Apparatus and method for airway management

• US 8,419,634 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Nearman, Howard S., Voltz, Donald M., Aharon, Alon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, TARA ROSE E
• Application Number:
  US12/754,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 600/188, 600/189, 600/190, 600/196, 600/223, 600/225, 600/239, 600/240
• US Class Current: 600/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2673 for monitoring movements of vocal chords

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate improving visualization associated with intubation. A dynamical articulating laryngoscope can include a handle assembly and a blade assembly. The blade assembly can further include a main blade assembly, a proximal blade assembly, and a distal blade assembly. A medium control articulation point can couple the main blade assembly and the proximal blade assembly, and a fine control articulation point can couple the distal blade assembly and the proximal blade assembly. Further, the proximal blade assembly can pivot relative to the main blade assembly around the medium control articulation point and/or the distal blade assembly can pivot relative to the proximal blade assembly around the fine control articulation point. Pivoting about the medium control articulation point and/or the fine control articulation point can be effectuated by one or more blade control components.

Claims

1. A blade assembly of a laryngoscope, comprising:

a main blade assembly;

a proximal blade assembly coupled to the main blade assembly at a medium control articulation point and movable relative to the medium control articulation point between a first position and a second position; and

a distal blade assembly coupled to the proximal blade assembly at a fine control articulation point and movable relative to the fine control articulation point between an open position and a flex position, wherein the movement of the proximal blade assembly is independent of the movement of the distal blade assembly.

2. The blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the medium control articulation point allows the proximal blade assembly to pivot relative to the main blade assembly about the medium control articulation point with a proximal blade assembly range of motion, the proximal blade assembly range of motion being a maximum angle of rotation of the proximal blade assembly.

3. The blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the proximal blade assembly range of motion is less than 60 degrees.

4. The blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the proximal blade assembly range of motion is between 25 degrees and 45 degrees.

5. The blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the proximal blade assembly range of motion is between 30 degrees and 40 degrees.

6. The blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the fine control articulation point allows the distal blade assembly to pivot relative to the proximal blade assembly about the fine control articulation point with a distal blade assembly range of motion, the distal blade assembly range of motion being a maximum angle of rotation of the distal blade assembly.

7. The blade assembly of claim 6, wherein the distal blade assembly range of motion is less than 60 degrees.

8. The blade assembly of claim 6, wherein the distal blade assembly range of motion is between 30 degrees and 50 degrees.

9. The blade assembly of claim 6, wherein the distal blade assembly range of motion is between 35 degrees and 45 degrees.

10. The blade assembly of claim 1, further comprising a camera at least one of mounted upon, integrated into, or removeably connected to the blade assembly.

11. A laryngoscope, comprising:

a handle assembly; and

a blade assembly coupled to the handle assembly, the blade assembly further comprises;

a main blade assembly coupled to the handle assembly;

a proximal blade assembly coupled to the main blade assembly at a medium control articulation point and movable through a proximal blade assembly range of motion; and

a distal blade assembly coupled to the proximal blade assembly at a fine control articulation point and movable through a distal blade assembly range of motion that is separate from the proximal blade assembly range of motion.

12. The laryngoscope of claim 11, the handle assembly further comprises a blade control component that controls pivoting of the blade assembly at one or more of the medium control articulation point or the fine control articulation point.

13. The laryngoscope of claim 11, further comprising:

a motor that drives a flexible shaft based upon an input;

a shaft adapter coupled to the flexible shaft;

a lead screw coupled to the shaft adapter and a lead screw adapter;

a sliding link coupled to the lead screw adapter; and

a rotating link coupled to the sliding link and the proximal blade assembly at the medium control articulation point.

14. The laryngoscope of claim 11, the handle assembly further comprises:

a knob;

a lever block coupled to the knob, wherein the lever block is further coupled to a distal pusher; and

a handle chassis that includes a channel formed as part thereof, the lever block being slidable within the channel.

15. The laryngoscope of claim 14, the distal pusher further coupled to the distal blade assembly at the fine control articulation point.

16. The laryngoscope of claim 14, the handle assembly further comprises:

a disparate knob; and

a disparate lever block coupled to the disparate knob, wherein the disparate lever block is further coupled to a proximal pusher, and the handle chassis further includes a disparate channel formed as part thereof where the disparate lever block is slidable within the disparate channel.

17. The laryngoscope of claim 16, the proximal pusher further coupled to the proximal blade assembly at the medium control articulation point.

18. The laryngoscope of claim 14, the distal pusher being slidable in a channel formed between a main blade cover and a main blade of the main blade assembly and between a proximal blade cover and a proximal blade of the proximal blade assembly.

19. The laryngoscope of claim 11, wherein the medium control articulation point couples the proximal blade assembly to at least one of a rotating link or a proximal pusher, and the fine control articulation point couples the distal blade assembly to a distal pusher.

20. A method that facilitates utilizing a laryngoscope, comprising:

pivoting a proximal blade assembly of the laryngoscope relative to a main blade assembly of the laryngoscope around a medium control articulation point and through a first range of motion; and

pivoting a distal blade assembly of the laryngoscope relative to the proximal blade assembly of the laryngoscope around a fine control articulation point and through a second range of motion, wherein the second range of motion is independent of the first range of motion.