DR. KENT LEE CHRISTOPHER, M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine at Colorado Cir, Denver, CO

6860264, Mar 1, 2005

Apr 2, 2002

10/115224

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO, US

Evergreen Medical Incorporated - Denver CO

A61M016/00

12820026, 12820714, 12820715, 600120

A method and apparatus for endotracheal intubation with simultaneous oxygenation/ventilation employs a curved guide and a light wand to ensure proper placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient's airway. The light wand has an elongated flexible member with a light source at its distal tip. The wand is inserted through an endotracheal tube until the light is adjacent to the distal end of the endotracheal tube. A curved guide is inserted into the patient's mouth and upper airway so that its distal end is positioned above the larynx. The wand and endotracheal tube are then advanced along the guide until the distal end of the endotracheal tube passes through the larynx and the light source is externally observable at a predetermined location through the anterior tracheal wall.

6405725, Jun 18, 2002

Oct 1, 1999

09/411610

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO

Evergreen Medical, Inc. - Denver CO

A61M 1600

12820026, 12820628, 12820629, 12820714, 12820716

An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patients trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patients mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. For example, a resuscitation bag can be connected to a rotatable ventilation port on the face mask. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe. Resuscitation, oxygenation, or artificial ventilation continue without interruption while the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube are inserted through a flexible port at the proximal end of the curve guide and then advanced along the guide into the patients airway. The direction of the distal tip of the fiber optic probe can be controlled by the physician. This allows the physician to carefully guide the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube to a position past the larynx while resuscitation continues.

6543446, Apr 8, 2003

Nov 6, 2000

09/707350

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO

Evergreen Medical Incorporated - Denver CO

A61M 1600

12820026, 12820714, 12820715

An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patients trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patients mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. For example, a resuscitation bag can be connected to a rotatable ventilation port on the face mask. Alternatively, a resuscitation attachment with an air filter and one-way valve can be removably attached to the ventilation port of the face mask to enable a health care provider to directly resuscitate the patient. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe. Resuscitation, oxygenation, or artificial ventilation continue without interruption while the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube are inserted through a flexible port at the proximal end of the curve guide and then advanced along the guide into the patients airway, thereby allowing the physician to carefully guide the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube to a position past the larynx while resuscitation continues. The fiber optic probe is then removed from within the endotracheal tube and the mask is removed while leaving the endotracheal tube in place within the trachea.

2005013, Jun 30, 2005

Feb 28, 2005

11/067860

Kent Christopher - Denver CO, US

A61M016/00, A62B009/06

128207140, 128200260, 128207150

A method for endotracheal intubation allows resuscitation of the patient to continue during intubation. A curved guide having a mask and a ventilation port is inserted into the patient's mouth and upper airway. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask and simultaneously applying cardiac chest compressions. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe. Resuscitation continues without interruption while the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube are advanced along the guide into the patient's airway, thereby allowing the physician to carefully guide the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube to a position past the larynx while resuscitation continues.

5694929, Dec 9, 1997

Feb 26, 1996

8/607332

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO

A61M 1600

12820714

An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patient's trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe. Resuscitation, oxygenation, or artificial ventilation continue without interruption while the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube are inserted through a flexible port at the proximal end of the curve guide and then advanced along the guide into the patient's airway. The direction of the distal tip of the fiber optic probe can be controlled by the physician. This allows the physician to carefully guide the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube to a position past the larynx while resuscitation continues.

2011027, Nov 17, 2011

Jul 25, 2011

13/189956

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO, US
Stephanie S. Diehl - Littleton CO, US

CS MEDICAL, INC. - Boulder CO

A61M 16/10, A61M 16/00

12820417, 12820423

An open system provides breath-synchronized, flow-targeted ventilation to augment respiration by a self-breathing patient. A sensor detects a physical property of a patient's respiratory cycle. A processor monitors the sensor and controls a gas source to deliver oxygen-containing gas through a tube extending into the patient's airway with the flow rate varying over each respiratory cycle in a predetermined non-constant waveform synchronized with the respiratory cycle to augment the patient's spontaneous respiration. Gas is delivered at a flow rate sufficient to significantly mitigate the airway pressure the patient must generate during spontaneous breathing and thereby reduce the patient's work of breathing.

5515844, May 14, 1996

May 26, 1995

8/451513

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO

A61M 1600

12820026

A method and apparatus for weaning a ventilator-dependent patient employs a transtracheal catheter that is inserted through the patient's tracheostomy tube to continuously augment the flow of oxygen to the lungs as the patient breathes spontaneously. The weaning process involves disconnecting the ventilator from the tracheostomy tube; deflating the tracheostomy tube cuff so that the patient can breathe spontaneously through the upper airway; removably inserting a transtracheal catheter through the tracheostomy tube; and supplying a continuous flow of an oxygen/air mixture through the transtracheal catheter and into the lungs of the patient. The transtracheal catheter is equipped with a button or plug having clips to engage and cover the proximal opening of the tracheostomy tube. In one embodiment, a flexible tracheostomy tube with an adjustable neck flange is used to allow the distal end of the tracheostomy tube to be positioned immediately above the patient's carina. The relative lengths of the tracheostomy tube and the transtracheal catheter are fixed so that the distal end of the transtracheal catheter remains within the tracheostomy tube approximately 1-2 cm from its distal end.

5964217, Oct 12, 1999

Nov 20, 1997

8/974864

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO

A61M 1600

12820026

An endotracheal tube can be inserted into a patient's trachea during resuscitation by using a face mask and a curved guide. The guide is inserted through a flexible port in the face mask and has a curved distal portion that extends into the patient's mouth and hypopharynx. The patient is initially resuscitated by supplying a flow of air/oxygen through the mask. An endotracheal tube is inserted over the distal end of a fiber optic probe. Resuscitation, oxygenation, or artificial ventilation continue without interruption while the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube are inserted through a flexible port at the proximal end of the curve guide and then advanced along the guide into the patient's airway. The direction of the distal tip of the fiber optic probe can be controlled by the physician. This allows the physician to carefully guide the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube to a position past the larynx while resuscitation continues.

6895966, May 24, 2005

Sep 29, 2003

10/674136

Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO, US

Evergreen Medical Incorporated - Denver CO

A61M016/00

12820715, 12820026, 12820714

A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide. A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.

5181509, Jan 26, 1993

Oct 29, 1991

7/784123

Bryan T. Spofford - Denver CO
Kent L. Christopher - Denver CO

A61M 1600

128207140

Apparatus including a series of kits containing apparatus for use in the placement of specific transtracheal catheters for varying periods, including a transtracheal catheter suitable for in-dwelling long-term oxygen supplementation therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, by its size, perforation location and cleanability, and a method for placement.