Laryngoscope with handle-grip activated recording

• US 10,299,668 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Walker, Robert G., Chapman, Fred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eckman, Michelle C
• Application Number:
  US15/423,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0002 provided with data storages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of a laryngoscope that facilitates targeted recording (video, or audio, or both video and audio) of time intervals associated with active laryngoscopy. In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, a characteristic that reliably defines the interval of active laryngoscopy is used to trigger recording. One such characteristic is that the operator'"'"'s hand is gripping the handle of the laryngoscope. Accordingly, preferred embodiments implement a laryngoscope having a handle so designed that when the handle is gripped by the operator'"'"'s hand, recording is initiated and continued for as long as the operator'"'"'s hand maintains a grip on the laryngoscope handle.

Claims

1. A laryngoscope, comprising:

a memory configured to store electrical signals for at least a temporary period of time;

a capture module configured to detect environmental signals and to convert the environmental signals into electrical signals for storage by memory;

one or more grip sensors configured to detect that the capture module is activated and to detect that the laryngoscope is in active use;

and a processor configured to, in response to the one or more grin sensors detecting that the capture module is activated and the laryngoscope is in active use, cause the electrical signals from the capture module to be stored by the memory.

2. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to be stored by the memory from a period of time prior to the detection that the capture module is activated.

3. The laryngoscope recited in claim 2, wherein the period of time is configurable.

4. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect that the capture module is no longer activated and, in response, to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to cease being stored by the memory.

5. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the capture module is no longer activated and, in response, to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to cease being stored by the memory some period of time after the detection that the capture module is no longer activated.

6. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the environmental signals include light and wherein the electrical signals include video image data.

7. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the environmental signals include sound and wherein the electrical signals include audio data.

8. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the grip sensor is further configured to detect that an operator is gripping a portion of the laryngoscope, and wherein, in response to the one or more grip sensors detecting that the operator is gripping the portion of the laryngoscope, the processor is further configured to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to be stored by the memory.

9. The laryngoscope recited in claim 8, wherein the grip sensor is further configured to detect that an operator is gripping a handle of the laryngoscope, and wherein, in response to the one or more grip sensors detecting that the operator is gripping the handle of the laryngoscope, the processor is further configured to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to be stored by the memory.

10. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more grip sensors includes multiple grip sensors.

11. The laryngoscope recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more grip sensors includes a single grip sensor.