Intubation Instrument Color-Coded Control Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intubation instruments face challenges in providing simple and reliable operation, especially in visualization during emergency intubations, and lack real-time documentation capabilities, leading to increased procedure time and potential errors due to complex control interfaces and inadequate visualization.
Innovation Solution
An intubation instrument with a control interface that emits different colors to indicate states and conditions, combined with an imaging system and a processor for image data processing, allowing for intuitive operation and real-time documentation through a minimalistic control interface design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control interfaces (buttons, knobs, joysticks, levers, switches) are provided for controlling different functions, then the instrument can control more functions, but the user may engage the wrong control interface because they are looking at a screen displaying the region of interest rather than at the control interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface uses color-changing LEDs to indicate the current function mode and button state. Different colors (e.g., blue for image capture mode, green for video recording mode, yellow for pause mode, red for stop mode) provide immediate visual feedback about the instrument's current state, allowing users to correctly identify and operate the appropriate control without looking away from the patient's airway.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control interfaces are provided for controlling different functions, then the instrument can control more functions, but the control interfaces themselves do not provide an intuitive way for a user to determine the status of a function/feature
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface incorporates real-time visual feedback through color-changing LEDs that continuously display the current state of the imaging system (e.g., capture mode, recording mode, pause state, stop state). This feedback mechanism ensures users always know the current operational status without having to refer to additional displays or documentation.
3Illumination intensity
If conventional laryngoscopes with light sources are used, then the light source will illuminate and give the medical professional an improved view of the patient's airway, but visualization of the larynx is often inadequate or even impossible as a patient's anatomical conditions or characteristics make laryngoscopy difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary imaging system (endoscope with camera sensor) that transmits visual information through a separate channel. This allows the medical professional to view the larynx and airway through a monitor displaying images captured by the endoscope camera, providing enhanced visualization capability that overcomes the limitations of direct laryngoscopy illumination.
4Productivity
If conventional intubation instruments are used, then the instrument can perform intubation procedures, but real-time documentation of the intubation procedure and the region of interest is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface enables continuous documentation capability through video recording mode that can capture the entire intubation procedure in real-time. The system allows uninterrupted recording of the airway visualization and intubation steps, providing complete procedural documentation for quality assurance, educational purposes, and performance evaluation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables ergonomic and reliable operation of intubation instruments by providing intuitive status indication and minimizing control interface complexity, facilitating correct and expeditious intubation procedures while allowing for real-time documentation and improved visualization.
Implementation Method 1
the control interface is configured to alternately emit light in different colors, each color indicating at least one state, status or condition of the instrument
Data Source
AI summary
An intubation instrument includes a proximal end and a distal end, a handle positioned at the proximal end, a control interface disposed on or proximate to the handle, the control interface being configured to receive user input and to control a function of the instrument based on said user input, the control interface having a light source disposed within the control interface to illuminate at least a portion of the control interface, the light source alternately emitting light in different colors, each color indicating a different state of the function of the instrument. The instrument includes an imaging system for generating image data, and a monitor for displaying the image data and a graphical interface. A section of the graphical interface includes information about the state of the instrument and is displayed in a color corresponding to the color of light emitted by the light source of the control interface.