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Two-piece video laryngoscope

  • US 7,946,981 B1
  • Filed: 07/15/2007
  • Issued: 05/24/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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First Claim
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1. A two-piece digital video laryngoscope for use in endotracheal intubation of a patient'"'"'s trachea, comprising:

  • a unitary integrally formed disposable handle/blade unit having a handgrip portion at a proximal end for accommodating a user'"'"'s hand, a contiguous downwardly curved distal end portion extending distally from said handgrip portion in a smooth curvature of approximately 90°

    sized and shaped to accommodate the anatomical contour of the tongue and throat structures of the patient and terminating in a terminal face, a flat generally rectangular epiglottis sweeper extending a short distance beyond said terminal face of said curved distal end portion configured to be positioned in front of the epiglottis and gently swept toward the mouth and teeth line of the patient to hold the epiglottis back and away from the exposed glottis opening, an inwardly extending cavity at the proximal end of said handgrip portion, a first electrical/digital image data connector in said cavity, a light emitting diode sealingly disposed in said terminal face connected in electrical communication with said first electrical/digital image data connector by an electrical conduit extending through said curved distal end portion, a lens sealingly disposed in said terminal face, and a digital image sensor sealingly disposed in said terminal face connected in image data transmitting communication with said first electrical/digital image data connector by an image data conduit extending through said curved distal end portion;

    an endotracheal tube receptacle channel extending distally along a dorsal surface of said curved distal end portion having an open entry end adjacent to said handgrip portion and an open exit end at said terminal face, said channel having a transversely generally arcuate or half-ovoid bottom segment that extends along the dorsal surface of the handle/blade unit starting a short distance from said handgrip portion and along said curved distal end portion to said terminal face and a segmented transversely curved generally arcuate top segment that extends partially over, and a distance along, said bottom segment of said channel;

    said segmented transversely curved generally arcuate top segment having a first transversely curved generally arcuate tab segment that extends from one lateral side partially over and a distance along a proximal end portion of said bottom segment, and a second transversely curved generally arcuate tab segment longitudinally spaced from said first tab segment that extends from the opposite lateral side partially over and a distance along a distal end portion of said bottom segment, said second arcuate tab segment terminating in opposed spaced relation to said epiglottis sweeper to serve as an endotracheal tube guide, said first and said second transversely curved generally arcuate top segments defining a slot that extends distance along said one lateral side, transversely across said channel to said opposite lateral side, and along said opposite lateral side of said curved distal end portion to said terminal face;

    a power/video module having a housing sized and shaped to be removably received in said cavity at the proximal end of said handgrip portion and a second electrical/digital image data connector thereon for mating engagement with said first electrical/digital image data connector, a color flat panel display including image decoding circuitry pivotally mounted at the proximal end thereof, a rechargeable battery power source and electrical and video circuitry contained in said housing connected with said second electrical/digital image data connector and with said display circuitry, and indicator LEDs and control switches on the exterior of said housing connected with said electrical and video circuitry;

    said first and said second electrical/digital image data connectors being engaged when said power/video module is received in said cavity at the proximal end of said handgrip portion to connect said rechargeable battery power source and said electrical and video circuitry in communication with said display and said light emitting diode and said digital image sensor in said terminal face to illuminate an area adjacent to said terminal face and transmit digital images to said display during insertion and intubation procedures;

    said endotracheal tube receptacle channel and said slot sized and shaped to slidably receive and releasably retain an endotracheal tube therein in a preloaded curved condition such that the tube is inserted with said handle/blade unit into the patient'"'"'s mouth and throat during insertion of the handle/blade unit into the patient'"'"'s mouth and throat and thereafter advanced relative thereto in a predictable exit direction with said second arcuate tab segment serving as a guide; and

    said slot of sufficient size to facilitate separation and removal of said handle/blade unit from the endotracheal tube after intubation by manually applying finger pressure between the endotracheal tube and said endotracheal tube receptacle channel so as to gently pry or extract the endotracheal tube out of said channel through said slot.

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