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. A method of intubating a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an integrated and handheld dual-video tracheal intubation assembly (“assembly”) within an upper airway of a patient above the vocal cords, the assembly comprising,
a handheld housing and a first elongate imaging member extending from the handheld housing, the first elongate imaging member comprising an elongate body and a first video camera at a distal end of the elongate body,
a second imaging member comprising a second imaging member housing that is at least one of mechanically or magnetically coupled to and extends from the handheld housing, the second imaging member including an elongate tracheal tube introducer (“introducer”) and a second video camera at a distal end of the introducer, wherein the introducer is in operable communication with an actuator disposed in the handheld housing, and wherein a proximal end of the introducer is fixed relative to the second imaging member housing and a second region of the introducer is movable within the second imaging member housing, and
a cover coupled to and extending from the handheld housing, wherein the first elongate imaging member extends within the cover;
causing a first signal to be received, the first signal indicative of video data from the first video camera while the first video camera is disposed in the upper airway;
causing a second signal to be received, the second signal indicative of video data from the second video camera;
causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer in the upper airway while the first and second signals are being received;
causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic axial movement of the introducer and the second video camera, relative to the first video camera, through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway, wherein the assembly laterally constrains at least a portion of the introducer that is adjacent to the first elongate imaging member during the robotic axial movement of the introducer,
moving an endotracheal tube into the trachea;
removing the introducer from the trachea; and
leaving the endotracheal tube in the trachea.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer in the upper airway while the first and second signals are being received comprises user interaction with the assembly.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user interaction with the assembly comprises manual interaction with the assembly.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the manual interaction with the assembly controls the robotic movement of the introducer.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the manual interaction with the assembly comprises moving a joystick.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the manual interaction with the assembly comprises manual interaction with a display screen.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein manual interaction with the display screen comprises manual image recognition.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the user interaction with the assembly comprises remote interaction with the assembly.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote interaction with the assembly comprises audio input to the assembly.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the audio input to the assembly comprises audio input to the handheld housing.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote interaction with the assembly comprises remote input from a remote device that is spaced from the assembly.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the remote interaction with the assembly comprises interaction with a display screen.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the assembly comprises the display screen.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the display screen is coupled to the handheld housing.
15. The method of claim 2 , wherein causing the actuator to cause robotic movement of the introducer comprises causing automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein causing automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer occurs in response to the user interaction with the assembly.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the user interaction comprises manual interaction with a display screen.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the user interaction comprises remote interaction with the assembly.
19. The method of claim 2 , wherein causing the actuator to cause robotic movement of the introducer further comprises image recognition utilizing at least one of the first signal or the second signal.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the image recognition comprises automatic image recognition.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the image recognition comprises manual image recognition.
22. The method of claim 19 , the image recognition comprises visualizing at least one of first and second images, the first and second images based on video data from the first video camera and video data from the second video camera, respectively.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the actuator to cause robotic movement of the introducer in the upper airway comprises automatic image recognition and automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer.
24. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway comprises user interaction with the assembly.
25. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway comprises automatic image recognition and automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway comprises causing robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the second signal is being received.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the endotracheal tube into the trachea comprises advancing the endotracheal tube over and relative to the introducer.
28. The method of claim 1 , further comprising confirming placement of the endotracheal tube in the trachea using the second signal.
29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body extends within a channel in the cover.
30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an endotracheal tube channel on a side of the cover, and wherein advancing the endotracheal tube into the trachea comprises advancing the endotracheal tube relative to the endotracheal tube channel.
31. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is flexible.
32. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is malleable.
33. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is rigid.
34. A method of intubating a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an integrated and handheld dual-video tracheal intubation assembly (“assembly”) within an upper airway of a patient above the vocal cords, the assembly comprising,
a handheld housing,
a first imaging member coupled to and extending from the handheld housing, the first imaging member comprising a first video camera,
a second imaging member comprising a second imaging member housing that is at least one of mechanically or magnetically coupled to and extends from the handheld housing, the second imaging member including an elongate tracheal tube introducer (“introducer”) and a second video camera at a distal end of the introducer, wherein the introducer is in operable communication with an actuator disposed in the handheld housing, wherein a proximal end of the introducer is fixed relative to the second imaging member housing and a second region of the introducer is movable within the second imaging member housing, and wherein the assembly laterally constrains at least a portion of the introducer that is adjacent to the first elongate imaging member; and
causing a first signal to be received, the first signal indicative of video data from the first video camera while the first video camera is disposed in the upper airway;
causing a second signal to be received, the second signal indicative of video data from the second video camera;
causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer in the upper airway while the first and second signals are being received;
causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic axial movement of the introducer and the second video camera, relative to the first video camera, through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway;
moving an endotracheal tube into the trachea;
removing the introducer from the trachea; and
leaving the endotracheal tube in the trachea.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer in the upper airway while the first and second signals are being received comprises user interaction with the assembly.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the user interaction with the assembly comprises manual interaction with the assembly.
37. The method of claim 35 , wherein the user interaction with the assembly comprises remote interaction with the assembly.
38. The method of claim 35 , wherein causing the actuator to cause robotic movement of the introducer comprises causing automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer.
39. The method of claim 34 , wherein causing the actuator to cause robotic movement of the introducer in the upper airway comprises automatic image recognition and automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer.
40. The method of claim 34 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway comprises user interaction with the assembly.
41. The method of claim 34 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway comprises automatic image recognition and automatic control of the robotic movement of the introducer.
42. The method of claim 34 , further comprising a cover coupled to the handheld housing, wherein the first imaging member extends within the cover.
43. The method of claim 42 , wherein the cover comprises a distal region with a curved configuration.
44. The method of claim 42 , wherein the first video camera is at a distal region of the cover.
45. The method of claim 42 , wherein the first imaging member comprises an elongate body with the first video camera disposed at a distal end of the elongate body, and wherein the elongate body extends within the cover.
46. The method of claim 45 , wherein the elongate body extends within a channel in the cover.
47. The method of claim 42 , wherein the cover comprises an endotracheal tube channel on a side of the cover.
48. The method of claim 34 , further comprising confirming placement of the endotracheal tube in the trachea using the second video camera.
49. The method of claim 34 , wherein causing the actuator that is disposed in the handheld housing to cause robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the first video camera remains in the upper airway comprises causing robotic movement of the introducer and the second video camera through a larynx and into a trachea while the second signal is being received.
50. The method of claim 34 , wherein advancing the endotracheal tube into the trachea comprises advancing the endotracheal tube over and relative to the introducer.
51. The method of claim 34 , wherein the first imaging member comprises a video laryngoscope.
52. The method of claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is flexible.
53. The method of claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is malleable.
54. The method of claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of the introducer is rigid.