pharyngeal cavity according to a second embodiment, in which the distal respiratory orifice is introduced into the larynx,

FIG. 3 is a top view of a router according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a view from below of a router according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ring,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head according to an embodiment comprising two proximal inflation orifices,

- Figure 7 shows a perspective view a trunk,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hose,

FIG. 9 presents in perspective view a detail of a router around the distal respiratory orifice,

FIG. 10 shows a transverse section of a router according to the invention,

- Figure 1 1 shows a cutaway view along a vertical longitudinal plane a router according to the invention,

FIG. 12 shows a cutaway view along a horizontal longitudinal plane of a router according to the invention,

FIG. 13 shows 22 transverse sections of a router according to the invention,

FIGS. 14 and 15 show two operating diagrams of a router according to the invention, respectively deflated and inflated,

FIG. 16 shows a three-view plane with coasts indicative of an embodiment of a router according to the invention.

According to FIG. 1, a bucco-pharyngal router according to the invention has a substantially elongate shape extending longitudinally between a proximal end 11 and a distal end 12. The router mainly comprises a trunk 10 which extends from a distal end 12 to a proximal end 1 1.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, the router is intended to be introduced into an oral-pharyngeal cavity 81 of a patient.

The set of figures illustrates a human and adult patient and a router adapted to such a patient. It goes without saying that the teachings given herein are adaptable, if necessary by changing the dimensions, to a human patient child or infant, as well as a veterinary application.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the distal end 12 of the trunk 10 of the router is introduced first and is placed in the bottom of the oral cavity. pharyngale 81. The router is thus disposed in its length, so that its proximal end 1 1 remains substantially outside the mouth 82.

The router is further illustrated in plan view in FIG. 3 and in bottom view in FIG. 4. The horn only 10 is further illustrated in FIG.

As illustrated in these Figures 1, 3, 4 and 7, the horn 10 comprises a body 23 of longitudinal extension. This substantially cylindrical body extends from a proximal end 11, at which the horn 10 is connected to a head 30, to a distal end 12.

The horn 10 includes a distal respiratory orifice 13.

Two embodiments are possible. According to a first embodiment, said distal respiratory orifice 13 is open in a lateral wall 24 of the horn 10. Said distal respiratory orifice 13 is able to be positioned, when the router is in place in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81, This ensures the connection of the distal respiratory orifice 13 with the larynx 83. The inflation of the casing 40 then ensures a plating of the distal respiratory orifice 13 against the entrance of the larynx 83. who makes a connection. The inflation also guarantees the seal. This mode is illustrated mainly in Figure 2a.

According to a second embodiment, said distal respiratory orifice 13 is open, on the contrary, in the end wall of the horn 10. In this embodiment, the distal end 12 of the horn 10, and with it the distal respiratory orifice 13 which is made therein, are intended to be introduced into the larynx 83. The connection of the distal respiratory orifice 13 with the larynx is here performed by insertion of the first into the second. The inflation of the hose 40 seals by expanding in the larynx 83. This mode is illustrated only in Figure 2b.

The trunk 10 further comprises a breathing duct 61, more particularly visible in Figure 1 1. This breathing duct 61 is formed in the body 23 of the horn 10, advantageously internally. This respiratory duct 61 fluidly connects the distal respiratory orifice 13 to a proximal respiratory orifice 33 located at the proximal end 11 and pierced in the head 30 to open out of the mouth 82.

The respiratory duct 61 thus makes it possible to fluidly connect a proximal respiratory orifice 33, 35 located outside the mouth 82 and the respiratory passages 86 of the patient, conscious or not, via his larynx 83 connected to the distal respiratory end. 13. This advantageously allows to create, facilitate or assist a natural or assisted circulation of respiratory gases.

The existence of a continuous duct between the outside of the mouth 82 and the airways 86 is further advantageous in that said respiratory duct 61 serves to guide the introduction of any diagnostic device tube (such as a endoscope) or surgery (such as a breathing tube). Due to a precise positioning of the distal respiratory orifice 13 opposite the inlet of the larynx 83 according to the first embodiment, such an introduction is safe in that the introduced tube will necessarily and directly penetrate into the larynx 83. positioned in front of the distal respiratory orifice 13, from which said tube leaves, and pass between the vocal cords and enter the trachea without risk of injury. It is also possible for safety to perform such an operation under the simultaneous control of a fiberscope. In the case of the second embodiment, the distal end 12 of the horn 10 already being inserted into the larynx 83, the introduction of an apparatus tube is also very easily performed using the breathing tube 61 as a guide. .

Also may advantageously be provided, in parallel, a first proximal respiratory orifice 33 dedicated to the connection of a hose of a respiratory assistance device responsible for assisting the respiratory function of the patient and a second proximal respiratory orifice 35, dedicated to the introduction, if necessary urgently, of a diagnosis or surgical intervention device. The two orifices 33, 35 are connected to the respiratory duct 61. All the proximal respiratory orifices 33, 35 may advantageously be provided with closure means when they are not used, in order to preserve the fluidic seal.

According to the embodiments, the diameter of the breathing duct 61 may vary. In mildly constrained embodiments, for example without digestive tract 62, and / or for large sizes (adult), it is advantageously possible to increase the diameter of the respiratory duct 61 without unduly increasing the volume of the router. A diameter of the respiratory tract 61 of 10 mm is advantageous in that it allows the insertion of a tracheal tube of intubation.

In contrast, in the more constrained embodiments, comprising a digestive tract requiring a large space in the body 23 of the horn 10, and / or for small models, the diameter of the respiratory duct 61 can be reduced. However, in order to guarantee a minimum respiratory rate, this diameter can not be less than 8 mm.

However, the respiratory functions of the router can only be ensured if the router is firmly in place in the bucopharyngeal cavity 81 and if the respiratory duct 61 is sealingly connected to the inlet of the larynx 83 and thus to the respiratory tract 86.

