Laryngoscopic device with drug and oxygen delivery conduits
View Patent ↗The invention provides a laryngoscopic device that can be paired with any video baton imaging system to concurrently view the upper airway, deliver oxygen and administer a topical anesthetic to select areas in the airway as needed. The invention also provides a video laryngoscope that includes two conduits, one for delivering oxygen and the other for delivering a pharmaceutical agent to select areas of the airway under real-time visualization.
1. A laryngoscopic device for use in concurrent viewing of a select area in the airway of a subject and delivery of a therapeutic agent to the select area, the device comprising:
(a) a handle portion adjoining a blade portion and a cavity extending from the handle portion into the proximal region of the blade portion substantially to a light-transmissible window, the cavity being configured to receive a video baton comprising a camera that abuts the light-transmissible window when the baton is placed in the cavity;
(b) the device further comprising a first and a second conduit, the first conduit comprising an atomizer at its distal terminus, each conduit extending substantially along the length of the device and comprising a distal portion that terminates in an opening adjacent the light transmissible window, each distal portion being positioned so as to not substantially affect the field of view from the window, the distal openings being offset one relative to the other.
2. The laryngoscopic device of claim 1 , wherein the blade portion comprises a curved Macintosh blade.
3. The laryngoscopic device of claim 2 , wherein at least one conduit extends along the right side of the device handle and blade.
4. The laryngoscopic device of claim 3 , wherein at least one conduit comprises flexible tubing secured to the device at one or more positions along its length using an adhesive, though heat bonding, through one or more retainer clips or collar, or a combination thereof.
5. The laryngoscopic device of claim 4 , wherein the proximal end portion of the flexible tubing extends beyond the proximal end of the device handle so as to be accessible when the laryngoscopic device is placed in the subject's airway such that the handle is within the subject's mouth.
6. The laryngoscopic device of claim 3 , wherein at least one conduit is integrally formed as part of the body of the laryngoscopic device.
7. The laryngoscopic device of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit comprises an anesthetic-delivering tubing having an inner diameter of about 0.4 millimeter to about 1.2 millimeters.
8. The laryngoscopic device of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit comprises an anesthetic-delivering tubing, the distal terminus of which comprises a micro spray tip atomizer.
9. The laryngoscopic device of claim 8 , wherein the micro spray tip atomizer comprises an opening of about 30 microns.
10. The laryngoscopic device of claim 8 , wherein the second conduit comprises an oxygen-delivering tubing having an inner diameter of about 3/16 of an inch.
11. The laryngoscopic device of claim 10 , wherein the distal opening of the atomizer from which the anesthetic is dispersed is forwardly of the distal opening of the oxygen-delivering tubing thereby enabling the flow of oxygen from the oxygen-delivering tubing to facilitate dispersal of the anesthetic.
12. The laryngoscopic device of claim 11 , wherein the opening of the atomizer from which the anesthetic is dispersed aligns with the edge of the light-transmitting window or is no more than about 2 millimeters forwardly of the light-transmitting window.
13. The laryngoscopic device of claim 11 , wherein the distance between the openings is between about 1 millimeter to about 5 millimeters.
14. The laryngoscopic device of claim 1 , which comprises stainless steel, titanium, polycarbonate, silicone, tygon, polyamide, thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, a polyolefin, high- or low-density polyethylene, another rigid or flexible plastic, another metal or any combination thereof.
15. The laryngoscopic device of claim 1 , which is a single-use device.
16. A laryngoscope comprising the laryngoscopic device of claim 1 and a video baton comprising a camera at a first end, the video baton being fitted within the cavity of the laryngoscopic device such that the camera abuts the light-transmissible window.
17. The laryngoscope of claim 16 , wherein the camera is a CMOS camera.
18. The laryngoscope of claim 17 , wherein the first conduit comprises an anesthetic-delivering tubing, the distal terminus of which comprises a micro spray tip atomizer.
19. The laryngoscope of claim 18 , wherein the second conduit comprises an oxygen-delivering tubing having an inner diameter of about 3/16 of an inch.
20. The laryngoscope of claim 16 , wherein the video baton comprises a video monitor for displaying real-time images from the camera.