VIDEO BLADE LARYNGOSCOPE

• US 20080249370A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Endovision, Inc. (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Endovision, Inc. (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Birnkrant, Dashiell, Barry, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes

Abstract

A laryngoscope including a control circuit that is detachably connectable to a handle, where the control circuit functions and is compatible with a wide variety of displays. The laryngoscope may optionally be used in either the video mode where the user views a display presenting image data of the area ahead of the blade, or the user may use the laryngoscope in the direct visualization where the user uses the laryngoscope in a traditional manner directly viewing the area ahead of the blade during the intubation procedure. When used in the video mode, an LED is positioned adjacent to a window enclosing the digital image sensor to defog the window.

Claims

1. A laryngoscope system comprising:

a handle having a cavity located therein with a connector positioned in the cavity;

a blade coupled to said handle;

a control circuit detachably connectable to the connector;

a sleeve coupled to said control circuit;

an illuminating device for providing illuminating light to an area in front of the distal end of said blade;

a digital imaging device for generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of said blade;

a display coupled to said control circuit, said display receiving and displaying the image data.

2. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said connector comprises an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power to said illuminating device and a data channel for transmitting image data from said digital imaging device.

3. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said blade comprises a smooth upper surface so as not to interfere with direct visualization by a user of an area in front of a distal end of the blade during intubation such that a user may intubate a patient with the laryngoscope system either by direct visualization of the area ahead of the blade or by viewing the image data on said display.

4. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said digital imaging device is positioned in said sleeve.

5. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said illuminating device is positioned in said sleeve.

6. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 further comprising a cable coupling said digital imaging device to said display.

7. The laryngoscope system according to claim 6 wherein said cable comprises a USB cable.

8. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said illuminating device comprises an LED.

9. The laryngoscope system according to claim 8 wherein the LED is pulsed in sync with a shutter of said digital imaging device.

10. The laryngoscope system according to claim 8 further comprising a window positioned at a distal end of said sleeve and said LED is positioned adjacent to said window to heat and defog the window.

11. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said blade is detachably coupled to said handle.

12. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein upon connection to a display, said control circuit identifies said connected display and provides an image data stream compatible with the connected display.

13. The laryngoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said control circuit includes signal configurations selected from the group consisting of:

USB connection over a USB cable, a composite video connection to a NTSC over a composite video cable, a UWB wireless video connection using a USB signal, a UWB wireless video connection using an NSTC signal and combinations thereof.

14. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve is detachably coupled to said control circuit.

15. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 said control circuit is provided with a keyed outer surface that engages with an interior surface of said cavity.

16. The laryngoscope system according to claim 15 wherein said keyed outer surface comprises at least one protrusion that engages with a channel located in the interior surface of said cavity such that said control circuit may be longitudinally slid into said cavity.

17. The laryngoscope system according to claim 1 wherein when said control circuit engages with said connector, there is an audible indication that the control circuit is fully inserted into said cavity.

18. A method for intubating a patient with a laryngoscope comprising the steps of:

coupling a control circuit to a connector located in a cavity in a handle;

coupling a blade to the handle;

coupling a sleeve to the control circuit;

transmitting illuminating light to an area in front of the distal end of the blade;

generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of the blade;

transmitting the image data to the control circuit;

coupling a display to the control circuit;

transmitting the image data to the display; and

displaying the image data on a display.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of transmitting electrical power via an electrical channel in the connector to an illuminating device positioned at a distal end of the sleeve.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the image data is transmitted to the control circuit via a data channel in the connector.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the illuminating device is pulsed in sync with a shutter of the digital imaging device.

22. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of positioning a window in a distal end of the sleeve and positioning an LED adjacent to the window.

23. The method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of heating the window with the LED to defog the window.

24. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of identifying connected display and providing an image data stream compatible with the connected display.

25. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of positioning a protrusion on an outer surface of the control circuit that engages with a channel located in the interior surface of the cavity such that the control circuit may be longitudinally slid into the cavity.

26. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of generating an audible sound when the control circuit is coupled to the connector.