For this, the router further comprises a hose 40. This hose 40, visible in Figures 1, 3, 4, 1 1, 12 in connection with the horn 10 or the router is illustrated alone in Figure 8. The hose 40 is realized in a very flexible material, such as a gel-type elastomer and in a reduced thickness. The average thickness of the hose 40 is between 0.2 mm and 5 mm, so that it can be inflated. According to a mode preferential, said thickness is between 0.7 mm and 1 mm. The material of the casing 40 is, for example, a TPS-SEBS elastomer thermoplastic or else an SBS-type material having similar characteristics. The Shore A hardness of the hose 40 must be between 0 and 15 in order to perform the various functions. According to a preferred embodiment, in order to guarantee a good comfort of use for both the practitioner and the patient, the Shore A hardness of the hose 40 is advantageously between 0 and 4. This low Shore A hardness allows a very high elasticity. significant, up to 1200%, with complete reversibility. In addition, because of the low Shore A hardness, the wall of the casing 40 in contact with the tissues of the interior of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 has a great softness, whether the casing 40 is inflated or not. This softness reduces the risk of lesions of said tissues, both during the introduction of the router and during its maintenance, if necessary prolonged, in place in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81. This softness also allows a good slip on the tissues which facilitates the introduction of the router. This sliding is further improved when the wall of the casing 40 is moistened, either by the natural moisture of the mucous membranes, or by the addition of a moisturizing product before placement.

According to a preferred embodiment, the casing 40, like the other parts of the router, is made of transparent material to advantageously allow a visual inspection of both tissue and equipment set up, through the router. In this case the material is the same elastomer, in crystal version.

When the hose 40 is deflated, the hose 40 covers the horn 10 over a large part of its body 23. In the illustrated example, the hose 40 covers the horn 10 about a length of about 150 mm. The hose 40 merges with the outer surface of said horn 10 over the entire portion where the hose 40 covers said horn 10. This advantageously provides a profiling of the hose 40 before inflation.

In addition, the hose 40 can be directly produced on the horn 10 by overmolding. The trunk 10 then serves as a model for the embodiment of the casing 40. The casing 40 may alternatively be manufactured separately and then assembled on the trunk 10.

Advantageously, the casing 40 surrounds the entire section of the trunk.

The hose 40 is completely closed in order to be fluid-tight and able to be inflated. The hose 40 has a first saving 43 around the distal respiratory orifice 13. Said sponge 43 completely disengages said distal respiratory orifice 13. The periphery of said sponge 43 advantageously comprises a bead 48. Along said bead 48, the hose 40 is sealingly attached to the horn 10 at a groove 18 of the horn 10 complementary to said bead 48. This attachment can be made by gluing, fusion or any other method. The hose 40 still has a second saving at its proximal end 41 which allows the passage of the body 23 of the horn 10. The second saving is advantageously completed by a bead 47. Along said bead 47, the hose 40 is fixed by in a leakproof manner 10 at a groove 17 of the horn 10 complementary to said bead 47. This attachment can be made by gluing, fusion or any other method.

It is still possible to preform the casing 40 in order to achieve a particular shape, to modify its inflated shape, or the relative distribution of the pressures on the tissues. For this it is possible to vary the relative thickness of the wall of the casing 40, for example to achieve priority support and optimize.

Alternatively or additionally, it is still possible, in addition to the grooves 17-19 and 47-49 beads present at the limits of the hose 40, to achieve additional points or lines of attachment of the hose 40 on the horn 10. Such fasteners may thus, at the periphery of the distal respiratory orifice 13, limit the expansion of the casing 40 in this periphery, and thus make it possible to improve the quality of the support of said distal respiratory orifice 13 on the inlet of the larynx 83.

When the casing 40 is deflated it marries the outer shape of the trunk 10. Its small thickness and the presence of grooves 17-19 mounting hollow in the body of the trunk 10 do not cause any extra thickness or roughness. In addition the high elasticity (X 1200%) of the material constituting the hose 40 ensures its return in place during deflation. This facilitates the introduction of the router into the pharyngeal cavity 81, which introduction is preferably deflated hose 40, the router then having an outer section substantially reduced to that of the trunk 10. The material of the casing 40 forms a perfectly smooth skin, with a very soft surface, non-injurious to the tissues. This surface, when moistened, for example by the mucous membranes of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81, becomes slippery, which further facilitates its introduction.

Once the router is placed in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81, the hose 40 can be inflated. In doing so, the casing 40 is distended, radially around the horn 10, and comes to marry the entire available volume of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81.

Once inflated, the casing 40 occupies a volume extending from the entrance of the oropharynx (end of the oral cavity) in the proximal portion, to about 4 cm in the distal hypopharynx. As a preference, the casing 40 covers at least 50% of the length of the horn 10, more preferably 50 to 70%. The softness and elasticity of the surface of the casing 40 are maintained during inflation and ensure a soft and non-vulvar adaptation closer to the various specific anatomical reliefs and variable laryngopharyngeal tissues and esophagus.

A first advantageous consequence of inflation is that the hose 40 comes perform a fluid tightness around the entrance of the larynx 83 and more generally around the router. Distal respiratory test 13 is thus in sealed relation with the entry of the larynx 83 and the respiratory passages 86. Via the respiratory duct 61 this seal is ensured up to the distal respiratory orifice 33, 35.

A second advantageous consequence of the inflation is that the casing 40 strongly immobilizes the horn 10 and therefore the router, relative to the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 of the patient. The router is not likely to move and the distal respiratory orifice 13 is guaranteed to remain opposite the entrance of the larynx 83.

A third advantageous consequence of inflating, in connection with the fact that the casing 40 surrounds the entire section of the trunk 10 over its entire revolution, is that the trunk 10 is flexibly immobilized in the middle of a cushion. air / fluid that carries a suspension. The trunk 10 fixed to the casing 40 only by the grooves 17-19, in a very flexible manner because of the elasticity of the material of the casing 40, is found completely surrounded by air and as in a state of weightlessness, on a cushion of air, free is independent of the laryngo-pharyngeal and oesophageal walls and the various stresses and internal and / or external movements. This quasi independence of the horn 10 reinforces the general stability of the router and consequently, the sealing and maintaining the position of the router.

