GB2499708A

GB2499708A - Method of making a video introducer

Info

Publication number: GB2499708A
Application number: GB1300832.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Thomas Jeffrey; Eric Pagan
Original assignee: Smiths Medical International Ltd
Current assignee: Smiths Medical International Ltd
Priority date: 2012-02-25
Filing date: 2013-01-17
Publication date: 2013-08-28
Also published as: GB201300832D0; GB201203391D0

Abstract

A video introducer is assembled by threading a cable 13 with an image sensor 11 attached at one end along a passage 20 through a bendable rod 10 so that the image sensor is located at the forward end 12 of the rod. The rear end of the rod has a longitudinal slit 21 through which the rear end of the cable 13 is pulled sideways to enable it to be electrically connected to a processing unit 22 and an electrical connector 14. The processing unit 12 and connector 14 are then pushed into the passage 20 through the slit 21, the connector being bonded in the rod and the slit being closed by an adhesive.

Description

VIDEO INTRODUCERS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

This invention relates to video introducers and methods of manufacture.

The invention is more particularly concerned with video introducers for use in placing apparatus within a patient such as inserting an endotracheal tube into the trachea. Traditional introducers or bougies take the form of a simple rod that can be bent to an approximate desired shape and can flex to accommodate the shape of the anatomy during insertion. The introducer may be made with an angled, Coude tip to facilitate introduction. The introducer can be inserted more easily than the tube itself because it has a smaller diameter and can be bent and flex to the ideal shape for insertion. The small diameter also gives the clinician a better view of the trachea around the outside of the introducer. These may be used with or without the aid of a laryngoscope. When the bougie has been correctly inserted, a tube can be slid along the outside of the bougie to the correct location, after which the bougie is pulled out of the tube, which is left in position. Bougies are available from Smiths Medical. GB2312378 describes an introducer or bougie moulded of an aliphatic polyurethane material and also describes an earlier bougie made from a braided polyester filament repeatedly coated in layers of resin. The characteristic flexural and recovery properties of these bougies are highly valued by clinicians.

More recently it has been proposed to use fibre optics or a CCD camera with an introducer to provide the clinician with a view of the trachea as the introducer is inserted. W02007/089491 describes an arrangement with an introducer and a separate camera assembly clipped onto the outside of the introducer, which is removed before an endotracheal tube can be slid along the introducer. Alternative arrangements have a handle at the machine end of the introducer so that the apparatus has to be inserted with the tube already loaded on the introducer from its patient end. Such arrangements are more difficult to use because of the presence of the tube during insertion. W02010/136748 describes an introducer arrangement with a camera at one end of an introducer and connected via a cable to a display screen at the opposite end. The introducer is disconnected from the display when correctly positioned so that an endotracheal tube can be slid along the introducer into

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position, following which the introducer is removed by pulling rearwardly from the endotracheal tube.

It is particularly important that these video introducers or bougies retain the flexural and recovery properties of conventional bougies, even after sterilisation and prolonged storage. If the diameter of the bore along the bougie has to be enlarged this can adversely affect the handling properties of the bougie. Another problem is that it can be difficult to connect the cable at the rear end of the bougie with an electrical connector. If the cable length is extended beyond the bougie to allow access for connection to a connector there can be surplus cable but no space within the bougie to receive this.

It is an object of the present invention to provide alternative medico-surgical assemblies.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a video introducer including the steps of providing a bendable rod having a passage extending along its length and having a longitudinal opening in its wall towards the machine end of the rod, providing an image sensor attached with a forward end of an electrical cable, threading the cable along the passage so that its rear end extends to the machine end of the rod, causing the rear end of the cable to extend through the longitudinal opening to provide a free length of cable protruding from the side of the rod, interconnecting an electrical connector with the machine end of the cable, extending the rear end of the cable back through the opening so that the cable and forward end of the connector are located in the passage along the rod, permanently closing the longitudinal opening and securing the connector with the rod.

The electrical connector may be interconnected with the machine end of the cable via processing means that is positioned in the passage through the rod. The passage at the rear end of the rod may be enlarged to receive the processing means. An adhesive may be placed on the forward end of the connector to secure the connector with the rod. The longitudinal opening may be closed by means of an adhesive or solvent.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a video introducer made according to the method of the one aspect of the present invention.

