System for reducing local discomfort

Abstract

A device for targeted delivery of a substance to an airway may include a conduit and at least two applicators. The conduit may include a proximal end and a bifurcated distal portion having two distal ends. Each applicator may be coupled with one of the distal ends of the conduit and may be configured to direct the substance out of the applicator toward one of two sides of an airway. A method for targeted delivery of a substance to an airway may involve advancing a substance delivery device into the airway, contacting two sides of the airway with at least two applicators of the substance delivery device, such that each applicator contacts the airway near a glossopharyngeal nerve and/or a superior laryngeal nerve on each of the two sides of the airway, and delivering the substance through the applicators to contact the airway along the two sides.

1 . A device for targeted delivery of a substance to an airway of a patient, the device comprising:
 a conduit comprising a proximal end and a distal portion having at least one distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to be coupled with a source of the substance provided via a mechanical pump; and   at least one applicator coupled with the at least one distal end of the conduit, wherein the at least one applicator is configured to direct the substance out of the at least one applicator toward a portion of the airway of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is configured to removably attach to an endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         3 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is configured to removably attach to a laryngeal mask airway. 
     
     
         4 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is configured to rest against one or more portions of the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         5 . A device as in  claim 4 , wherein the one or more portions of the patient's mouth comprise the patient's teeth. 
     
     
         6 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be advanced into the airway and used for substance delivery without requiring attachment to any other airway device. 
     
     
         7 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises two conduits joined together along at least part of a proximal portion and separate from a bifurcation to distal ends, wherein the at least one applicator comprises two applicators, and wherein each of the two applicators is coupled with one of the distal ends of the two conduits. 
     
     
         8 . A device as  claim 1 , wherein the at least one applicator has a curved configuration to conform to a curved portion of the airway, such that the at least one applicator, when positioned in the airway, contacts the airway near at least one of a glossopharyngeal nerve or a superior laryngeal nerve. 
     
     
         9 . A device as in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one applicator comprises two applicators configured to contact two sides of the airway, each applicator contacting the airway near at least one of the glossopharyngeal nerve or the superior laryngeal nerve. 
     
     
         10 . A device as in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one applicator, when positioned in the airway, contacts the airway at or near at least one of a posterior tonsillar pillar or a piriform sinus. 
     
     
         11 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one applicator is made at least partially of a material configured to allow the substance to weep slowly out of the at least one applicator. 
     
     
         12 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment member on the conduit for attaching the device with an endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         13 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises part of an endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one applicator is configured to remain in the airway while an endotracheal tube is positioned in the airway. 
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the conduit is configured to attach to a mechanically driven source of the substance selected from the group consisting of an intravenous syringe pump, an intravenous pump, a balloon pump, an intravenous bag, and other mechanically driven substance reservoirs. 
     
     
         16 . A device as in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one applicator or the mechanically driven source of the substance is configured to control at least one of a rate or an amount of the substance delivered.