Also, the forces exerted on the trom pe 10, for example due to a misplaced movement or manipulation of the head 30, or the forces exerted on the hose 40 due to the various movements of the patient, are transmitted in the air cushion, as well as at the elastic interface junctions between the horn 10 and the casing 40. The air cushion / elastic connection interface between the horn 10 and the casing 40 dampens and cancels the forces and movements external and internal to which the router can be subjected without affecting neither the waterproofness, the impermeability, nor the positioning of the router.

The head 30, more particularly illustrated in Figure 6, is an end piece of the router, assembled at the proximal end 1 1 of the horn 10. The head 30 is intended to take all the conduits of the router and the extend through proximal orifices 31-35, opening out of the mouth 82. The head 30 also makes it possible to provide, at the level of said proximal orifices 31-35, interfaces for introducing or connecting various diagnostic or assistance apparatuses. surgical.

The head 30 is for example made of polycarbonate, PC. It is advantageously used in a parent machine to advantageously allow a visual inspection of both the tissue and the equipment set up, through the router. In this case the material is the same, in crystal version.

The presence on the head 30 of the connections to all conduits 61-63 and all proximal ports 31-35, each associated with a dedicated function, improves the legibility of the various functions and thus contributes to the ergonomics of the router and thus to security. The head 30, by grouping, clarifying and identifying the various respiratory, digestive, inflation, massage, thermal, sensor, diagnostic, surgical, etc. devices, implemented for a patient, constitutes a real common and central dashboard. which alone would justify the interest of the router according to the invention.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the casing 40 covers a maximum part of the usable working surface of the horn 10. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 7 (but also in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 11, 12), the hose 40 covers a distal portion of the horn 10 from its distal end 12 to a groove 17 located on the body 23 of the horn 10. The hose 40 potentially covers the entire body 23 of the horn 10, at least the all of the useful part insertable into the bucco-pharyngal orifice 81. This part of the horn 10 once inserted extends from the beginning of the oropharynx, to the bottom of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81, where appropriate beyond the oesophageal sphincter and / or beyond the laryngeal inlet 83.

As described below, the horn 10 is configurable in length / depth and a proximal portion of the horn 10 is reserved for this configuration. In its shortest configuration, the horn 10 is "reduced" to the stop 22, which can not exceed the groove 17. Thus the insertable useful portion extends from the stop 22, when it exists, to the Distal end 12. According to a preferred possibility, the casing 40 covers at least 2/3 of the usable insertable part of the length of the probes 10. In a possible configuration where the abutment 22 is absent, the insertable useful part extends from the head 30 to the distal end 12.

As a result, the casing 40 has a significant longitudinal extension and when inflated, a large volume and adapted to the maximum volume of a bucco-pharyngale cavity 81. The functions of said casing 40 are preferably provided by means of a single volume, rather only by different separate volumes.

A first advantageous consequence is that the necessary inflation pressure of the hose 40 to achieve a given force allowing both the immobilization of the router that the seal, can be very reduced. This results for the same immobilization and the same seal, for example between 5 and 25 cm / H 2 O (functions of the force applied), a much lesser involvement of the peripheral tissues of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity (function of the pressure), the made of a significantly increased contact area relative to the devices of the prior art.

The surface of the inflated casing 40 in contact with the tissues reaches 260 cm ² for the illustrated adult model having a casing length of 150 mm. It can thus be found a surface ratio, compared to the prior art which makes contacts between 16 and 25 cm ² , of the order of 10 to 16 advantageously resulting in a decreasing the pressure applied to tissues by the same factor 10 to 16.

Such a low pressure hose over a large contact area thus relieves the soft tissues, nerves, blood vessels and cartilaginous structures constituting the laryngopharyngeal tissues and avoids the stresses and effects of shear, compression, blockage and paralysis caused by more punctual contacts.

A second advantageous consequence is that the supports of the router on the tissues of the patient are distributed over a larger area. Thus it is not created support (s) punctual (s) and the risk of lever arm reflecting a constraint exerted on the router, typically at the level of the head 30 is significantly reduced.

A third advantageous consequence is that the casing occupies a maximum volume in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81. In doing so, the router leaves few confined spaces accessible and thus contributes to reducing the risks of closed pockets that can accumulate secretions from the body. digestive system and / or sinuses and conducive to the development of infectious germs.

It creates a wide and intimate adjustment of the hose 40 swollen on the tissues and a contact vacuum effect, thanks to the almost identical textures between the gel elastomer and mucosa, regular and soft, promoting not only the maintenance of the sealing at low pressure, but also a good preservation of vascularization of epithelial surfaces and preservation of nerve functions.

These arrangements make it possible to achieve a longitudinal and transverse anatomical adjustment, continuous over the entire surface of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81. This adjustment allows the router to adapt to the morphological particularities, as well as to the various movements of the patients and / or the patient. router itself.

The fluid trapped in the casing 40 circulates freely in the entire volume of the casing 40. Said volume of the casing corresponds exactly to the pharyngeal and oesophageal volume of the patient.

The geometry of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 is highly variable from one individual to another and is modi fi ed at the same time if the cervical spine is flexibly / extensively opened and / or changes in positioning of the patient's head. For example, a modification of the position of the patient's head by a few millimeters in lateral inclination is enough to modify the shapes and outlines of the constituent cavities of the aerodigestive junction.

When the skin of the casing 40 is subjected to the aforementioned external stresses (movement or displacement of the patient ...), the fluid trapped in the casing moves naturally and comes automatically and immediately fill the hollows and wrap the newly created reliefs, while maintaining a low pressure regularly distributed and necessary for the waterproofness, the impermeability and the general positioning of the router.

These particular movements of automatic and immediate recovery of the casing 40 without displacement, however, do not affect the internal position of the semi-rigid horn, suspended in the air / fluid cushion.

The horn 10 is made in an initially rectilinear shape along its longitudinal axis. Said rectilinear shape allows easier insertion of the router, especially during the crossing of the oral cavity.

The general shape of the horn 10 is substantially cylindrical. In order to obtain a good positioning in front of the entry of the larynx 83, the distal respiratory orifice 13 is made in the side wall 24 of said cylinder, as opposed to the end face of said cylinder.

