| 摘要 |
A convertible laryngoscope (24) includes a deployable integral mirror (20) to allow the doctor to clearly view the larynx and more easily insert an endotracheal tube. In many patients, due to injury, deformation, or an existing medical condition, the introduction of the endotracheal tube can be a prolonged and difficult affair, the doctor being forced to work blind when they cannot gain an unobstructed view of the larynx and the path that the cannula or tube needs to travel during intubation. The present invention addresses this problem by providing the above mentioned mirror (20), which is disposed in a first position proximate the laryngoscope blade (28), during the initial introduction of the blade (28) into the patients mouth. Once the base of the tongue is reached and depressed, the user may deploy the mirror (20) into a second position extending towards the soft palate that allows a reflected view towards the larynx and epiglottis. This allows the person intubating the patient to clearly see the path that the cannula needs to take, preventing inadvertent damage to the soft tissue of the mouth and throat. A fixed integral light source (64) is included that is directed towards the deployed mirror position to illuminate the proposed path.
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