Abstract:
A low cost camera and radio frequency transmitter are coupled to an endotracheal tube to obtain an image in real time of tissue at the distal end of the endotracheal tube. The image recorded by the camera is transmitted to a low cost radio frequency receiver nearby and conveyed to a video monitor to display the image. The use of a wireless transmission system avoids the presence of wires and cords that otherwise might become entangled and cause the endotracheal tube to be inadvertently repositioned or pulled out of the patient.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relaters to endotracheal tubes and, more particularly, to an endotracheal tube having an illuminator at its distal end and coupled with detachably attached camera for wireless transmission of an image to a receiver for display on a video monitor.  
         [0002]     The basic tenets attendant endotracheal tubes having an illuminator at the distal end are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,778 and relating to an invention by the present inventor; which patent is incorporated herein by reference. The endotracheal tube described therein includes an optical fiber extending through the endotracheal tube to a viewing lens at the distal end of the tube. An eye piece is attached to the proximal end of the optical fiber to permit viewing through the lens. Illumination of the area under inspection is provided by a high intensity light source extending via the endotracheal tube to an illumination port at the distal end.  
         [0003]     An endotracheal tube so modified permits the physician to view in real time the tissue being inspected. However, an image or picture cannot be obtained for inspection and analysis at a later date.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     In the present invention, the eye piece of the tracheal tube disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,778 is replaced by a connector in operative engagement with a fiber optic bundle extending from the lens at the distal end of the endotracheal tube and with a fiber optic bundle for conveying light to an illumination port also at the distal end of the endotracheal tube. A camera and transmitter assembly of miniature size is coupled to the connector to provide power to the illumination port and to record the image transmitted through the fiber optic bundle from the lens. A signal conveying the images recorded is transmitted by the transmitter to a nearby receiver. The receiver manipulates the signal received and provides a real time display of the images on a video monitor.  
         [0005]     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a method for viewing tissue at the distal end of an endotracheal tube on a real time monitor with a wireless transmitter and receiver.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive camera for recording an image at the distal end of an endotracheal tube.  
         [0007]     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a low power transmitter coupled with a camera to transmit an image recorded by the camera at the distal end of an endotracheal tube to a receiver for viewing the image on a video monitor.  
         [0008]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a low power transmitter and receiver for transmitting an image at the distal end of an endotracheal tube to a video monitor for real time viewing.  
         [0009]     A further object of the present invention is to provide a small sized inexpensive camera and transmitter detachably attachable to a connector coupled with an endotracheal tube to transmit to a receiver an image from the distal end of the endotracheal tube.  
         [0010]     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a wireless transmission to a video monitor coupled with a camera recording an image at the distal end of an endotracheal tube using a low power radio frequency transmitter and receiver.  
         [0011]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for displaying an image real time on a video monitor by capturing the image to be displayed with a camera coupled to the distal end of an endotracheal tube and transmitting the image by a radio frequency transmitter to a corresponding receiver to produce a signal for the video monitor.  
         [0012]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for viewing on a video monitor in real time an image at the distal end of an endotracheal tube using essentially off the shelf low cost camera and a wireless transmitter and receiver.  
         [0013]     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description there proceeds.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a partial cross sectional view of an endotracheal tube embodying aspects of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross section of the endotracheal tube;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross sectional view illustrating placement within a patient of an endotracheal tube;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a camera and a transmitter for attachment with a connector of an endotracheal tube; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a receiver and an attached video monitor.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an endotracheal tube  10  having a connector  12  for connection to a conventional ventilator to assist a patient&#39;s breathing function. The endotracheal tube includes an inflatable balloon  14  in proximity to its distal end  16 . The inflatable balloon is inflated by a tube  18  connected through a connector  20  to a small syringe-like air pump after the endotracheal tube has been inserted into a patient&#39;s trachea.  
         [0021]     Prior endotracheal tubes do not permit any visualization of a patient&#39;s tracheal and bronchial passages. If such visualization is needed, connector  12  is disconnected from the ventilator and a conventional bronchoscope is inserted down through hollow passage  21  of the endotracheal tube to allow a physician to determine if a lot of mucus is present in either lung or in either of the left or right stem main bronchi. If it is necessary to suction mucus out of either of the patient&#39;s lungs, a suctioning tube is inserted through hollow passage  21 . The endotracheal tube may have to be disconnected from the ventilator to allow visualization in the trachea of the lungs or to allow suctioning of the mucus, blood, etc., if the endotracheal tube does not have a sealable side port through which the suctioning tube can be inserted.  
