Patent ID: 6655377
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An intubation instrument, a portion of which is for insertion into a patient through the patient's mouth, the patient having a respiratory system with an oropharynx, a laryngopharynx, and an epiglottis, said intubation instrument comprising:a body having a handle attached thereto; an elongate arm having an elongate base portion operably secured to said body at one end and an elongate lifter portion extending from said elongate base portion toward an opposite end of said elongate base portion thereby defining an angle between said elongate base portion and said elongate lifter portion, said elongate base portion having a first defined length, said first defined length being long enough to extend through the patient's mouth into the patient's oropharynx; said elongate lifter portion having, a distal end for insertion distal-end first through a patient's mouth, a second defined length, said second defined length being long enough to extend into the laryngopharynx and operably engage the epiglottis of the patient when the elongate base portion is extended into the patient's oropharynx, and, a smooth surface for engaging the patient's epiglottis; a viewer operably secured to said elongate arm and directed toward the distal end of said elongate lifter portion; and, a heating element in electrical communication with a power source and in thermal communication with the viewer so as to defog the viewer.