Medical device with an airway insertion member

Abstract

Disclosed are laryngoscopes and other devices that include both a visualization feature and a suction component, to eliminate debris and bodily fluids and secretions that may accumulate on the visualization component. The devices may include one or more of the fluid intake ports that may be sized and located proximate to the operational ends of the visual-aid components, e.g., the camera lens or LED, to maintain a clean field of view for operation of the component. The internal passageways of the device are configured, dimensioned and/or shaped to facilitate desired fluid flow characteristics, flow rate, and/or pressure rates and facilitate methods of manufacturing the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laryngoscope composed about three axes, each of the three axes being perpendicular to each other, a first axis of the three axes being formed in an A direction, a second axis of the three axes being formed in a B direction, and a third axis of the three axes being formed in a C direction, the each of the three axes having a positive direction and a negative direction, the laryngoscope comprising:
 a handle extending axially along the first axis in the positive A direction, the handle having a first end portion and a second end portion, the handle including a first internal passageway and a second internal passageway, each of the first internal passageway and the second internal passageway extending from the first end portion to the second end portion of the handle;   an insertion member including:
 a proximal end portion and a distal tip portion, the proximal end portion extending from the first end portion of the handle, the proximal end portion and the distal tip portion being spaced apart from one another in the positive B direction, wherein a first plane A-B defined by the first axis and the second axis bisects the first handle portion; 
 an inlet formed along the distal tip portion; 
 at least one intermediate fluid port formed between the proximal end portion and the distal tip portion; 
 a first internal passageway having a first length extending from the proximal end portion to the distal tip portion for fluid communication with the first internal passageway of the handle and the inlet of the distal tip portion, the first internal passageway defining a first non-circular passageway in a cross-section of the insertion member perpendicular to the second axis, the first non-circular passageway having a floor and a ceiling defining a height of the first internal passageway in the positive A direction of the first axis, the height of the first internal passageway varying over the first length of the first internal passageway, the first internal passageway having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart in both positive and negative C directions of the third axis to define a width of the first internal passageway; and 
 a second internal passageway formed in the insertion member anteriorly of the first internal passageway, the second internal passageway defining a second length extending from the proximal end portion to the at least one intermediate fluid port for fluid communication with the second internal passageway of the handle and the at least one intermediate fluid port, the second internal passageway defining a second non-circular passageway in a cross-section of the insertion member perpendicular to the second axis, the second non-circular passageway having a floor and a ceiling spaced apart from one another to define a height of the second internal passageway in the positive A direction of the first axis, the height of the second internal passageway varying over the second length of the second internal passageway, the second internal passageway having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart in both positive and negative C directions of the third axis to define a width of the second internal passageway; and 
   a fluid control assembly coupled to the handle for controlling fluid flow.   
     
     
         2 . The laryngoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further includes a front face formed in the positive B direction and a rear face formed in the negative B direction, wherein the front face of the handle is convexly curved along the first axis from the second end portion to the first end portion, and wherein the rear face is curved along the first axis from the second end portion to the first end portion in a sinusoidal curve. 
     
     
         3 . The laryngoscope of  claim 2 , wherein the sinusoidal curve is defined by a first convex portion toward the second end portion of the handle, a concave portion between the first and second end portions of the handle, and a third convex portion at the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The laryngoscope of  claim 2 , wherein the handle further includes a left face formed in the negative C direction and a right face formed in the positive C direction, wherein the each of the left and right faces is convexly curved such that a cross-section of the handle reveals an elliptical shape at any point in the handle from the first end portion to the second end portion. 
     
     
         5 . The laryngoscope of  claim 4 , wherein a distance between the left face and the right face of the handle at the elliptical cross-section varies from about 15 mm to about 36 mm from the second end portion of the handle to a point proximate the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The laryngoscope of  claim 5 , wherein the difference in distance between the left face and the right face of the handle at the elliptical cross-section varies by about 10 mm to 25 mm from the second end portion of the handle to a point proximate the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The laryngoscope of  claim 6 , wherein the distance between the left face and the right face of the handle at the elliptical cross-section defines a maximum width of the handle at the point proximate the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The laryngoscope of  claim 7 , wherein the distance between the left face and the right face of the handle at the elliptical cross-section varies from about 36 mm to about 20 mm from the point proximate the first end portion of the handle to the first end portion. 
     
     
         9 . The laryngoscope of  claim 8 , wherein the difference in distance between the left face and the right face of the handle at the elliptical cross-section varies by about 3 mm to 18 mm from point proximate the first end portion of the handle to the first end portion. 
     
     
         10 . The laryngoscope of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the front face and the rear face of the handle varies from about 15 mm to about 43 mm from the second end portion of the handle to a point proximate the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The laryngoscope of  claim 10 , wherein the distance between the front face and the rear face of the handle defines a maximum depth of the handle at the point proximate the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The laryngoscope of  claim 11 , wherein the difference in distance between the front face and the rear face of the handle varies by about 6 mm to 28 mm from the second end portion of the handle to a point proximate the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The laryngoscope of  claim 12 , in which the distance between the front face and the rear face of the handle varies from about 43 mm to about 20 mm from the point proximate the first end portion of the handle to the first end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The laryngoscope of  claim 13 , wherein the difference in distance between the front face and the rear face of the handle varies by about 14 mm to 22 mm from point proximate the first end portion of the handle to the first end portion. 
     
     
         15 . The laryngoscope of  claim 2 , wherein an intersection of the first end portion of the handle and the proximal end portion of the insertion member is formed by a curve from the rear face of the handle to a ventral face of the insertion member, the curve having a radius of curvature of between about 25 mm and about 90 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The laryngoscope of  claim 15 , wherein the intersection of the first end portion of the handle and the proximal end portion of the insertion member is formed by a curve from the front face of the handle to a dorsal face of the insertion member, the curve having a radius of curvature of between about 10 mm and to about 85 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The laryngoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the each of the three axes is perpendicular to each other about a common vertex in the form of a common XYZ coordinate system. 
     
     
         18 . The laryngoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the second internal passageway is located laterally between the first plane A-B and the outer wall of the first internal passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The laryngoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid control assembly is configured to control fluid flow through the first internal passageway of the handle, the second internal passageway of the handle, the first internal passageway of the insertion member, the second internal passageway of the insertion member, or any combination thereof.