Intubation instrument

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 practitioner.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The following applications are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein: U.S. application Ser. Nos. 09 / 732,129 filed Dec. 6, 2000; 10 / 356,705 filed Jan. 30, 2003 and ReExamination Control Number 95 / 000,161.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Intubation of the human trachea is carried out daily in operating rooms and emergency facilities in order to facilitate respiration of a patient. The goal of the intubation process is to locate the distal end of an endotracheal tube in the larynx with the proximal end outside the patient's mouth.[0003]Safe and effective intubation requires controlled insertion of the endotracheal tube through a patient's mouth so that the tube is directed to the upper part of the larynx, the glottis, without damaging or being blocked by the patient's tissue. To this end, intubation instruments have been developed. Such instruments generally provide a somewhat rigid structure that is inserted into the mouth of the patient so t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0030]The present invention overcomes these and other problems of known intubation devices. It provides an intubation device that includes a configuration and arrangement of components that greatly facilitate rapid, safe placement of the instrument and associated endotracheal tube.

[0032]In a preferred embodiment, the base portion and lifter portion are substantially the same length, and a viewing device, which is preferably a Charged Coupled Device (“CCD”) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (“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 Light Emitting Diode (“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.

[0035]The observation of the movement of the instrument and tube is enhanced by the creation of a clearing at the distal end of the instrument. In this regard, the instrument includes structure for establishing a clearing at the distal end of the instrument, into which clearing the patient's tissue is prevented from entering. The inner end of the viewing device is located at this clearing, as well as advantageously placed suction tube(s) for ensuring that the clearing remains free of fluid and vapor that would otherwise obstruct the operator's view.

[0036]Moreover, a projecting guard is included for establishing the clearing. The guard is angled in a manner that permits smooth, sliding movement of the instrument across tissue to the desired, inserted position of the instrument.

[0038]Also, a defogging element assembly may be operably secured to the instrument. The defogging element includes a heating element thermally-coupled to the lens of the viewer. The heating element heats when needed thereby warming the lens and preventing condensation or fog from forming on the lens.

Problems solved by technology

However, the path from the patient's mouth to the glottis is not straight.

Such manipulation is undesirable, particularly where the patient may have an injured neck or head.

Moreover, the practitioner's line of sight for inserting such straight devices is often blocked by interfering tissue and the like.

However, such a camera view positioned toward the distal end is often unprotected from tissue and debris, and therefore becomes easily blocked.

Moreover, such positioning is usually too close to offer the practitioner a helpful perspective to facilitate proper insertion and alignment of the laryngoscope and endotracheal tube within the larynx.

Also, the straight blade remains difficult to properly insert.

However, to be properly inserted, such devices still require undesirable manipulation of a patient's head and neck.

However, these tips are generally too small to adequately support the epiglottis, and they still require the practitioner to insert an elongate straight or substantially straight blade, thereby required undesirable manipulation of the patent's head and neck.

However, the path from the patient's mouth to the glottis is not straight.

Such manipulation is undesirable, particularly where the patient may have an injured neck or head.

Moreover, the practitioner's line of sight for inserting such straight devices is often blocked by interfering tissue and the like.

However, such a camera view positioned toward the distal end is often unprotected from tissue and debris, and therefore becomes easily blocked.

Moreover, such positioning is usually too close to offer the practitioner a helpful perspective to facilitate proper insertion and alignment of the laryngoscope and endotracheal tube within the larynx.

Also, the straight blade remains difficult to properly insert.

However, to be properly inserted, such devices still require undesirable manipulation of a patient's head and neck.

However, these tips are generally too small to adequately support the epiglottis, and they still require the practitioner to insert an elongate straight or substantially straight blade, thereby required undesirable manipulation of the patent's head and neck.

In addition, when cameras are inserted into a patient's pharynx, the cold lens of the cameras combined with the moisture and heat of the pharynx tend to form fog or condensation on the camera's lens, thereby rendering them useless.

Efforts to prevent the fogging of these lenses during use have had limited success.

These defogging options can be time consuming and ineffective.

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