Airway management

• US 9,167,962 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• 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: 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): Hoffman, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, TARA ROSE E
• Application Number:
  US13/840,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 600188-199
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An airway management apparatus, comprising:

a blade portion operatively attached to a handle portion;

the blade portion comprises a first flat blade comprising a first end attached to the handle portion, and a second end attached to a first end of a second flat blade at a first articulation point, the second flat blade comprising a second end attached to a first end of a third flat blade at a second articulation point, wherein the second flat blade is movable relative to the first articulation point between a first and second position and the third flat blade is movable relative to the second articulation point between an open position and a flex position; and

the handle portion comprises a first control configured to manipulate the blade portion at the first articulation point and a second control configured to manipulate the blade portion at the second articulation point, wherein a movement of the blade portion at the first articulation point is independent of another movement of the blade portion at the second articulation point.

2. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first control and the second control are further configured to flex the blade portion through a length of the blade portion.

3. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first control and the second control are configured to independently alter a curvature, an orientation, a size, a shape, or combinations thereof, of the blade portion.

4. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first control is configured to rotate the second flat blade about the first articulation point and the second control is configured to rotate the third flat blade about the second articulation point.

5. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle portion further comprises a blade control component configured to receive an input that provides an instruction to the first control, the second control, or both the first control and the second control.

6. The airway management apparatus of claim 5, wherein the input is received from a device located remote from the airway management apparatus.

7. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle portion comprises:

at least one knob configured to operate at least one of the first control or the second control;

a lever block coupled to the at least one knob; and

a handle chassis comprising a channel and a channel block, wherein the lever block is configured to move within the channel and the channel block is configured to limit a range of motion of the lever block within the channel.

8. The airway management apparatus of claim 7, wherein the channel block is configured to limit the range of motion of the lever block in a direction towards the blade portion.

9. The airway management apparatus of claim 7, the at least one knob is a rotatable knob and the lever block is configured to slide within the channel as a result of rotation of the rotatable knob and rotate at least one of the second flat blade about the first articulation point or the third flat blade about the second articulation point.

10. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, the handle portion being selectively removable from the blade portion.

11. The airway management apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a camera operatively attached to the blade portion, wherein the camera moves independently from the blade portion.

12. A laryngoscope, comprising:

a handle assembly; and

a blade assembly operatively attached to the handle assembly, the blade assembly comprises;

a first blade assembly comprising a first blade cover and a first blade;

a second blade assembly operatively connected to the first blade assembly at a first articulation point and movable through a proximal blade assembly range of motion, the second blade assembly comprises a second blade cover and a second blade; and

a third blade assembly operatively connected to the second blade assembly at a second articulation point and movable through a distal blade assembly range of motion that is separate from the second blade assembly range of motion.

13. The laryngoscope of claim 12, the first blade assembly further comprising first blade flanges and the second blade assembly further comprising second blade flanges, wherein the first blade flanges and the second blade flanges are configured as sidewalls that form an adaptable channel.

14. The laryngoscope of claim 12, further comprising:

a first pusher configured to move the second blade assembly about the first articulation point; and

a second pusher configured to move the third blade assembly about the second articulation point.

15. The laryngoscope of claim 14, wherein the handle assembly comprises a first blade control component configured to operate the first pusher and a second blade control component configured to operate the second pusher.

16. The laryngoscope of claim 14, further comprising at least one camera operatively attached to the blade assembly.

17. The laryngoscope of claim 12, the handle assembly being selectively removable from the blade assembly.

18. The laryngoscope of claim 12, the handle assembly comprises a blade control component configured to receive a signal that comprises an instruction to move one or more of the first blade assembly, the second blade assembly, or the third blade assembly, wherein the signal is received from a device located remote from the laryngoscope.

19. A method, comprising:

sending a first image to a first device, wherein the first image is captured by a camera operatively attached and configured to move independently of a laryngoscope comprising a first blade and a second blade;

receiving a first input from the first device, the first input comprises a first instruction to move the first blade relative to a first articulation point;

moving the first blade at the first articulation point;

transmitting a second image to the first device, wherein the second image is captured by the camera or by another camera operatively attached and configured to move independently of the laryngoscope;

receiving a second input from the first device, the second input comprises a second instruction to move the first blade relative to the first articulation point and through a first range of motion, or an instruction to move the second blade relative to a second articulation point and through a second range of motion that is separate from the first range of motion; and

moving the first blade at the first articulation point or the second blade at the second articulation point, wherein the laryngoscope is at a first location and the first device is at a second location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the moving the first blade at the first articulation point or the second blade at the second articulation point comprises activating at least one motor operatively attached to the laryngoscope.