Intubation instrument

• US 20010023312A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verathon Medical (Canada) ULC (Roper Technologies, Inc.), Roush Industries Incorporated (Roush Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Saturn Biomedical Systems Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pacey, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,543,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes

Abstract

The configuration and arrangement of the instrument greatly facilitate safe placement of the instrument and an associated endotracheal tube. The instrument includes a handle with an arm extending therefrom. The arm includes a base portion and a distal lifter portion preferably having an angle between 5° and 85°, inclusive, and the lifter is sized and shaped to engage or lift the patient'"'"'s epiglottis, thereby to expose the glottis. In a preferred embodiment, the base portion and lifter portion are substantially the same length, and a viewing device, which is preferably a CCD or CMOS camera positioned near the transition portion between the base and lifter portions, is aligned to provide a perspective view toward the distal end of the lifter. Lights, which are preferably LED units, are positioned toward the distal end of the lifter to facilitate viewing. A transparent protective sheathing may be positioned over the assembly to facilitate cleaning and provide sterile multiple use of the device, and the lifter may be pivotally secured to the base portion to facilitate on-site adjustment by the practioner.

Claims

1. An intubation instrument, a portion of which is for insertion into a patient through the patient'"'"'s mouth, comprising:

a body having a handle attached thereto;

an elongate arm having an elongate base portion attached to the body and an elongate lifter portion having a smooth surface for engaging the patient'"'"'s epiglottis and a distal end for insertion distal-end first through a patient'"'"'s mouth;

said lifter portion being at least 3 centimeters long and extending from said base portion by at least a 5 degree angle.

2. The intubation instrument of

claim 1

, further including a viewer positioned in the vicinity of the area where the base portion meets the lifter portion of the arm, said viewer directed toward the distal end of the lifter portion.

3. The intubation instrument of

claim 2

, wherein said viewer is a telescope.

4. The intubation instrument of

claim 2

, wherein said viewer is a CMOS camera.

5. The intubation instrument of

claim 2

, wherein said viewer is a CCD camera.

6. The intubation instrument of

claim 1

, wherein said at least 5°

angle is between 5° and

85°

, inclusive.

7. The intubation instrument of

claim 6

, wherein said at least 5°

angle, is between 30° and

60°

, inclusive.

8. The intubation instrument of

claim 6

, wherein said at least 5°

angle is approximately 45°

.

9. The intubation instrument of

claim 2

, further including a light operably secured to said lifter portion.

10. The intubation instrument of

claim 9

, wherein said light is an LED.

11. The intubation instrument of

claim 2

, wherein said viewer is an CMOS camera and further including an LED light operably secured to said lifter portion.

12. The intubation instrument of

claim 1

, wherein said lifter portion is pivotally secured to said base portion at a pivot point.

13. The intubation instrument of

claim 12

, further including a locking lever arm for actuating and holding said lifter portion in a preselected position about said pivot point.

14. The intubation instrument of

claim 2

, further including a display for viewing video output from said viewer.

15. The intubation instrument of

claim 14

, wherein said display is remotely connected to said camera.

16. The intubation instrument of

claim 1

, wherein said lifter portion is between 3-10 centimeters long, inclusive.

17. The intubation instrument of

claim 16

, wherein said lifter portion is between 4-8 centimeters long, inclusive.

18. The intubation instrument of

claim 17

, wherein said lifter portion is approximately 6 centimeters long.

19. An intubation instrument, a portion of which is for insertion into a patient through the patient'"'"'s mouth, comprising:

a body having a handle attached thereto;

an elongate arm having an elongate base portion attached to the body and an elongate lifter portion having a smooth surface for engaging the patient'"'"'s epiglottis and a distal end for insertion distal-end first through a patient'"'"'s mouth;

said lifter portion being at least as long as said base portion and extending from said base portion by at least a 5 degree angle.

20. The intubation instrument of

claim 19

, further including a viewer positioned in the vicinity of the area where the base portion meets the lifter portion of the arm, said viewer directed toward the distal end of the lifter portion.

21. The intubation instrument of

claim 21

, wherein said viewer is a CMOS camera.

22. The intubation instrument of

claim 21

, wherein said viewer is a CCD camera.

23. The intubation instrument of

claim 21

, further including a light operably secured to said lifter portion.

24. The intubation instrument of

claim 23

, wherein said light is an LED.

25. An intubation instrument, a portion of which is for insertion into a patient through the patient'"'"'s mouth, comprising:

a body having a handle attached thereto;

an elongate arm having an elongate base portion attached to the body and an elongate lifter portion having a smooth surface for engaging the patient'"'"'s epiglottis and a distal end for insertion distal-end first through a patient'"'"'s mouth;

a viewer secured posterior to said arm in the vicinity where said base portion meets said lifter portion, said viewer directed toward the distal end of the lifter portion.

26. The intubation instrument of

claim 25

, wherein said base portion meets said lifter portion substantially in the middle of said elongate arm.

27. The intubation instrument of

claim 26

, wherein said viewer is a CMOS camera.

28. The intubation instrument of

claim 27

, wherein said lifter portion is pivotally secured to said base portion.

29. The intubation instrument of

claim 28

, further including an LED light operably secured to said lifter portion.

30. The intubation instrument of

claim 29

, further including a display operably secured to said camera.