According to the embodiment, said cylinder can be extended and its distal end 12 engages in the bottom of the pharynx to or into the entrance of the esophagus 84.

The horn 10 is made of a semi-rigid material. This semi-rigid material is stiff enough to resist buckling and allow insertion into the bucco-pharyngeal cavity. Said insertion is typically performed by a translation in the longitudinal direction of the router, applied by pressing on the head 40. However, this semi-rigid material is at the same time flexible enough to allow continuous flexion of the horn. This flexion is continuous in that it is evenly distributed along the portion of the horn 10 that deforms. It allows, mainly to the distal part of the tube 10 which is engaged in the pharynx to adapt to the anatomical forms of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 in general and the curvature of the pharynx in particular. This continuous flexion is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15. This continuous flexing is obtained by the choice of the material and by the design of the transverse section 64. This possibility of continuous flexion allows the horn 10 to conform itself to the various oropharyngeal curvatures without excessive restraint.

This greatly facilitates and simplifies the task of the practitioner who does not have to anticipate a rotation insertion movement of the router, and can then concentrate on the accuracy of the positioning of the router, especially with regard to the crucial point of placement the distal air port 13 with respect to the inlet of the larynx 83.

The absence of pre-curvature of the horn 10 and its continuous bending capacity also makes it possible not to impose a particular angular position of the horn 10 relative to the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81. This advantageously allows a practitioner to correct said orientation. angularly by a rotation of the horn 10 about its longitudinal axis to correct a positioning that would not give complete satisfaction. Such a rotation can be carried out after complete insertion of the horn 10, while keeping it inserted, without requiring its removal, thus avoiding performing a new insertion always painful and harmful to the patient. Such rotation can be applied by applying a movement applied to the head 30. This is possible only if the horn 10 resists twisting about its longitudinal axis.

The transverse section 64, as particularly visible in the example of Figure 10, varies as gradually as possible along the longitudinal axis. It avoids any area more subject to a localized flexion similar to a folding. Thus, there does not appear to be a crushing of the transverse section 64.

Non-crushing is very advantageous in that it retains a constant and at least minimum diameter to the various ducts 61-63 made in the transverse section 64 of the trom pe 1 0. This ensures that these ducts 61 -63 retain their shape. functionality both for the flow rates of circulating fluids by these conduits 61-63 and for the possibility of insertion of diagnostic or surgical equipment tube via these conduits 61-63.

According to one embodiment, the material of the horn 40 is, for example, an elastomer thermoplastic TPS-S E BS or even a material of type S BS, having similar characteristics. The Shore A hardness of the horn 10 in order to meet the stress of (no) buckling must be greater than 15. The Shore A hardness of the horn O, in order to meet the continuous bending stress must be less than 80. According to a preferred embodiment, the Shore A hardness of the horn 10 is advantageously between 40 and 45.

According to a preferred embodiment, the horn 10, like the other parts of the router, is made of transparent material to advantageously allow a visual inspection of both tissues and devices set up, through the router. In this case the material is the same elastomer, in crystal version.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the router into the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81, the horn 10 advantageously has a progressive reduction in its transverse section 64. This reduction is such that the outer perimeter of the transverse section 64 decreases in the direction of the end. 11 proximal to the distal end 12. The horn 10 thus has a slight taper. This taper is present at least in the distal portion merging with the portion covered by the hose 40, or the groove 17 at the distal end 12. The proximal portion between the proximal end 1 1 and the abutment 22 preferably has a substantially constant section to allow the sliding of a ring 50, described above.

The horn 10 also has a transverse section 64 adapted to resist torsion along the longitudinal axis of said horn 10. For this section 64 advantageously has a balanced distribution of full and empty. For that said section 64 may advantageously have a central or planar symmetry.

Said resistance to torsion of the horn 10 advantageously makes it possible, as seen above, to cause the horn 10 to rotate about its longitudinal axis. Such rotation is particularly advantageous in combination with the rectilinear shape and the continuous bending capacity which does not presuppose an angular orientation of the horn 10.

Figure 10 shows an example of such a balanced transverse section 64. It has plane symmetry along a vertical / sagittal plane. The transverse section 64 has a substantially triangular shape. Said triangle comprising two convex sides 65, 66 and a concave side 69. The concavity 69 is disposed at least near the proximal end 1 1 and advantageously frees a free space for the patient's tongue. The triangular shape is extremely softened by an important rounding 67, 68 of the three angles.

The concavity 69, however, avoids a totally circular shape which makes it possible advantageously to perform angular indexing relative to the bucopharyngeal cavity 81.

Under the constraint of a very large curvature or even a torsion of the horn 10, the flexible common walls of the ducts 61-63, forming a one-piece assembly, are counter-controlled and returns the various deformation results to the particular technical form, here triangular section of the monoblock assembly thus formed, thus avoiding crushing ducts.

This particular phenomenon resulting from the successive return of the forces applied to the triangular section structure of the horn 10 guarantees in all circumstances a useful passage in the various conduits 61-63.

Other shapes than triangular section are possible in that they provide the same advantages of continuous bending, buckling resistance and torsion resistance. Thus, the section may have a trapezoidal shape or any other shape.

The transverse section 64 is pierced as previously seen by a breathing duct 61 here in the form of a bean advantageously allowing the passage of two tubes of respiratory equipment. It is still pierced with inflating conduit 63 described below. It can still be pierced with a digestive tract 62 described below. The section is balanced in that the different thicknesses are as much as possible equalized. In addition the voids necessary for the realization of different ducts 61 -63 are distributed in the surface of said section 64.

All this contributes to a torsion-resistant transverse section 64 about the longitudinal axis.

According to another advantageous characteristic, particularly illustrated in Figures 7 and 2 (but also in Figures 1, 3, 4, 9 and 11) the trunk 10 further comprises, between the distal respiratory orifice 13 and the distal end 12, a reduction of the transverse section 64. This reduction is marked enough to form a stop 16. This abutment is clear in order to bear on the sub-arytenoidal region 85, separating the oropharynx from the hypopharynx. Said abutment, however, has a suitable shape, complementary to the anatomy of this sub-arytenoid region 85. Although section reduction is noticeable, however, it is accompanied by softened and rounded shapes. The hose 40 follows the shapes of the horn 10. The hose 40 has at said stop 16 a similar shape 46.

