Video Stylet Laryngoscope Mount for Difficult Intubation Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct laryngoscopy often faces challenges due to planned or unplanned anatomical features such as anterior vocal cords, obesity, or large tongues, making a direct line-of-sight view difficult during medical procedures like endotracheal intubation.
Innovation Solution
A laryngoscope enhancement system that integrates a video stylet and a holder with an adjustable mount, allowing for indirect laryngoscopy using a standard laryngoscope, which includes a video camera and flexible, malleable segments to maneuver an endotracheal tube into the airway while providing real-time visual guidance on a display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If direct laryngoscopy is used to view the interior structure of the throat, then a direct line-of-sight view is achieved, but anatomical features such as anterior vocal cords, obesity, or large tongues make the view difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system consisting of a mirror or prism that reflects light from the larynx to the observer's eye. This intermediary device enables indirect laryngoscopy, allowing visualization of the laryngeal structures without requiring a direct line-of-sight, thereby overcoming the limitation imposed by anterior vocal cords, obesity, or large tongues while maintaining procedural reliability
2Ease of operation
If a video stylet with flexible and malleable segments is used, then indirect laryngoscopy is enabled with real-time visual guidance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The video stylet is divided into multiple segments including a flexible segment with flexible sheath enclosing wires, and a malleable segment with malleable sheath enclosing a malleable wire. This segmentation allows each segment to be independently manipulated and positioned, enabling the stylet to conform to the airway curvature while maintaining structural integrity and functionality despite the increased complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The video stylet incorporates dynamic elements with flexible and malleable segments that can change their shape and configuration during the procedure. The flexible sheath and malleable wire allow the stylet to adapt its form factor to navigate the airway, providing real-time visual guidance through the video camera while maintaining ease of operation through controlled manipulation
Data Source
AI summary
A laryngoscope enhancement system (LES) and an intubation system including an LES are provided. The LES includes a holder and a video stylet. The holder includes an adjustable mount to releasably secure an electronic device with a display, and an end cap configured to removably attach the holder to an upper end of a laryngoscope handle. The video stylet includes a connecter removably attachable to the electronic device, a flexible segment, a malleable segment and a video camera.