         [0022]     When a skilled physician, often a pulmonologist, inserts an endotracheal tube into a patient, it would be desirable for a nurse to be able to easily monitor the position of the endotracheal tube in a patient&#39;s trachea to determine if its location has been shifted. If so, the nurse would know whether to call a physician to reposition the tracheal tube. It would also be desirable to determine accurately the position of the tracheal tube without requiring an x-ray of the patient.  
         [0023]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , endotracheal tube  10  includes an optical fiber, hereinafter referred to as fiber optic bundle  22 , that extends through the tracheal tube to a viewing lens  24  at distal end  16 . The fiber optic bundle can be an inexpensive plastic optical fiber costing only a few dollars and embedded in the wall of the tracheal tube. The fiber optic bundle is operatively connected to a connector  26  which includes two prongs  28 ,  30  of which prong  28  carries the fiber optic bundle. A second plastic optical fiber, hereinafter referred to as fiber optic bundle  32 , extends through wall  34  of endotracheal tube  10  to an illumination port  36  at distal end  16 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a view of the distal end of tracheal tube  10 . A hollow tube  38  extends from a flushing inlet port connector  40  (see  FIG. 1 ) and extends through the endotracheal tube so that a transparent saline flushing liquid can be forced through the tube to wash mucus away from viewing lens  24  and illumination port  36 . Such mucus may collect thereon during insertion of the tracheal tube into the patient&#39;s trachea or afterward.  
         [0025]     One major advantage of endotracheal tube  10  is that the carina (a cartilaginous structure)  42  (see  FIG. 3 ) can be easily viewed during insertion of the endotracheal tube so that a nurse or a physician can readily determine how far into the patient&#39;s trachea to properly insert the endotracheal tube. This avoids the need for an x-ray process to determine if the endotracheal tube is properly inserted. As the endotracheal tube can become malpositioned in the patient and which would normally require a later x-ray to check for proper placement, direct visualization afforded by the present invention can avoid the need for such a repeat x-ray. Another advantage is that the nurse or physician can easily view the conditions in branches  44 ,  46  of trachea  48  to determine the presence of mucus or other condition and to determine whether there is a need for immediate suctioning of mucus, blood, etc., from either lung or the passages thereto.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a male connector  26  having prongs  28 ,  30  extending therefrom. Fiber optic bundle  32  is in functional and operative engagement with prong  28  to transmit light from the end of the prong to illumination port  36  at distal end  16  of the endotracheal tube. Fiber optic bundle  22  is coupled with lens  24  at the distal end of the endotracheal tube to transmit light, that is an image, to the end of prong  30 . As illustrated, fiber optic bundles  22  and  32  may be incased within a sheath  60 .  
         [0027]     A removable module  70  includes a female connector  72  for receiving prongs  28 ,  30  of connector  26 . Upon mating of connectors  26 ,  72 , fiber optic bundle  32  within prong  28  is placed in communication with fiber optic bundle  74 , the latter being in communication with and receiving light from light emitting diodes  76 . Electrical power for the light emitting diodes is provided by circuit  80  connected to batteries  78 . Prong  30  of male connector  26  mates with female connector  72  to transmit light, that is, the image visible through lens  24  (see endotracheal tube  10 ) to convey the received light through a further fiber optic bundle  82  to a lens system  83 . The lens system is interconnected with a small sized and relatively inexpensive electronic camera  84 . Cameras suitable for this purpose cost less than $100.00 and can be found for less than $50.00 from commercial outlets. The camera is interconnected with a low power radio frequency transmitter  86  to transmit the images recorded by the camera. Transmitters of this type are readily available for less than $100.00 and may be found for less than $50.00 from commercial outlets.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , an antenna  90  is connected to a radio frequency receiver  92  and receives the images detected by camera  84  and transmitted by transmitter  86 . The received image is conveyed via an electrical conductor or cord  94  to a video monitor  96 . The video monitor includes a screen  98  for displaying the image recorded by camera  84 . As illustrated, a power supply provides power to receiver  92  and to video monitor  96  through an electrical conductor  102 . Power to the power supply may be provided by a conventional plug  104  for engagement with a conventional wall socket.  
         [0029]     In summary, the image conveyed from the lens at the distal end of the endotracheal tube is digitalized and recorded by a camera. The image recorded by the camera is displayed real time on a video monitor through a wireless interconnection. The ease of a wireless transmission system in the confines of an operatory avoids the likelihood of a patient and an attending health care provider from becoming entangled with cords and wires.  
         [0030]     Moreover, presently used wires and cables extending to a video monitor creates a hazard of an attending health care provider inadvertently interfering with such wires and/or cables and causing repositioning or pulling our of the endotracheal tube. This hazard is completely avoided by the present invention due to the absence of such wires and/or cables.