Such a stop 16 advantageously facilitates a blind insertion of the router in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity. The stop allows, during a progressive insertion, to warn the practitioner, by a feeling of resistance to a more distal penetration of the trunk 10, when said abutment 16 of the trunk 10 comes into contact with the region under arytenoid 85, that the insertion is complete. The stop 16 still produces a clear indication of the insertion depth of the router. The router is then automatically placed in its final position at depth.

Such a feature facilitates insertion in a precise and atraumatic manner, without undue stress to the various laryngo-pharyngeal and oesophageal tissues, even for an untrained practitioner.

Advantageously a distance 25, particularly illustrated in Figures 7 and 9, between said stop 16 and the distal respiratory orifice 13, measured along the longitudinal axis of the horn 10 is determined anatomically. Thus, since the router is positioned in depth relative to the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 by the abutment 16 resting on said sub-arytenoidal region 85, the distal respiratory orifice 13 is positioned naturally facing the entrance of the larynx 83.

Said dimension 25, measured between the distal limit of the distal respiratory orifice 13 and the abutment 16 is for example 4 mm for a model router sized for a teenager / adult.

In addition, the size of the opening of the distal respiratory orifice 13 may advantageously be dimensioned larger than the section of the respiratory duct 61, mainly in the longitudinal direction. This provides the router with a certain depth positioning tolerance for matching the distal air port 13 with the laryngeal inlet 83. Said tolerance advantageously allows for taking into account a certain anatomical dispersion of the patients.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the entrance to the larynx 83 has an epiglottis 87 in the upper part. It is possible, when the router is inserted in the bucopharyngeal cavity 81, that a part of the horn 10, such as the distal end 12, leads in its movement the epiglottis 87 which may then obstruct the entry of the larynx 83 and / or the distal respiratory orifice 13, potentially annoying for the various subsequent operations envisaged.

With reference to FIG. 9, which shows a detail of the horn 10 centered on the distal respiratory orifice 13, in order to answer the above problem, the horn 10 advantageously still comprises at least one fin 20. This fin 20 is typically substantially rectilinear and arranged longitudinally relative to the trunk 10, on one side of the distal respiratory orifice 13. The fin 20 has a slight projection relative to the profile of the trunk 10. Said fin 20, during a rotati It is perpendicular to its long axis and is perpendicular to its axis. In doing so, the projecting fin 20 scans the epiglottis 87 laterally. This scanning movement advantageously allows the epiglottis 87 to resume a natural high position, releasing the entrance of the larynx 83.

According to a preferred embodiment, the fins 20 are two in number disposed respectively on either side of the distal respiratory orifice 13.

The ability to rotate the horn 10 is still advantageous in this regard. It is possible without risk of damage to perform multiple full rotations of the router if necessary.

The dimensions of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 have a certain dispersion from one patient to another. In order to allow the router to correctly adapt to all the cavities 81, despite this dispersion, the router advantageously still comprises an adjusting ring 50. This ring visible in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 11 and 12 in relation to the other parts. 10, 30, 40 of the router. It is detailed only in Figure 5. This ring comprises a wedge-tooth plate 51 adapted to come into contact on the outer face of the teeth of the upper jaw of the patient and has a shape adapted to this contact. The surfaces of the wedge plate 51 brought into contact with the teeth of the patient may be coated or covered with a flexible material to limit the risk of dental trauma.

The wedge plate 51 may be pierced with at least one strap-pass hole 58 for passing a strap (not shown) adapted to secure the ring 50 with the teeth of the patient, the strap passing around the patient's head.

The ring 50 further comprises a substantially annular body 52 integral with said wedge plate 51. The internal annular shape of the body 52 is complementary to the external shape of the section of the horn 10 in its proximal part, so that the ring 50 can slide along the horn 10 along the longitudinal axis.

The ring 50 further comprises a clip 53 adapted to immobilize the ring in position relative to the horn 10. Said clip 53 comprises at least one series of teeth 55 adapted to cooperate with a complementary series of teeth 21 visible in FIG. 7 arranged opposite the horn 10.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the proximal portion of the horn 10, located between the proximal end 1 1 and a stop 22, and which receives the ring 50, has an outer shape of constant section. The displacement of the ring 50 relative to the horn 10 is limited, towards the distal end 12, by a stop 22 arranged or made of material on the horn 10 and towards the proximal end 11 by the head 30 which forms a stop.

The annular shape of the body 52 of the ring 50 advantageously has a concavity 59, especially if the transverse section 64 of the horn 10 comprises a corresponding concavity 69. As for the concavity 69, the concavity 59 leaves a free volume for the patient's tongue . Moreover, the two corresponding concavities 59, 69 perform an angular indexing of the ring 50 and prevent rotation of the ring relative to the horn 10. This advantageously allows the teeth 55 to remain opposite the teeth 21 of the horn 10.

The clamp 53 is deformable due to the elasticity of its material, so as to move the teeth 55 away from the teeth 21 of the horn 10 so as to allow the ring 50 to slide. This deformation can be controlled by pressing on less clamping member 54 of said clamp 53. The clamp 53 is integral with the ring 50. Thus a support makes it possible to jointly achieve a clearance of the teeth 55 and a mobilization of the ring 50. A loosening of the support, due to the elasticity of the clamp 53, which returns to its rest position, releases the teeth 55 which engage with the teeth 21, immobilizing the ring 50 relative to the horn 10.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the clamp 53 comprises two operating elements 54, which can advantageously be gripped between two fingers, actuating two sets of teeth 55 facing two sets of teeth 21 on the horn 10.

The ring 50 is for example made of polycarbonate, PC. It is advantageously made of transparent material in order to advantageously allow a visual inspection of both the tissues and equipment set up, through the router. In this case the material is the same, in crystal version.

