Dual screen intubation system
First Claim
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1. An endotracheal intubation system adapted for two-handed operation by a medical operator, the system comprising:
- (a) an endotracheal intubation device comprising;
(i) a stylet adapted for mounting an endotracheal tube, the stylet having a proximal end and a distal end, and(ii) a first camera means mounted to the stylet adjacent the distal end of the stylet and enabling viewing of a first image of a patient'"'"'s airway passage on a first view screen;
(b) a laryngoscope blade for lifting a patient'"'"'s epiglottis with simultaneous viewing of the patient'"'"'s airway passage by the endotracheal intubation device, wherein(i) the laryngoscope blade has a proximal end and a distal end, and(ii) the laryngoscope blade comprises a second camera means mounted adjacent the distal end of the laryngoscope blade, the second camera means enabling viewing of a second image of the patient'"'"'s airway passage on a second view screen; and
(c) a display means for simultaneously receiving and viewing visual images from at least two different camera means, wherein(i) the display means is electronically connected to the first camera means and to the second camera means, and(ii) the display means comprises the first view screen for viewing the first image and the second view screen for viewing the second image, the first view screen being positioned adjacent the second view screen on the display means;
wherein during use by a medical operator, a proximal end of the intubation device and the proximal end of the laryngoscope blade are each adapted to be manipulated together in two-handed operation by the operator'"'"'s left and right hands together.
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for using a laryngoscope blade with a camera and an endotracheal intubation device with a camera to enable simultaneous viewing of images from the two cameras on a display means such as an LCD display screen. The system enables accurate insertion and placement of an endotracheal tube in a patient with less risk to the patient.
62 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An endotracheal intubation system adapted for two-handed operation by a medical operator, the system comprising:
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(a) an endotracheal intubation device comprising; (i) a stylet adapted for mounting an endotracheal tube, the stylet having a proximal end and a distal end, and (ii) a first camera means mounted to the stylet adjacent the distal end of the stylet and enabling viewing of a first image of a patient'"'"'s airway passage on a first view screen; (b) a laryngoscope blade for lifting a patient'"'"'s epiglottis with simultaneous viewing of the patient'"'"'s airway passage by the endotracheal intubation device, wherein (i) the laryngoscope blade has a proximal end and a distal end, and (ii) the laryngoscope blade comprises a second camera means mounted adjacent the distal end of the laryngoscope blade, the second camera means enabling viewing of a second image of the patient'"'"'s airway passage on a second view screen; and (c) a display means for simultaneously receiving and viewing visual images from at least two different camera means, wherein (i) the display means is electronically connected to the first camera means and to the second camera means, and (ii) the display means comprises the first view screen for viewing the first image and the second view screen for viewing the second image, the first view screen being positioned adjacent the second view screen on the display means; wherein during use by a medical operator, a proximal end of the intubation device and the proximal end of the laryngoscope blade are each adapted to be manipulated together in two-handed operation by the operator'"'"'s left and right hands together. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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18. The method of 17, wherein (i) the endotracheal tube comprises externally visible length-indicating means thereon, and (ii) controlling the degree of insertion of the endotracheal tube comprises viewing the second image of the length-indicating means during advancement of the endotracheal tube into the trachea.
- 19. The method of 17, wherein (i) the endotracheal tube comprises externally visible length-indicating means thereon, (ii) inserting the laryngoscope blade into the patient'"'"'s airway passage comprises advancing the blade to a position where the patient'"'"'s vocal cords are at least partially within the field of view of the second camera means, and (iii) controlling the degree of insertion of the endotracheal tube comprises viewing the second image of the length-indicating means at a position above the vocal cords during advancement of the endotracheal tube into the trachea to attain a preselected linear insertion distance of the distal end of the endotracheal tube into the trachea and relative to the vocal cords.
Specification