Imaging stylet for intubation

1. An imaging stylet, comprising:

a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end;

an imaging device disposed at the distal end of said outer housing;

a deformable support member disposed in said outer housing and coupled to said imaging device, wherein said support member retains a deformed shape independent of any external force after being deformed; and

an actuator disposed in said outer housing and coupled to said imaging device;

wherein said imaging device is movable by said actuator from an inactivated position, in which said imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said distal end of the outer housing, to an activated position, in which said imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said distal end without extending beyond the distal end of the outer housing.

2. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein the angle at which said imaging device extends from the outer shaft is in the range of from about five degrees to about forty degrees.

3. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , further comprising a control device at the proximal end of said outer housing coupled to the actuator for moving said imaging device.

4. The imaging stylet according to claim 3 , wherein the control device is removably coupled to the proximal end of said outer housing.

5. The imaging stylet according to claim 3 , wherein:

said control device comprises a sleeve disposed over the proximal end of said outer housing and movable relative to said outer housing; and

said actuator comprises a wire connected to said sleeve, such that movement of the sleeve relative to said outer housing causes said actuator to move said imaging device.

6. The imaging stylet according to claim 5 , wherein:

the proximal end of said outer housing has a wall with an aperture therein; and

said actuator is connected to said sleeve through said aperture.

7. The imaging stylet according to claim 6 , wherein:

said aperture is a slit having a first end and a second end;

said actuator is connected to said sleeve by a stop member extending through said slit; and

said stop member is movable between the first end of said slit and the second end of said slit to move said imaging device between the inactivated and activated positions.

8. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein the outer housing is an extruded cylinder comprising at least a support lumen for receiving said support member, an actuation lumen for receiving said actuator and an imaging lumen for receiving said imaging device.

9. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a nitinol wire.

10. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said actuator comprises a stainless steel wire.

11. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said imaging device comprises at least one of a CMOS device and a CCD device.

12. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said imaging device further comprises at least one illumination device generating light for illuminating surrounding tissue.

13. The imaging stylet according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one illumination device comprises at least one light emitting diode.

14. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor coupled to and receiving image data from said imaging device.

15. The imaging stylet according to claim 14 , further comprising a display coupled to the processor and displaying image data received from said imaging device.

16. The imaging stylet according to claim 14 , wherein the image data generated by said imaging device is wirelessly transmitted to said processor.

17. The imaging stylet according to claim 14 , wherein the image data generated by said imaging device is transmitted to said processor via a cable connection.

18. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , further comprising a power source providing electrical power to said imaging stylet.

19. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage coupled said imaging stylet for storing image data generated by said imaging device.

20. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said outer housing comprises at least two telescoping sections, and wherein said outer housing is extended from an inactivated position, in which the at least two telescoping sections are disposed within each other, to an activated position, in which the at least two telescoping sections are extended out of each other such that a maximum length of said outer housing is achieved.

21. The imaging stylet according to claim 20 , wherein extending said outer housing from the inactivated position to the activated position activates a power source and initiates transmission of image data from said imaging device.

22. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said outer housing comprises at least two foldable sections, and wherein said outer housing is movable from an inactivated position, in which the at least two foldable sections are folded onto each other, to an activated position, in which the at least two foldable sections are unfolded such that a maximum length of said outer housing is achieved.

23. The imaging stylet according to claim 22 , wherein moving said outer housing from the inactivated position to the activated position activates a power source and initiates transmission of image data from said imaging device.

24. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said outer housing further comprises a coupling device for securing said imaging stylet to an object.

25. The imaging stylet according to claim 1 , wherein said support member comprises a semi-rigid material.

26. A medical intubation device, comprising:

an outer tube having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening;

an inflatable balloon positioned adjacent the distal end opening; and

an imaging stylet movably disposed in said outer tube through the proximal end opening and extendable out of the distal end opening, said imaging stylet comprising:

a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end;

an imaging device disposed at the distal end of said outer housing;

a deformable support member disposed in said outer housing and coupled to said imaging device, wherein said support member retains a deformed shape independent of any external force after being deformed; and

an actuator disposed in said outer housing and coupled to said imaging device;

wherein said imaging device is movable via said actuator from an inactivated position, in which said imaging device is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said distal end, to an activated position, in which said imaging device extends out of the opening at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said distal end.

27. The medical intubation device according to claim 26 , further comprising a fluid source for inflating said inflatable balloon.

28. An imaging stylet, comprising:

a deformable outer housing having a proximal end and a distal end with a longitudinal axis, and an opening provided at the distal end;

an imaging device disposed at the distal end of said outer housing;

a deformable support member disposed in said outer housing and coupled to said imaging device, wherein said support member retains a deformed shape independent of any external force after being deformed; and

an actuator disposed in said outer housing and coupled to said imaging device, wherein said actuator increases an angle between said imaging device and the longitudinal axis of the distal end of said outer housing such that the imaging device passes through the opening at the distal end as the angle increases.