U.S. patent application number 10/915072 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for laryngoscope with image sensor.
Invention is credited to Davidson, Terence M., Mazzei, William J., Richieri, Steven P..
Application Number | 20050043590 10/915072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28040262 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050043590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mazzei, William J. ; et
al. |
February 24, 2005 |
Laryngoscope with image sensor
Abstract
A laryngoscope and viewing system configured to provide imaging
of a patient's airway passage during intubation is described. In
one embodiment, the described device includes a handle; a blade
attached to the handle, a flange attached to one side of the blade;
a transmission cable connected to the opposite side of the blade;
and a camera connected to the transmission cable, wherein the
camera is offset from the blade in at least one of the X plane and
the Y plane.
Inventors: |
Mazzei, William J.; (San
Diego, CA) ; Davidson, Terence M.; (Poway, CA)
; Richieri, Steven P.; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOLEY GODWARD LLP
ATTN: PATENT GROUP
11951 FREEDOM DRIVE, SUITE 1700
ONE FREEDOM SQUARE- RESTON TOWN CENTER
RESTON
VA
20190-5061
US
|
Family ID: |
28040262 |
Appl. No.: |
10/915072 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10915072 |
Aug 10, 2004 |
|
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|
10102800 |
Mar 21, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/188 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/267 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/188 |
International
Class: |
A61B 001/267 |
Claims
1-34. (canceled)
35. An apparatus comprising: an intubation-scope blade having a
left side right side and a centerline there between; a flange
attached to the blade, the flange having an interior and exterior
side; and an imaging device integrated with the interior side of
the flange; wherein the imaging device is angled so that it points
toward the centerline of the blade.
36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the imaging device is at
least partially formed into the flange.
37. An apparatus comprising: a blade configured to be attached to a
laryngoscope handle; an imaging-device mount connected to the
blade, wherein the imaging-device mount is configured to engage a
portion of an imaging-device; an imaging device connected to the
imaging-device mount, the image device oriented so that it points
toward a centerline of the blade; and a display-device mount
connected to the blade, wherein the display-device mount is
configured to attach a display device to the blade.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to medical devices.
In particular, but without limitation, the present invention
relates to a laryngoscope and viewing system configured to provide
imaging of a patient's airway passage during intubation and similar
medical procedures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a process known as "intubation," an endotracheal tube is
inserted into a patient's airway passage to facilitate breathing
during certain medical procedures. To avoid damaging the airway
passage while inserting the endotracheal tube, medical
professionals generally use a laryngoscope to open and view the
airway passage and to secure the patient's tongue to one side of
the mouth. A typical laryngoscope includes a rigid, curved
structure with a smooth tip that engages the tissue of the
patient's tongue and airway passage. Laryngoscopes often also
include a guide surface for directing the endotracheal tube as it
is inserted into the airway passage.
[0003] Even with the use of a laryngoscope, medical professionals
often damage a patient's airway passage when inserting the
endotracheal tube. The reasons that medical professionals damage
the airway passage center is their inability to monitor the
laryngoscope and endotracheal tube as it is being inserted. To
reduce the risk to patients, several modified laryngoscopes have
been made. These laryngoscopes, however, are not completely
satisfactory. Certain devices, for example, require two people for
proper operation--a first person to insert a fiber optic or camera
device into the patient's airway and a second person to operate the
laryngoscope and insert the endotracheal tube.
[0004] Other systems include an integrated laryngoscope and imaging
device. These systems generally come in two forms: those with
integrated viewing devices and those without integrated viewing
devices. Laryngoscopes with the integrated viewing device generally
include a small screen attached directly to the handle of the
laryngoscope. A medical professional can insert the laryngoscope
into the patient's airway passage so that the imaging device
captures a corresponding image thereof. The medical professional
can then view the airway passage and guide the endotracheal tube to
its proper location therein. By having the viewing screen attached
directly to the laryngoscope, the medical professional is not
forced to shift his field of vision away from the patient to
monitor the insertion of the tube.
