Video laryngoscope

• US 5,800,344 A
• Filed: 10/23/1996
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lynch, Michael, Wood, Robert J. Sr., Walts, Connie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/736,031
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 600/185, 600/188, 600/189, 600/190, 600/196, 600/160, 600/163, 600/164, 600/167, 600/176, 600/182
• US Class Current: 600/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes

Abstract

The invention is a laryngoscope having an image sensor assembly mounted thereto for providing video imaging of a patient'"'"'s airway passage. The laryngoscope includes a distal end having a tip adapted for contact with tissue of an airway passage and an image sensor assembly mounted to a convex surface of the laryngoscope body so that an image sensor of the assembly is angled away from a tissue contacted by the tip when the laryngoscope is in use. In one embodiment, the image sensor assembly is slidably mounted on a track formed on a curved section of a laryngoscope body so that sliding of the image sensor assembly along the track adjusts the distance of the assembly from a target, and further adjusting the orientation angle of the image sensor assembly.

Claims

1. A laryngoscope adapted for use in opening an airway passage, said laryngoscope comprising:

an elongated body having a distal end and a convex surface;

a tip formed at said distal end adapted for contacting tissue of said airway passage;

a track formed lengthwise on said convex surface; and

an image sensor assembly including an image sensor mounted on said track so that sliding of said image sensor assembly on said track adjusts a distance of said image sensor assembly to a target, and adjusts a viewing direction of said image sensor assembly, said track having a length greater than a length of said image sensor assembly so that said track allows positional adjustment of said imaging assembly on said track.

2. The laryngoscope of claim 1, wherein said distal end includes an axis and wherein said image sensor is oriented at an angle with respect to said axis.

3. The laryngoscope of claim 1, wherein said image sensor is spaced apart from said tip.

4. The laryngoscope of claim 1, wherein said image sensor is mounted in a direction generally tangential with said elongated body.

5. The laryngoscope of claim 1, wherein said image sensor assembly further comprises:

a lens system mounted forwardly of said image sensor toward said distal end; and

a pair of fiber optic bundles disposed on either side of said image sensor for illuminating a target forward of said image sensor.

6. The laryngoscope of claim 1, wherein said image sensor assembly is lengthwise slidably mounted on said elongated body so that a distance between said image sensor and a target is adjusted by sliding said image sensor assembly.

7. The laryngoscope of claim 1, wherein said elongated body includes an elbow, and wherein said track is formed along said elbow.

8. A laryngoscope adapted for use in opening an airway passage, said laryngoscope comprising:

an elongated body having a distal end and a convex surface;

a tip formed at said distal end adapted for contacting tissue of said airway passage; and

mounting means formed on said convex surface adapted to receive an image sensor assembly of the type including an image sensor, said mounting means including a track formed lengthwise on said convex surface, said track comprising a slot opening toward said convex surface.

9. A laryngoscope adapted for use in opening an airway passage, said laryngoscope comprising:

an elongated body having a distal end and a convex surface;

a tip formed at said distal end adapted for contacting tissue of said airway passage;

mounting means formed on said convex surface adapted to receive an image sensor assembly of the type including an image sensor;

an image sensor assembly received in said mounting means, said image sensor assembly including

an image sensor;

a lens system mounted forwardly of said image senor toward said distal end;

a pair of fiber optic bundles disposed on either side of said image sensor for illuminating a target forward of said image sensor;

a circuit board spaced apart from said image sensor; and

a plurality of flexible conductors interposed between said image sensor and said circuit board providing flexible connection between said image sensor and said circuit board.