The relative sliding of the horn 10 with respect to the ring 50, immobilized against the teeth of the patient, makes it possible to adjust the depth of the horn inserted into the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81. Thus, the horn 10 being placed, as previously seen, in abutment. against the sub-arytenoidal region 85, can still be adjusted in useful length depending on the anatomical dimensions and immobilized relative to the mouth 82, in a position maintaining said abutment support.

The amplitude of longitudinal movement of the ring 50 determines the amplitude of adjustment of the depth of insertion of the horn 10. This amplitude is limited by the two abutments constituted by the abutment 22, for example molded in relief in the wall of the trunk 10, and a peripheral edge of the head 30. For the illustrative adult model and side, this amplitude is about 55mm.

The distal and proximal faces of the teeth 55 are advantageously different. The distal faces of the teeth 55, looking towards the distal end 12, have a slight slope relative to the longitudinal axis, for example close to 50 °, while the proximal faces of the teeth 55, looking towards the proximal end 1 1 , have a steep slope relative to the longitudinal axis, for example close to 90 °. The faces of the teeth 21 of the horn 10 have complementary slopes. As a result, the ring 50 can move easily towards the proximal end 12, while a non-return ensures that a reverse movement to the distal end 1 1 is possible only with a maneuver of the clamp 53. Thus an insertion of the horn 50 is facilitated, the anti-return preventing undesired withdrawal.

The router is configurable in depth by means of the ring 50. The inflation and the deformation of the hose allow a certain latitude of lateral displacement. The flexibility of the horn 10 and its continuous flexing ability allow spontaneous adaptation to the anatomical shape of the patient's pharynx. All these adjustment means allow a wide latitude of use of a router size. This great latitude makes it possible to reduce to a very limited number said sizes. Thus, a range of three sizes: infant, child, teenager / adult advantageously allows all types of patients to be coped with. A sta n da rd i sati on and a reduction in purchasing and management costs.

It has been seen previously that the hose 40 can be inflated or respectively deflated. For this, the horn 10 advantageously further comprises at least one inflation duct 63. As shown in FIG. 12, having a section of the router in a longitudinal and horizontal plane passing through the axis of said inflation duct 63, said inflation ducts 63, two in the illustrated example, connect at least one distal inflation port 15 to at least one proximal inflation port 31 pierced in the head 30. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 7, said distal inflation ports 15 are pierced in the wall 24 of the horn 10 in the zone where said horn 10 is covered by the casing 40. Said inflation orifices 15 thus open into the interior volume delimited by the casing 40. At its other end, an inflation duct 63 opens out at the level of a proximal inflation port 31 formed in the head 30. An inflation duct 63 thus makes a fluidic relation to an interior volume delimited by the internal surface. Hose 40 and the outer surface of the horn 10 in the distal portion where it is covered by the hose 40. This fluidic relationship allows to inflate, respectively deflate, the hose 40, when the router is in place in the bucco cavity. -Pharyngale 81, from the proximal inflation port 31, disposed on the head 30 and thus outside said cavity 81.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the distal inflation orifices 15 are arranged in two series of seven orifices, substantially equitably distributed over the entire length of the casing 40. Each series comes from one of the two inflation ducts 63.

The inflation of the casing 40 can be carried out with any fluid: gas or liquid.

According to an advantageous embodiment, particularly illustrated in FIG. 6, a router may also comprise at least a second proximal inflation port 32. This advantageously facilitates the production of:

of a circulation of fluid in the casing 40, and / or

a temperature control, and / or

a pressure control of said fluid.

In the case of a fluid flow in the casing 40, a first port 31 serves as a fluid inlet while the second port 32 serves as a fluid outlet. In the case of a temperature control, said control is advantageously carried out outside the router, the controlled fluid is then circulated inside the casing 40. The reduced thickness and the material constituting the casing 40 provides a good thermal transfer to the tissues opposite. In the case of a pressure control, which can be static or wave, a first port 31 can be used for the continuous regime achieving the inflation and maintaining a mean pressure, while the second port 32 can be used for the alternating regime.

Such a flow of fluid is advantageously made possible by the fact that the hose 40 is unique and delimits a single circulation volume.

Such features allow the implementation of relaxing pharyngeal massages. Such a massage, whether or not associated with heating or refrigeration, can have extremely beneficial effects for the patient, particularly on tissue vascularization and protection reflexes, but also greatly improve the chances of survival in intensive care, where cooling and brain warming is a prognostic factor for neurological recovery. A pharyngeal massage can further optimize the acceptance of the router by the patient.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the router further comprises a medical sensor. Such a sensor can be for example a temperature sensor, pressure, blood pressure or an arterial oxygen saturation sensor (Sa02). The bucco-pharyngeal cavity is a vascular and strategic nerve center. Its walls are able to provide the most accurate indications of the general condition of the patient, placing a sensor in the right place. Such measurements can make it possible to perform therapeutic interactions in real time, in particular on the brain which controls all the reflexes of even unconscious patients. So far, these measures are not easy to achieve and the action of the practitioner is limited, with the result that the care and remedies provided to the patient can suffer a limited impact and inefficient.

However, it appears that the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 is the best place to obtain a reliable measurement of arterial oxygen saturation (Sa02) and / or central body temperature. Carotids, the main arteries destined for the brain, come into contact with the pharyngeal lateral walls. Measured at the level of the pharynx, the Sa02 and the central temperature mirror the capacities of cerebral oxygenation and give a more real direct image of the mechanisms of thermal regulation compared to a classical measurement done at the level of a finger. The temperature of a patient measured at the level of the pharynx is much more precise and indicative than that usually measured in the rectum or on the skin. The precise knowledge of this temperature and its variations gives the practitioner information that allows him to predict, anticipate and treat the reactions of organized thermoregulation in the brain (awakening of the patient, suffering, comatose state ...). Depending on the data collected, the practitioner may notably perform the cooling or heating of the patient.

Thus, by its location and its technical design, the router is ideally suited to the real-time capture of the aforementioned medical measures, but also to the immediate completion of the various actions to be performed urgently based on these data.