[0005] The laryngoscope with the non-integrated viewing device
operates in much the same way as the laryngoscope with the
integrated viewing device. The primary difference being that the
laryngoscope with the non-integrated viewing device transmits the
image of the airway passage to a remote viewing device such as a
video monitor. The medical professional can then view the insertion
of the endotracheal tube on the remote viewing device.
[0006] Although the laryngoscope with the integrated camera system
contains some improvements over the basic laryngoscope, these
systems are not always satisfactory. For example, in present
systems, the view from the laryngoscope's camera becomes blocked as
the endotracheal tube passes the end of the laryngoscope.
Unfortunately, when the camera's view is blocked, the health care
professional is "blind" and prone to damaging the patient's airway
passage. Accordingly, a system and method are needed to address the
above-described problems as well as other problems with existing
laryngoscope technology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention that are
shown in the drawings are summarized below. These and other
embodiments are more fully described in the Detailed Description
section. It is to be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the forms described in this
Summary of the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One
skilled in the art can recognize that there are numerous
modifications, equivalents and alternative constructions that fall
within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the
claims.
[0008] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a
laryngoscope integrated with an imaging device such as a camera.
The laryngoscope of this embodiment includes a blade for insertion
into the patient's airway passage. This blade can be permanently
affixed to a handle or can be removably mounted so that different
blades can be connected to the handle. On one side of the
blade--generally the left side--is a flange that sits perpendicular
to the blade. The blade secures the patient's tongue to one side of
the mouth and provides a surface for the endotracheal tube to
engage as it is inserted into the airway. For proper perspective,
the laryngoscope should be viewed with the handle up, the blade
down and away.
[0009] The blade also includes an imaging device that can be
connected externally to the blade or integrated into the blade
and/or flange. Generally, the imaging device is positioned adjacent
to the blade and the left side of the flange. Moreover, the end
portion of the imaging device can be partially disengaged from the
blade (or flange) to provide a better angle for viewing the
patient's airway passage. For example, the image collection point
for the imaging device could be offset from the blade in both the X
plane and the Y plane. Depending upon the embodiment, the imaging
device could be rigid so that the offset is fixed, or the imaging
device could be flexible so that the offset is variable.
[0010] In other embodiments, the laryngoscope is equipped with a
wireless transmitter for relaying images of the airway passage to a
remote viewing device. Alternatively, the imaging device could be
attached to the remote viewing device by a traditional wired
connection. In yet another embodiment, the viewing device could be
directly attached to the handle of the laryngoscope.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a system constructed in accordance with
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a laryngoscope in
accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a laryngoscope blade in
accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a
laryngoscope blade and a portion of a handle, both of which are
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention; and
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a laryngoscope with an integrated viewing
device in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, it illustrates a system 100 constructed
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, an optically-enabled laryngoscope 105A is connected to
a camera controller 110 and a remote viewing device 115 such as a
TV or video monitor. In operation, the medical professional grasps
the handle 120A of the laryngoscope 105A and inserts the blade
portion 125 into the patient's airway passage. The camera 130A that
is fixed to the blade 125 can then capture an image of the airway
passage and transmit that image to the camera controller 110 for
display at the remote viewing device 115. The medical professional
can then use the displayed image to guide an endotracheal tube into
the patient's airway passage.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, it illustrates one embodiment of a
laryngoscope 105A in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a removable blade 125 is attached to
a handle 120A by the coupler 135, which provides a reliable
connection for connecting the blade-mounted camera unit 130B with
corresponding circuitry (not shown) in the handle 120A. Although
the exemplary embodiments are described with relation to a camera,
embodiments of the present invention can include fiber optic
bundles (which transmit images back to a camera mounted near the
handle-end of the blade or in the handle), endoscope, or any other
imaging device. The camera unit 130B, in one embodiment, can
include a camera 140, a connection mechanism 145, and a light (not
shown). The camera portion 140 of the camera unit generally can be
any one of the small camera units that are widely available.
Moreover, the camera unit 130B could be either a fixed-focus or a
variable-focus unit, a straight lens unit, or an angulated lens
unit. Although the camera unit 130B is shown as secured to the
outer edge of the blade 125, portions of the camera unit 130B can
be housed inside the blade 125 or the flange 150 or secured to the
flange 150.
