Laryngoscope Blade Movable Tip Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laryngoscope designs often pose a risk of pinch points that can cause discomfort or injury to a patient's soft tissue during the manipulation of the epiglottis for endotracheal tube insertion, as they do not adequately avoid contact with the pharynx.

Innovation Solution

A laryngoscope blade with a movable tip extension supported by arcuate slots and guided by a flexible cable and lever mechanism, which allows for forward and sideward movement of the epiglottis without obstructing the insertion path, ensuring a pinch-free design by strategically placing the guide member and cable to avoid contact with the patient's soft tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional laryngoscope blade is used to manipulate the epiglottis, then the epiglottis can be moved for endotracheal tube insertion, but pinch points are created that can cause discomfort or injury to the patient's soft tissue of the pharynx

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveepiglottis manipulationVSAvoidpinch points causing tissue injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade tip is designed as a movable extension that can dynamically adjust its position and orientation. The extension moves forward and sideward along arcuate slots in response to guide member displacement, allowing the tip to follow a controlled trajectory that avoids pinch points while effectively manipulating the epiglottis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible cable guide member acts as an intermediary between the operator's manual input and the blade tip movement. The cable transmits force through the arcuate slots to move the tip extension, providing smooth, controlled motion that eliminates abrupt movements and pinch points while maintaining operational effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the guide member and cable are positioned to enable epiglottis movement, then the epiglottis can be effectively manipulated, but contact with the patient's soft tissue of the pharynx may occur causing discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveendotracheal tube insertion efficiencyVSAvoidcontact with soft tissue causing discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blade tip extension adds a lateral dimension to the movement path by incorporating arcuate slots that guide sideward motion. This dimensional change allows the tip to move not only forward but also laterally, creating a broader trajectory that clears the pharyngeal soft tissue while maintaining access to the epiglottis for effective manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9011322B2Laryngoscope blade

Publication Date: 2015.04.21 ESTRADA CARLOS

AI summary

A laryngoscope includes an elongated blade body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the blade body includes a plurality of arcuate slots therein. A movable tip extension is movably supported by the plurality of arcuate slots and movable in a forward and sideward direction beyond the distal end of the blade body. A guide member is attached to the movable tip extension for selectively moving the movable tip extension along the arcuate slots.