Laryngoscope With Handle-Grip Activated Recording

• US 20170215720A1
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Chapman, Fred W., Walker, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,299,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 medical device, comprising:

a laryngoscope system including;

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

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

a sensor integral with a handle portion of the laryngoscope, the sensor being operative to detect that the capture module is activated; and

a processor programmed with instructions, which, when instructed by the sensor, causes the electrical signals from the capture module to be stored by the memory in a non-volatile manner.

2. The medical device recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a grip sensor, and wherein the detection that the capture module is activated comprises detecting that the handle of the laryngoscope is actively being gripped.

3. The medical device recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to be stored in a non-volatile manner by the memory from a period of time prior to the detection that the capture module is activated.

4. The medical device recited in claim 3, wherein the period of time is configurable.

5. The medical device recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to cease being stored in a non-volatile manner by the memory upon a detection by the sensor that the capture module is no longer activated.

6. The medical device recited in claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to cause the electrical signals from the capture module to cease being stored in a non-volatile manner by the memory some period of time after the detection that the capture module is no longer activated.

7. The medical device recited in claim 1, wherein the environmental signals comprise light and wherein the electrical signals comprise video image data.

8. The medical device recited in claim 1, wherein the environmental signals comprise sound and wherein the electrical signals comprise audio data.

9. A method, comprising:

in a laryngoscope having a handle, a capture device, and a memory, capturing environmental data with the capture device;

converting the environmental data into electrical signals;

detecting that the handle of the laryngoscope is being gripped;

in response to the detecting, causing the electrical signals to be stored in a non-volatile manner by memory.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical signals are stored in the non-volatile manner by the memory from a period of time prior to the detection that the handle of the laryngoscope is being gripped.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the period of time is configurable.

12. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising detecting that the handle of the laryngoscope is not being gripped, and in response, causing the electrical signals to cease being stored by the memory.

13. The method recited in claim 9, further comprising detecting that the handle of the laryngoscope is not being gripped, and in response, causing the electrical signals to cease being stored by the memory some period of time after detecting that the handle is not being gripped.

14. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the environmental signals comprise light and wherein the electrical signals comprise video image data.

15. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the environmental signals comprise sound and wherein the electrical signals comprise audio data.