Such a sensor typically comprises a measuring cell and a processing means. The measuring cell performs the measurements and transmits them by a link to the processing means. The measuring cell is advantageously integrated, advantageously during molding, in the thickness of the wall of the casing 40 in a zone intended to come closest to corresponding to the anatomical zone where it is desired to carry out the measurement. The processing means may be disposed in the head 30. It then comprises either a display for reading the measurement, or a connector for transferring the measurement to another device. The connection between the measuring cell and the processing means may be wired, said wire being disposed in the body 3 of the horn 10. The link may advantageously be wireless, for example RFID.

The router described so far surely performs an extension of the airways to the head 30 disposed outside the mouth 82. Such a router can be used, for example, in anesthesia, in intensive care, in medicine. emergency intra or pre-hospital, to perform with a single means any examination, diagnosis and / or therapeutic gesture requiring access through the respiratory tract. This router corresponds to a reduced embodiment intended solely for the respiratory tract and named in the following "reduced router". It allows a patient to ventilate naturally or receive mechanical ventilation. It still allows to guide, with great security, in the airways 86, most diagnostic or therapeutic equipment such as tracheal tubes, ultrasound probes, various controllers, endoscope, fiberscope and therapeutic utensils, in order to perform all diagnostic examination or therapeutic act.

According to another embodiment, particularly important, called "complete router", the trunk 10 further comprises at least one digestive tract 62. It should be noted that all the figures illustrate the embodiment "complete router". The digestive tract 62 connects a distal digestive orifice 14 disposed at the distal end 12 of the trunk 10 with at least one proximal digestive orifice 34 pierced and opening into the head 30, outside the mouth 82. Unlike the distal respiratory orifice 13 made in the side wall 24 of the horn 10, the distal digestive orifice 14 is formed in the distal end 12, at the end of the horn 10.

Compared to the casing 40 previously described for the "reduced router" which has only two savings, a first around the distal respiratory orifice 13 with the groove 18 and the bead 48, and a second around the body 23 of the horn 10 at the level of the groove 17 and the bead 47, the presence of a digestive tract 62, requires a hose 40 for the "complete router" comprising, in addition, a third saving substantially superimposed with the distal digestive orifice 14. This savings advantageously ends on a bead 49 (FIG. 8) intended to come into a groove 19 (FIG. 7) made in the trunk 10, around the distal digestive orifice 14.

With respect to the previously described horn 10 for the "reduced router" which terminates with a closure at the distal end 12 and can stop just beyond the abutment 16, the presence of a digestive tract 62 requires a trunk 10 for the "complete router" further comprising a distal end 12 extended and adapted to be introduced, and with it said distal digestive port 14, in the esophageal sphincter 84. This introduction promotes accurate calibration and maintenance in position of the router relative to the oral-pharyngeal cavity 81. Said prolonged distal end 14 is introduced into the esophagus 84 with a depth of 4 cm for the illustrated adult model.

Said adaptation comprises a final section adapted for introduction into the esophageal sphincter 84 and able to withstand the contractions of said esophageal sphincter 84. For this, the section of the distal end 12 of the horn 10 is advantageously circular so as to present a better crush resistance. In addition, its tip is softened to facilitate introduction.

Always to resist contractions of the esophageal sphincter 84, the distal end 12 must advantageously be produced with a Shore A hardness of at least 40. According to a preferred embodiment, the Shore A hardness of the distal end 1 is between 70 and 75.

It has been previously seen that the rest of the horn 10, in particular so as to be able to bend continuously in its central part, must be made to a Shore A hardness of between 15 and 80. The distal end 12 must be made according to a hardness Shore greater than 40.

In order to simultaneously respond to these two constraints and to realize the whole of the horn 10 of a single-injection part, it is possible to realize the horn 10 according to a Shore A hardness in the common interval, ie according to a Shore hardness A between 40 and 80.

Alternatively, if it is chosen to follow the preferred hardnesses which have disjoint intervals (40/45 and 70/75), it is however possible to make the horn 10 by bi-injection. The injection is performed in two stages, sufficiently close together. A first part of the trunk 10, for example the distal part, is injected with a first material, for example the hard material (70/75 Shore A), then a second part of the trunk 10, for example the proximal part is then injected with a second material, for example the soft material (40/45 Shore A), the two parts of the same nature are then welded while hot. According to another embodiment the parts can be manufactured separately and then assembled together by gluing or cold welding.

In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2b, where the distal end 12 carries the distal respiratory orifice 1 3 and is introduced into the larynx 83, the same considerations of resistance, circular shape and depth (4 cm) can be transposed to the airways 86.

The presence of a digestive duct 62 made in the body of the horn 10, which has a much larger relative section than the other ducts 61, 63, still causes a correlated increase in the size of the transverse section of the horn 10, and this over its entire length. In other words, the figures and dimensions being indicated for a "complete router", a "reduced router" can be made in a transverse section of significantly reduced dimensions.

The digestive tract 62 allows the patient to swallow and / or regurgitate simultaneously, safely. At the same time, the practitioner can accurately and safely introduce into the respiratory and / or digestive tracts the devices necessary for any diagnostic strategy or therapeutic act.

Like the dolphin whose respiratory and digestive systems are entirely separate and independent, the respiratory tract 61 and the digestive tract 62 are completely separated and isolated from each other. This protects the tracks respiratory 86 with great security against the risk of regurgitation of the contents of the digestive tract.

The preceding features, and in particular the joint and distinct presence of a respiratory duct 61 and a digestive duct 62, result in a compact and multifunctional router. Since the head 30, located in the proximal portion of the router, outside the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 of the patient, the practitioner can perform all examinations, operations, diagnoses, therapeutic acts, etc. , known at the present time, simultaneously, in the respiratory and digestive tracts.

Such a router thus facilitates the task of the practitioner, who then no longer has to think a priori of the capabilities, characteristics and possibilities of this or that device with regard to the interventions he will have to perform. The router allows the passage of all control devices and / or diagnostics (endoscope, fiberscope, optical cameras, ultrasound and other therapeutic materials ...) used and known to date. This functional universality conferred on the router is practical for the practitioner, and reassuring for the patient.

