Rigid intubating laryngoscope with interchangeable blade and video display

Abstract

An intubating laryngoscope providing a standard handle, ready interchangeability of standard blades, a camera, and a magnifiable video display for easier and safer use in efficiently positioning an endotracheal tube through the vocal cords of a patient into the trachea, and for recordation in order to teach the procedure and for legal purposes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An intubating laryngoscope system providing for ready interchange of blades, for video display, and for convenience in use comprising: 
 a handle to be held by an anesthesiologist;    a blade having a surface configured to enable the anesthesiologist to elevate the tongue of a patient, a proximal end, and a distal end;    a hinge-like joinder separably to join said handle and said blade, said joinder having a first portion on said handle and a second portion on said proximal end of said blade, one of said portions having a rod and the other portion having a hook, whereby in an engaged orientation the hook and the rod are engaged, and in a released configuration they may be separated, the handle and blade being rigidly attached to one another in the engaged orientation;    a flexible cable extending from said handle having a fixed end fixed to the handle, and a free end;    a guide tube attached to said blade, extending from near the proximal end of the blade toward its distal end, said guide tube including an enlarged a funnel-like entry portion to facilitate the entry of said flexible cable into said guide tube, the length of said flexible cable being such that when the handle and blade are in the engaged orientation, the flexible cable is disposed in a predetermined position in the blade; 
 a camera;  
 a light source;  
 a light-transmitting fiber optic in said flexible cable;  
 image-transmitting means in said flexible cable;  
 a second cable extending from said handle;  
 a video receiver connected to said second cable receptive to signals from said camera; and  
 a video screen receptive to said video receiver to display images transmitted from said camera.  
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to    claim 1    in which said camera is disposed in a chamber in a said standard handle, and said image-transmitting flexible cable comprises a coherent fiber optic bundle having one end exposed to a field of view and a second end exposed to said camera.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to    claim 1    in which said light source is separate from the handle, and in which said light-transmitting fiber optic is adapted to receive light from said light source to be transmitted to the field of view.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to    claim 3    in which said camera is disposed in a chamber in said standard handle, and said flexible cable includes a coherent fiber optic bundle having one end exposed to a field of view and a second end exposed to said camera.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to    claim 1    in which said camera is mounted to the distal end of the flexible cable, and the image-transmitting means is a lead which conveys image data through said handle to said video receiver.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to    claim 1    in which said light source is a battery and bulb combination in said handle to provide light to said light-transmitting means.  
     
     
         7 . An intubating laryngoscope system enabling relay interchange of blades, video display, and convenient use, comprising: 
 a handle to be held by an anesthesiologist;    a blade having a surface configured to enable the anesthesiologist to elevate the tongue of a patient, a proximal end, and a distal end;    a hinge-like joinder separably to join said handle and said blade, said joinder having a first portion on said handle and a second portion on said proximal end of said blade, one of said portions having a rod and the other portion having a hook, whereby in an engaged orientation the hook and the rod are engaged, and in a released configuration they may be separated, the handle and blade being rigidly attached to one another in the engaged orientation;    a flexible cable extending from said handle having a fixed end fixed to the handle, and a free end;    a guide tube attached to said blade, extending from near the proximal end of the blade toward its distal end, said guide tube including an enlarged funnel-like entry portion to facilitate the entry of said flexible cable into said guide tube, the length of said flexible cable being such that when the handle and blade are in the engaged orientation, the flexible cable is disposed in a pre-determined position in the blade;    a camera;    a light-transmitting fiber optic in said flexible cable;    image-transmitting means in said flexible cable; and    a second cable extending from said handle; and    said second cable being adapted to be connected to a video receiver which is receptive to signals from said camera.    
     
     
         8 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 7    in which said camera is disposed in a chamber in said standard handle, and said image-transmitting flexible cable comprises a coherent fiber optic bundle having one end exposed to a field of view and a second end exposed to said camera.  
     
     
         9 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 7    in which said light transmitting fiber optic in said flexible cable is adapted to receive light from a separate light source to be transmitted to the field of view.  
     
     
         10 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 9    in which said camera is disposed in a chamber in said standard handle, and said flexible cable includes a coherent fiber optic bundle having one end exposed to a field of view and a second end exposed to said camera.  
     
     
         11 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 7    in which said camera is mounted to the distal end of the flexible cable, and the image-transmitting means is a lead from said camera extending through said handle for conveying image data through said handle to a video receiver.  
     
     
         12 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 7    in which said light source is a battery and bulb combination in said handle, to provide light to said light-transmitting means.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to    claim 1    in which said guide tube has a closed distal end with an optically clear and transparent window at said distal end, and a wall extending to said entry portion, said wall and said window being imperforate and sterilizeable, whereby a non-sterile and flexible cable can be inserted into said guide tube, and the guide tube disposed of after use without need to sterilize the flexible cable before its next use.  
     
     
         14 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 7    in which said guide tube has a closed distal end with an optically clear and transparent window at said distal end, and a wall extending to said entry portion, said wall and said window being imperforate and sterilizeable, whereby a non-sterile said flexible cable can be inserted into said guide tube, and the guide tube disposed of after use without need to sterilize the flexible cable before its next use.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to    claim 1    in which a device to remove the geometric pattern from the signal to the video screen receives and processes the image signal form the camera.  
     
     
         16 . A laryngoscope system according to    claim 1    in which a conduit mounted to the blade with an exit opening near the distal end of the flexible cable is adapted to discharge a stream of oxygen adjacent to the distal end of the guide tube.  
     
     
         17 . A laryngoscope according to    claim 7    in which a conduit mounted to the blade with an exit opening near the distal end of the flexible cable is adapted to discharge a stream of oxygen adjacent to the distal end of the guide tube.