ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION DEVICES

摘要

The endoscope herein described has a unique steering capability allowing the highly flexible distal end of the shaft of the device to be moved to a full range angular positions without rotating the device on its long axis, thus enabling the device to be steered within the cavity of interest. The relative lengths of the control cables used to move the distal end of the bendable shaft can be changed whenever the flexible or malleable shaft is to be re-shaped to a new configuration thus preventing the distal end or the steering mechanism from assuming an undesired angular position. When used as an endotracheal device, a novel tongue retractor is described which forms an internal conduit, allowing passage of the bendable shaft of the endotracheal intubation device and an endotracheal tube therethrough. Methods for performing a tracheal intubation and changing the relative lengths of the cables are disclosed.

主权项

1. A medical intubation system for placing a endotracheal tube into the trachea of a patient, comprising:
a device having a shaft with a steerable distal end; a steering control mechanism for moving the steerable distal end into a number of different angular positions; an endotracheal tube which can be concentrically mounted on the shaft; and a tongue retractor forming an internal conduit adapted to receive the shaft and the mounted endotracheal tube, the tongue retractor being adapted to contact and displace the tongue of the patient, wherein the endotracheal tube is slidable within the internal lumen of the conduit and with respect to the shaft.