Flexible Optical Assembly for Endotracheal Tube Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endotracheal intubation devices face challenges in simultaneously opening the airway, accurately positioning the endotracheal tube, and transmitting video images, especially in difficult anatomies and emergency situations, often requiring skilled personnel and multiple instruments.
Innovation Solution
An improved endotracheal tube insertion device that combines a flexible optical assembly, a guided introducer intubation assembly, and a blade assembly, allowing for simultaneous airway opening, precise tube positioning, and remote video transmission, featuring a flexible member with a video imaging device and a guide rail for easy manipulation and visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flexible videoscopes or fiber-optic bronchoscopes are used to visualize the vocal cords, then the ability to view around bends and manipulate angles is improved, but the ability to retract the tongue and laryngeal structures is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rigid blade's airway opening and retraction capability with the flexible scope's visualization capability into a single integrated device. The flexible scope is mounted on the rigid blade, allowing simultaneous structural support for tissue retraction and flexible visualization of the vocal cords without requiring separate instruments or operators.
2Ease of operation
If rigid blade laryngoscopes are used to retract laryngeal structures, then airway opening is improved, but trauma to laryngeal tissues occurs during manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the scope portion flexible while keeping the blade rigid, allowing the visualization component to adapt to anatomical variations without forcing rigid manipulation. The flexible scope can bend and conform to the airway structures, reducing trauma while the rigid blade maintains effective tissue retraction.
3Loss of information
If video laryngoscopes with fixed camera sensors are used, then indirect viewing is improved, but the angle and depth of visualization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the scope from rigid to flexible, enabling dynamic adjustment of the camera angle and depth. This allows the scope to reach different positions and orientations within the airway, providing adaptable visualization angles and depths while maintaining indirect viewing capability.
4Reliability
If multiple skilled personnel and instruments are used for intubation, then success rate is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (airway opening, tissue retraction, visualization, and intubation guidance) into a single integrated device. This eliminates the need for multiple separate instruments and reduces the number of skilled operators required, while maintaining high success rates through combined capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An endotracheal tube insertion device includes an insertion member, a flexible optical assembly member movably mounted to the insertion member, an endotracheal tube, and an endotracheal tube attachment member attached to the insertion member and configured to receive and retain the endotracheal tube.