Cannula with soft tip

Claim 1

A cannula for application of a topical anesthetic to the laryngotracheal area of a patient prior to an endotracheal intubation procedure, comprising: an elongated catheter of soft, elastic material and having an integral, relatively soft distal tip, an integral proximal end, a lumen extending from the tip to the proximal end of the catheter, and means defining a plurality of openings in a distal end portion of the catheter communicating between the lumen and the outside of the catheter; and an elongated, rigid, shape-retaining, solid stylet snugly interfitted within the catheter lumen and extending substantially but somewhat less than the full length of the catheter, the distal end portion of the stylet being permanently curved, the stylet distal end portion being spaced from the distal tip of the catheter, the stylet having an X configuration in cross section, the webs of the X configured stylet being of substantial thickness with respect to the diameter of the stylet, the outer peripheries of the webs being curved so as to snugly interfit with and permanently engage the inner wall of the catheter, thus to define a plurality of fluid passageways between the stylet and the catheter, said rigid stylet engaging against and being permanently retained within the catheter, the stylet having a proximal end which is recessed from the proximal end of the catheter, the proximal end of the catheter being configured to receive a syringe tip, whereby, when the cannula is assembled with a syringe tip, the stylet proximal end is spaced from the syringe tip, and whereby, in use, the cannula may be inserted into the laryngotracheal area of a patient without trauma, due to the elastic structure of the catheter, and a topical anesthetic may be applied in the laryngotracheal area, the anesthetic passing from a syringe connected to the proximal end of the catheter, through the passageways defined by the stylet channels and the catheter, to and through the openings in the distal end portion of the catheter, and thus to the laryngotracheal area of a patient.