[0018] In addition to the camera unit 130B, the blade 125 also
includes a flange 150 that is typically arranged perpendicular to
the surface of the blade 125. The flange 150 is used to secure the
patient's tongue away from the endotracheal tube. In particular,
the flange 150 can be on the left side of the blade (when viewing
the laryngoscope 105A from behind with the handle 120A pointed up)
and the camera unit 130B on the left side of the flange. Mounting
the flange 150 and the camera unit 130B on same side of the blade
125 can be advantageous because the view provided by the camera 140
is less obstructed by the insertion of the endotracheal tube than
when the camera 140 is centered on the blade 125 or mounted to the
right of center. The camera unit 130B could also be formed into the
flange or secured adjacent to the right side of the flange.
[0019] This embodiment of the laryngoscope 105A includes a
rechargeable power supply (not shown) that can be recharged through
the contact points 155 in the handle 120A. Additionally, this
embodiment includes a cable 160 for relaying image data to a remote
viewing device (not shown). In other embodiments, the cable 160
could be used to transfer power to the camera unit 130B rather than
using a rechargeable power supply.
[0020] Although not shown, the blade 125 can include a channel
formed therein. This channel can be an open channel formed in the
surface of the blade 125, or the channel can be formed in the body
of the blade 125 so that it is enclosed. The channel can be used to
provide oxygen to the patient during the intubation process.
Alternatively, the channel could be used to provide suction at or
near the tip of the blade 125 during the intubation process.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 3, it illustrates an embodiment of a
laryngoscope 105B in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. This laryngoscope 105B is wireless-enabled. Thus, images
collected by the camera unit 130C can be wirelessly transmitted
through the antenna 165 to a remote viewing device (not shown).
[0022] Unlike the laryngoscope 105A shown in FIG. 2, the camera
unit 130C in FIG. 3 extends beyond the end of the blade 125 or stop
short of the end. In other embodiments, the camera unit 130C can
extend only to the end of the blade 125. Additionally, the camera
unit 130C in FIG. 3 includes an offset in both the X and Y planes
where the surface of the blade defines the X plane. Other
embodiments, however, can include an offset in either the X or Y
plane. The offset, in one embodiment, can vary in either plane from
0.05 to 1.25 inches, including all points in between. Additionally,
the camera unit 130C can include a curvature, T, for better
positioning the camera 140 at the end of the camera unit 130C. The
curvature, T, can be a regular curvature defined by, for example,
the arc of a circle, or T can represent an irregular curve.
[0023] The camera unit 130C can be formed of a rigid material to
prevent any flexing and subsequent shifting of the camera 140 and
its viewing angle. In other embodiments, however, the camera unit
13C can be formed of a semi-rigid material that permits the camera
unit 130C to be reshaped so that the curvature angle, T, can be
changed and/or the camera 140 relocated in the X and/or Y planes.
Additionally, in one embodiment, the camera unit 130C can be
retracted or extended to better position the camera 140 and its
viewing angle.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4, it illustrates a side view of an
embodiment of a laryngoscope 105C. In particular, this embodiment
illustrates a camera controller 170 that is contained in the handle
120C of the laryngoscope 105C and connected to the camera unit
130D. The camera controller can be used to relay images to a
blade-mounted, handle-mounted, or remote viewing device. This
particular embodiment includes a fixed-blade rather than a
removable blade.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 5, it illustrates another embodiment
of a laryngoscope in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a display is connected to the handle
120 of the laryngoscope 105D. Images captured by the camera 140 are
transmitted to the camera driver 175 and relayed to the display
driver 180. The display driver 180 then causes the image to be
displayed. The display 170 and the camera 140 are powered by the
rechargeable power supply 185. In another embodiment, the display
is secured to the blade rather than to the handle. Moreover, the
camera can be replaced with any type of imaging device.
[0026] In summary, embodiments of the present invention provide an
optically-enabled laryngoscope with an advantageously placed
imaging device for viewing a patient's airway passage. Those
skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations
and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use, and its
configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved
by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no
intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms.
Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall
within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention as expressed
in the claims.
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