VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPE AND VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPE INSERTION SECTION

• US 20160120394A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Aircraft Medical Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: MCGRATH, Matthew John Ross, INGLIS, Peter Douglas Colin
• Granted Patent: US 10,448,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00064 Constructional details of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00075 with externally roughened shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• 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

Abstract

A video laryngoscope and elongate laryngoscope insertion section for a video laryngoscope, comprising a viewing port through which an imaging device within the insertion section can obtain images of a larynx, the insertion section extending between a distal end for insertion into a subject and an opposite proximal end, and having an inferior surface and an opposed superior surface, wherein the insertion section comprises a proximal region where the insertion section extends through a subject'"'"'s teeth in use, a distal region extending to the distal end and an intermediate region therebetween, wherein the inferior surface of the insertion section comprises or consists of a curved region which extends from the proximal region through the intermediate region to the distal region, wherein the curved region of the inferior surface is continuously longitudinally curved along the length of the longitudinally curved region and wherein the longitudinal curvature of the curved region of the inferior surface varies in the intermediate region. Markings on an elongate laryngoscope insertion can be used to monitor depth of insertion and to indicate a path by which an endotracheal tube should be inserted.

Claims

1. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section comprising a viewing port through which an imaging device within the insertion section can obtain images of a larynx, the insertion section extending between a distal end for insertion into a subject and an opposite proximal end, and having an inferior surface and an opposed superior surface, wherein the insertion section comprises a proximal region where the insertion section extends through a subject'"'"'s teeth in use, a distal region extending to the distal end and an intermediate region therebetween, wherein the inferior surface of the insertion section comprises or consists of a curved region which extends from the proximal region through the intermediate region to the distal region, wherein the curved region of the inferior surface is continuously longitudinally curved along the length of the longitudinally curved region and wherein the longitudinal curvature of the curved region of the inferior surface varies in the intermediate region.

2. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 1, wherein the curved region of the inferior surface has a minima of longitudinal radius of curvature in the intermediate region of the insertion section.

3. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal radius of curvature at the minima of longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region in the intermediate region of the insertion section is less than at any point of the curved region in the proximal and distal regions.

4. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section claim 2, wherein the longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region of the inferior surface varies continuously in the intermediate region.

5. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region of the inferior surface in the intermediate region is not less than 75% of the minimum radius of curvature of the inferior surface in the proximal curved region.

6. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 2 wherein the longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region of the inferior surface is constant in the proximal region.

7. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region of the inferior surface is constant in the distal region.

8. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region in the proximal region is less than the longitudinal radius of curvature surface of the curved region in the distal region.

9. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 1, wherein the minimum longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region in the intermediate region is greater than 80% of the minimum longitudinal radius of curvature of the curved region in the proximal region.

10. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 1, wherein the insertion section is an indirect view insertion section.

11. A video laryngoscope comprising an elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 1 and an imaging device within the insertion section.

12. A video laryngoscope according to claim 11, wherein the imaging device is located superiorly of a point which is midway between the most inferior and most superior surfaces of the insertion section.

13. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section extending between a distal end for insertion into a subject and a proximal end, and having an inferior surface and an opposed superior surface, wherein the superior surface is provided with a plurality of markings which are substantially equally longitudinally spaced.

14. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of markings are increments of length from the distal end of the insertion section along the superior surface.

15. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of markings are equally longitudinally spaced along the inferior surface of the insertion section.

16. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section claim 13, wherein the insertion section comprises a depth monitor to monitor the depth to which the insertion section is inserted into a subject.

17. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 16, wherein the depth monitor comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced sensors for determining the extent to which the insertion section is located in the subject'"'"'s mouth.

19. A video laryngoscope comprising an elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 13, a display and a processor which controls the display, wherein the processor is configured to cause the display to display information concerning the current or a previous depth of insertion.

20. A method of carrying out endotracheal intubation on a subject, the method comprising introducing a video laryngoscope comprising an elongate insertion section according to claim 13 into the subject, and then adjusting the depth to which the insertion section is inserted into the subject with reference to the plurality of markings on the superior surface.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the depth of the insertion section is adjusted with reference to the plurality of markings after viewing the subject'"'"'s trachea with the video laryngoscope and the method comprises the subsequent step of introducing an endotracheal tube into the subject'"'"'s trachea.

18. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section comprising a depth monitor to monitor the depth to which the insertion section is inserted into a subject.

22. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section extending between a distal end for insertion into a subject and a proximal end, and having an inferior surface and an opposed superior surface, wherein the inferior surface and/or the superior surface comprises one or more microscopically rough regions.

23. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 22, comprising a continuous body of clear plastic material which defines both a viewing port for an imaging device, having a smooth surface, and the or each microscopically rough region.

27. A video laryngoscope comprising an elongate insertion section according to claim 22.

24. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section extending between a distal end for insertion into a subject and a proximal end, and having an inferior surface and an opposed superior surface, wherein the insertion section comprises an elongate member extending longitudinally along the insertion section and a lateral flange extending therefrom and having an inferior surface which forms at least some of the inferior surface of the laryngoscope insertion section, and an opposite superior surface, wherein the superior surface comprises a visual highlight.

25. A elongate laryngoscope insertion section according to claim 24, wherein the insertion section comprises a viewing port through which an imaging device within the insertion section can obtain images of a larynx and the visual highlight extends along the superior surface of the flange distally of the viewing port.

26. An elongate laryngoscope insertion section comprising a viewing port through which an imaging device within the insertion section can obtain images of a larynx, the insertion section extending between a distal end for insertion into a subject and an opposite proximal end, and having an inferior surface and an opposed superior surface, wherein the insertion section comprises an elongate member extending longitudinally along the insertion section, the elongate member having a lateral wall and an elongate guide line extending longitudinally adjacent an optimal path for the insertion of an endotracheal tube into the trachea of a subject into which the insertion section has been introduced.

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)