Patent ID: 9398837
Filing Date: 2016-07-26
CPC Classification: A61B,A61M

Claim Text:
1. A method of confirming proper positioning or placement of an endotracheal tube within a patient without requiring the use of a laryngoscope or bronchoscope, the method comprising: connecting a coupling assembly to a proximal end of an endotracheal tube; inserting a visualization device into the endotracheal tube through the coupling assembly; wherein the visualization device comprises: inserting a visualization scope through the stretchable elastomeric sleeve of the scope retention assembly and then within the visualization tube of the visualization device; advancing the visualization scope within the visualization tube until the distal end of the visualization scope contacts the window of the visualization tube, wherein the visualization scope comprises a locking member positioned at a location such that the locking member remains outside of the visualization tube and the stretchable elastomeric sleeve; stretching the proximal end of the stretchable elastomeric sleeve by pulling the scope retention member proximally to a position such that a receiving feature of the scope retention member aligns with the locking member of the visualization scope; releasing the scope retention member at the proximal end of the elastomeric sleeve, thereby exerting a static force on the visualization scope in the direction of the window at the distal end of the visualization tube; and confirming a position of the distal end of the endotracheal tube within the airway of the patient from images captured by the visualization scope.