Robotic-assisted navigation and control for airway management procedures, assemblies and systems
Airway management methods, devices, assemblies and systems. Methods, devices, assemblies and systems may include robotic movement and control of an intubation tube introducer or guide, and may include utilizing image data from one or more image sensors. The methods, devices, assemblies and systems may optionally be used in endotracheal intubation procedures.
1. An integrated, dual-video, tracheal intubation assembly, the assembly comprising:
a housing sized and configured to be handheld by a user;
a first imaging member coupled to and extending from the housing, the first imaging member including a first video camera in a distal region of the first imaging member;
a second imaging member including an elongate endotracheal tube introducer sized to be disposed within an endotracheal tube and a second video camera disposed at a distal region of the introducer;
one or more actuators in operable communication with the introducer to facilitate controlled robotic axial movement of the introducer relative to the first video camera; and
one or more processors configured to receive as input one or more of information indicative of a signal from the first video camera of one or more upper airway anatomical landmarks or information indicative of a signal from the second video camera, and cause communication to the one or more actuators to facilitate automatic controlled robotic axial movement of the introducer and the second video camera relative to the first video camera.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to facilitate controlled robotic distal movement of the introducer at least 2 cm relative to an initial position of the introducer.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to facilitate controlled robotic distal movement of the introducer at least 5 cm relative to the initial position of the introducer.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a distal movement limiter that is configured and arranged to limit distal movement of the introducer.
5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the distal movement limiter is adapted to limit the introducer from being moved distally more than 40 cm from an initial position.
6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the distal movement limiter is adapted to limit the introducer from contacting a tracheal carina when the first video camera is maintained in an upper airway of a patient.
7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators are further configured to facilitate controlled robotic deflection of the introducer.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly is further arranged such that the first video camera is at a fixed initial axial distance from the second video camera prior to actuation of the one or more actuators.
9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the assembly is further arranged such that the first video camera is at a fixed initial axial distance not greater than 3 cm from the second video camera prior to actuation of the one or more actuators.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an endotracheal tube coupler that is sized, positioned, and configured to be releasably coupled to a proximal end of an endotracheal tube.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a laryngoscope blade.
12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first imaging member comprises a video baton.
13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first imaging member comprises a video laryngoscope.
14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first imaging member is releasably coupled to the housing.
15. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first imaging member is permanently coupled to the housing.
16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is flexible.
17. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is malleable.
18. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is rigid.
19. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one manually activated controller that is adapted to facilitate manual controlled robotic axial movement of the introducer.
20. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second imaging member is indirectly coupled to the housing.
21. An integrated, dual-video, tracheal intubation assembly, the assembly comprising:
a housing sized and configured to be handheld by a user;
a first imaging member coupled to and extending from the housing, the first imaging member including a first video camera in a distal region of the first imaging member;
a second imaging member including an elongate endotracheal tube introducer sized to be disposed within an endotracheal tube and a second video camera disposed at a distal region of the introducer;
one or more actuators in operable communication with the introducer to facilitate controlled robotic axial movement of the introducer relative to the first video camera; and
a distal movement limiter that is configured and arranged to limit controlled robotic distal movement of the introducer relative to the first video camera.
22. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the distal movement limiter is configured and arranged to limit the controlled robotic distal movement of the introducer to not more than 40 cm from an initial position.
23. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the distal movement limiter is configured and arranged to prevent the introducer from contacting a tracheal carina when the first video camera is maintained in an upper airway of a patient.
24. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to facilitate controlled robotic distal movement of the introducer at least 2 cm relative to an initial position of the introducer.
25. The assembly of claim 24 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to facilitate controlled robotic distal movement of the introducer at least 5 cm relative to the initial position of the introducer.
26. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the one or more actuators are further configured to facilitate controlled robotic deflection of the introducer and the second video camera.
27. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the assembly is further arranged such that the first video camera is at a fixed initial axial distance from the second video camera prior to actuation of the actuator.
28. The assembly of claim 27 , wherein the assembly is further arranged such that the first video camera is at a fixed initial axial distance not greater than 3 cm from the second video camera prior to actuation of the actuator.
29. The assembly of claim 21 , further comprising an endotracheal tube coupler that is sized, positioned, and configured to be releasably coupled to a proximal end of an endotracheal tube.
30. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the first imaging member is releasably coupled to the housing.
31. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the first imaging member is permanently coupled to the housing.
32. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is flexible.
33. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is malleable.
34. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is rigid.
35. The assembly of claim 21 , further comprising at least one manually activated controller that is adapted to facilitate manual controlled robotic axial movement of the introducer relative to the first video camera.
36. The assembly of claim 21 , wherein the second imaging member is indirectly coupled to the housing.