AIRWAY MANAGEMENT

• US 20110144436A1
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Turocy and Watson LLP (Amin Turocy & Watson LLP), University Hospitals of Cleveland (University Hospitals Health System Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Turocy and Watson LLP (Amin Turocy & Watson LLP), University Hospitals of Cleveland (University Hospitals Health System Incorporated)
• Inventors: Aharon, Alon S., Voltz, Donald M., Nearman, Howard S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,460,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00004 characterised by electronic signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00011 characterised by signal transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate improving visualization associated with intubation. A dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade can be controlled to configure to normal anatomic variants and pathologic abnormalities to facilitate placing of an endotracheal tube into a patient'"'"'s trachea. Further, cameras can be integrated into and/or mounted upon the dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade. The cameras can enable stereoscopic visualization of the laryngeal aperture allowing for depth perception. Moreover, the cameras can be moved independently of the blade allowing for optimal viewing of the laryngeal opening.

Claims

1. An airway management apparatus, comprising:

an articulating blade with a plurality of articulation points, the plurality of articulation points includes at least a first articulation point that alters a curvature associated with the articulating blade and a second articulation point that manipulates a tip of the articulating blade; and

a blade control component that controls manipulation of the articulating blade at one or more of the plurality of articulation points while in an oral cavity to accommodate variation in normal and abnormal anatomy of an upper airway.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the articulating blade further comprises a data capture component.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the data capture component being a digital camera mounted on the articulating blade.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, the digital camera moves independently of the articulating blade to view a laryngeal opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, the digital camera further comprises a heating element to mitigate fogging.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, the data capture component being a plurality of digital cameras that enable stereoscopic visualization of a laryngeal aperture while providing depth perception.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a data store that retains the data obtained by the data capture component.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data store is removable flash memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a communication component that transfers data obtained by the data capture component to a disparate device, wherein the disparate device outputs the data in real time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an initialization component that identifies disparate devices within range and enables selection of one or more of the identified disparate devices for directing data transmission.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, the communication component receives control signals from the disparate device, the control signals being utilized by the blade control component to manipulate the articulating blade.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adaptable channel that secures and enables directional placement of an endotracheal tube or intubation stylet into a trachea under direct vision.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle that connects to the articulating blade, the handle comprises a power source and/or a light transmission system.

14. A method that enables utilizing a laryngoscope with an articulating blade, comprising:

crudely manipulating a laryngoscope blade by adjusting a curvature of the laryngoscope blade from a control on a handle while in an oral cavity; and

finely manipulating the laryngoscope blade by maneuvering a tip of the laryngoscope blade from the control on the handle while in the oral cavity.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising manipulating the laryngoscope blade at a plurality of articulation points.

16. The method of claim 14, finely manipulating the laryngoscope blade to move a patient'"'"'s epiglottis.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising presenting data related to intubation collected from cameras included with the laryngoscope blade upon an external device in real time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

collecting laryngeal opening data from the cameras included with the laryngoscope blade;

processing the laryngeal opening data; and

transmitting the processed data for presentation utilizing the external device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein processing the laryngeal opening data further comprising combining data from the cameras to yield an output image or video.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising moving the cameras independently from the laryngoscope blade while in the oral cavity.