The advantageous universal design of the router according to the invention improves security, especially in an emergency situation, avoiding replacement of an unsuitable device that may expose a patient to a risk of delay and / or lack of care.

The functional universality of the router is also economically advantageous in that it reduces the costs of purchasing and stock management, for a single model.

Even in the embodiment where part of the horn 10 has some taper, all the conduits 61, 62, 63 preferably have a substantially constant section throughout the router.

In order not to risk injuring the patient, the router and particularly the parts inserted in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity 81 that are the trunk 10 and the casing 40, have rounded external shapes, without asperity and without sudden change. Such profiling, combined with the perfectly smooth and unembossed walls of the tube 10 and the casing 40, provides less resistance to the tissues as the router passes through the pharynx and the esophagus, thus avoiding maltreating the fragile walls and risking various injuries and traumas.

All the materials used to make the parts of the router are in accordance with their intended purpose and regulatory requirements in a medical environment.

The subassemblies making up the router can be manufactured according to a large series of thermoplastic injection type industrial manufacturing methods.

Each piece can be manufactured either individually and mechanically assembled, or according to an industrial process glued and / or welded, is manufactured simultaneously in the same mold by an industrial process of multi-injection and / or overmolding. The design of the router allows for global manufacturing in a large series industrial mode that minimizes human intervention on the production line and reduces the risk of manufacturing errors as well as production costs.

This rational design is able to offer a competitive and disposable product, solution recognized as the safest against the risk of transmission of infectious agents such as prions.

The device is then disposable and recyclable which tends to reduce hospital costs.

It would also be possible to adapt the shades of materials used to produce a reusable device compatible with sterilization constraints.

By way of example illustrated in FIG. 16, a router according to the invention has the following dimensions:

- length of the head 30: 20 mm

- total length of the router: 280 mm

- Length of the tube 10 covered by the hose 40: 155 mm.

Claims

1. Bucco-pharyngal router characterized in that it comprises:

a head (30) able to be positioned outside an oropharyngeal cavity (81),

a trunk (10) able to be placed in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity (81), comprising:

a body (23) of longitudinal extension,

a proximal end (11) connected to the head (30),

a distal end (12),

a distal respiratory orifice (13) capable of being connected to the larynx (83),

a respiratory duct (61) connecting said distal respiratory orifice (13) to a proximal respiratory orifice (33) disposed in the head (30), and

- a hose (40), conforming to the external shape of the horn (10) when deflated, matching the volume of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity (81) when inflated and covering the horn (10), excluding the orifice distal respiratory tract (13) over a substantial portion of the usable insert area of the horn (10).

2. Router according to claim 1, wherein the hose (40) is made of elastomeric thermoplastic material, with an average thickness of between 0.2 mm and

5 mm, and with a Shore A hardness between 0 and 15.

3. Router according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the horn (10) has a rectilinear longitudinal extension of substantially cylindrical shape, and wherein the distal respiratory orifice (13) is formed in the side wall (24) of said cylinder, and wherein the connection to the larynx is ensured by positioning said distal respiratory orifice (13) opposite the larynx inlet (83).

4. Router according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the horn (10) has a rectilinear longitudinal extension of substantially cylindrical shape, and wherein the distal respiratory orifice (13) is formed in the end wall of said cylinder, and wherein the connection to the The larynx is provided by inserting the distal end (12) with the distal air port (13) into the larynx (83).

5. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the horn (10) is made of a semi-rigid material rigid enough to resist buckling and allow insertion into the bucopharyngeal cavity (81), and flexible enough to allow continuous flexion to accommodate the anatomical shapes of the cavity bucco-pharyngale (81), without folding the trunk (10) and without crushing the transverse section (64) of the trunk (10).

6. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the horn (10) has, at least at the approach of the distal end (12), a progressive reduction of the transverse section (64) to measure the approach of the distal end (12).

7. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the horn (10) has a cross section (64) adapted to resist torsion.

8. Router according to claim 7, wherein the transverse section (64) of the horn (10) is symmetrical in its outer shape and in its inner forms and has a balanced distribution of solids and voids.

Router according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the transverse section (64) is substantially triangular and has two convex sides (65, 66) and a concave side (69) clearing a space for the tongue, at least in proximity to the proximal end (1 1).

Router according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the horn (10) further comprises, between the distal respiratory orifice (13) and the distal end (12), a reduction of the transverse section (64). forming a stop (16) adapted to bear on a sub-arytenoid region (85).

11. Router according to claim 10, wherein a longitudinal distance (25) between the stop (16) and the distal respiratory orifice (13) is determined anatomically so that the distal respiratory orifice (13) is opposite the entry of the larynx (83) when the stop (16) bears on the sub-arytenoid region (85).

12. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the trunk (10) further comprises at least one fin (20) arranged longitudinally on at least one side of the distal respiratory orifice (13). .

13. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a ring (50) adapted to be secured to the mouth and / or teeth, and may be selectively immobilized or mobilized longitudinally relative to the trunk (10) so to adjust the depth of the depression of said horn (10) in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity (81).

14. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the trunk (10) further comprises at least one inflation duct (63) connecting at least one distal inflation port (15) disposed in the wall of the trunk (10). ) and opening into the gut

5 (40), at least one proximal inflation port (31) disposed in the head (30).

The router according to claim 14, wherein the head (30) further comprises at least a second proximal inflation port (32), to permit fluid flow in the casing (40), and / or a temperature control and / or o pressure of said fluid.

16. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a medical sensor, comprising a measuring cell integrated into the wall of the casing (40) and a processing means integrated in the head (30).

5

A router according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the horn (10) further comprises at least one digestive tract (62) connecting a distal digestive port (14) disposed at the distal end (12) and not covered by the casing (40), at least one proximal digestive orifice (34) disposed in the head (30), the distal end (12) being adapted to be introduced, with said distal digestive port (14), into the oesophageal sphincter (84).

18. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the ducts (61, 62, 63) have a substantially constant section throughout the router.

5

19. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the horn (10) has rounded external shapes, without asperity and without sudden change.

20. Router according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the hose (40) 0 covers at least 50% of the length of the horn (10).