Airway management

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides systems and / or methods that facilitate improving visualization associated with intubation. A dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade can be controlled to configure to normal anatomic variants and pathologic abnormalities to facilitate placing of an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea. Further, cameras can be integrated into and / or mounted upon the dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade. The cameras can enable stereoscopic visualization of the laryngeal aperture allowing for depth perception. Moreover, the cameras can be moved independently of the blade allowing for optimal viewing of the laryngeal opening.

Description

[0001] Related Application Cross Reference [0002] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 943,320, filed June 12, 2007, entitled "AIRWAY MANAGEMENT." The entire content of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. Background of the invention [0003] Medical endoscopy continues to advance as camera and lighting technologies become more sophisticated. The field of airway management has also seen technological advances in optics and light delivery, leading to the development of a number of devices to assist healthcare providers in placing breathing tubes in the trachea of ​​patients requiring mechanical ventilation assistance such as endotracheal intubation. [0004] The field of airway management, the design of the laryngoscope instrument used to displace the tongue to enable visualization of the vocal cords and laryngeal openings, has seen little progress since the introduction of orotracheal intubation in the ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The challenge for anesthesiologists, and other health care providers with specialized training in airway management, is to place an endotracheal tube at a location remote from visualization (e.g., from the mouth with conventional laryngoscopes)

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