An endotracheal tube placement assembly and its method of manufacture, according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an assembly of viewing means in the form of a video introducer and an endotracheal tube;

Figure 2 shows a preliminary step in the manufacturing process;

Figure 3 shows an intermediate step in the manufacturing process; and

Figure 4 shows a final step in the manufacturing process.

With reference first to Figure 1, the assembly consists of viewing means or a video introducer 1 in the form of a flexible, bendable plastics rod or bougie 10 with a small camera and illumination unit 11 mounted at its forward patient end 12. The camera and illumination unit 11 are connected with one end of an electrical cable 13 the opposite end of which is connected with a low profile electrical connector 14, which is small enough to allow an endotracheal tube 3 to be slid over the connector. The connector 14 mates removably with a connector 15 attached at one end of a second cable 16 extending to a video display monitor 18 on which is shown a display representation of the illuminated field of view of the camera unit 11.

The camera unit 11 is pre-connected at the forward or patient end of the cable 13 so that the rear or machine end of the cable can be threaded along a bore or passage 20 (Figure 2) of the rod 10, the length of the cable being slightly greater than that of the rod so that a small length protrudes from its machine end. The rod 10 has a longitudinal slit or gap 21 preformed in its wall extending for a distance of about 30mm from its rear end.

The next step, as shown in Figure 2, is to pull the protruding rear end of the cable 13 laterally through the longitudinal slit 21 so that about 30mm of cable 13 extends freely to one side of the rod 10.

This free length of cable 13 enables its wires 25 readily to be connected to contacts at one end of an image processing unit on a pcb 22, as shown in Figure 3, after trimming to length if need be. Wires 26 are then soldered or otherwise connected at one end to contacts at the opposite end of the pcb 22. The opposite end of the wires 26 are connected to the connector 14.

The free end of the cable 13, pcb 22, wires 26 and the forward end of the connector 14 are then pushed back through the slit 21 into the passage 20 through the rod 10 with the forward end of the connector locating in the passage and its rear end protruding from the rear end of the rod, as shown in Figure 4. An adhesive (not shown) is preferably applied around the forward end of the connector 14 before it is inserted in the rod 10. An adhesive, solvent or the like 27 is applied along the slit 21 so that this is permanently closed and the connector 14 is bonded securely in position. Instead of, or in addition to using an adhesive or the like to close the slit 21, a heat-shrink sleeve could be applied along the rod 10 over the slit. This does not add appreciably to the external diameter of the rod because its thickness could be in the range 50-200(.im.

The method of the present invention enables a small profile connector to be connected at the rear end of the rod. If necessary, the internal diameter of the rod at its rear end could be milled out to a larger diameter to accommodate the pcb. This does not adversely affect the handling of the introducer because the enlarged internal passage extends along only a small part of the length of the rod and does not extend in an active region of the rod that the clinician needs to form.

It will be appreciated that the slit could be formed without removal of material or that a slot could be provided where material is removed to leave a gap. Any such gap could readily be filled after the cable has been pushed back into the rod. The rod could have two or

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more slits so that a leaf could be peeled back to facilitate positioning of the cable and pcb after connection.

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Claims

1. A method of making a video introducer including the steps of providing a bendable rod (10) having a passage (20) extending along its length and having a longitudinal opening (21) in its wall towards the machine end of the rod, providing an image sensor (11) attached with a forward end of an electrical cable (13), threading the cable along the passage so that its rear end extends to the machine end of the rod, causing the rear end of the cable (13) to extend through the longitudinal opening (21) to provide a free length of cable protruding from the side of the rod, interconnecting an electrical connector (14) with the machine end of the cable (13), extending the rear end of the cable back through the opening (21) so that the cable and forward end of the connector (14) are located in the passage (20) along the rod (10), permanently closing the longitudinal opening (21) and securing the connector (14) with the rod.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the electrical connector (14) is interconnected with the machine end of the cable (13) via processing means (22) that is positioned in the passage (20) through the rod (10).

3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein the passage (20) at the rear end of the rod (10) is enlarged to receive the processing means (22).

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an adhesive is placed on the forward end of the connector (14) to secure the connector with the rod (10).

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal . opening (21) is closed by means of an adhesive or solvent.

6. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7.

A video introducer made by a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

A video introducer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.