Patent ID: 8366612
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of intubating a subject, the method comprising: providing a portable, hand held laryngoscope including a handle and an imaging system adapted to communicate image data to a monitor, the imaging system having a field of view within which an optical axis projects, and a laryngoscope guide joined with the handle, the laryngoscope guide including a blade having a distal tip and a laryngoscope guide element in the form of a conduit, the conduit terminating at an exit proximal to the distal tip, the conduit defining an advancement axis that projects into the field of view, the advancement axis disposed at a first angle relative to the optical axis and oriented to traverse the optical axis; positioning the laryngoscope guide in an airway of the subject; engaging the blade against tissue in the airway with a force sufficient to move the tissue and establish a viewing volume so that the airway is within the field of view of the imaging system; sliding a flexible introducer, including a primary portion and a distal end, at least partially through the conduit with the flexible introducer bending to conform to internal contours of the conduit as the flexible introducer slides in the conduit, and with the flexible introducer extending beyond the exit and entering the field of view of the imaging system; advancing the flexible introducer along the advancement axis so that the conduit establishes at least a portion of the trajectory of the flexible introducer, and so that the flexible introducer travels toward the optical axis; observing the image data communicated to the monitor to align the distal end of the flexible introducer with an opening to the trachea of the subject displayed on the monitor; continuing to advance the flexible introducer along the advancement axis so that the distal end enters the opening to the trachea forward of the blade; removing the laryngoscope guide from the airway, with the distal end of the flexible introducer remaining in the opening to the trachea, and with the primary portion and conduit sliding relative to one another until the laryngoscope guide and laryngoscope are separated from the flexible introducer, and completely removed from the airway; installing a tube relative to the primary portion of flexible introducer after the laryngoscope guide is removed from the airway so that the tube is coaxially oriented relative to the primary portion of the flexible introducer; guiding the tube coaxially along the primary portion of the flexible introducer toward the distal end after said tube installing step so that a tube end of the tube enters the opening to the trachea adjacent the distal end of the flexible introducer; and removing the flexible introducer from the tube while leaving the tube end in the opening to the trachea to establish fluid communication between the trachea and a location outside the airway with the tube.