WO2003068056A1

WO2003068056A1 - Laryngoscope

Info

Publication number: WO2003068056A1
Application number: PCT/JP2003/001594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshinori Iwase; Kunio Suwa
Original assignee: Yoshinori Iwase; Kunio Suwa
Priority date: 2002-02-15
Filing date: 2003-02-14
Publication date: 2003-08-21
Also published as: AU2003212010A1; JPWO2003068056A1

Abstract

A laryngoscope capable of indicating a considerably excellent operational view field as compared with that of a conventional laryngoscope. The laryngoscope has a handle (5) and a blade (3), and a CCD head (11) is fitted to the blade (3) so that a blade tip (9) is included in an image view field which can be directly obtained by the CCD head (11).

Description

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a laryngoscope, and more particularly to making tracheal intubation safer and easier in technical guidance education in anesthesiology and emergency medicine, and to effectively deal with intubation difficult cases.

About the laryngoscope. "Jing Technology Book

Tracheal 揷 is a medical procedure necessary for general anesthesia and critical care. A laryngoscope consists of a blade and a handle. A blade is inserted into the larynx from the patient's mouth. You. Currently, commercially available laryngoscopes obtain a visual field through the space created by the blade, so that the visual field is narrow and can only be viewed by tracheo-tracheal practitioners. For this reason, it is difficult for the instructor to simultaneously check the field of view of the trachea and trachea, which is indispensable for the initial training of medical care, even if the trainees are not necessarily technically skilled. Laryngeal damage, esophageal tract obstruction, etc., and delays in treatment may occur. In addition, there are cases in which the trachea and trachea cannot be performed even when a skilled person such as an anesthesia instructor uses a conventional laryngoscope. Such cases include, for example, scleroderma.

In addition, technology for incorporating fiber endoscopes into laryngoscopes has been introduced in foreign magazines and some have been sold as products. As a laryngoscope of this type, an imaging guide made of glass fiber material for imaging is attached to the blade, and an image of the vocal cords and the tracheal entrance obtained by the imaging guide is formed. There is also an image unit incorporated in a handle, which is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-11-123175.

However, the conventional laryngoscope has the following problems.

The first is that in performing the laryngoscope operation by the direct view of the practitioner, the field of view for visual recognition is narrow, and skill is required to adjust the visual axis of the practitioner to the axis where the larynx extends, which is the trachea, and to adjust the gaze. The operability is low.

Second, depending on the anatomy of the patient's larynx, the operator's visual axis may not be aligned with the axis through which the larynx extends, which may be the trachea. Is that the limit of

Third, it is difficult for non-executors to simultaneously share the field of view of the laryngoscopy in direct operation of the laryngoscope, and it is difficult for non-executors to determine what is seen by the laryngoscope. Cannot be judged from the customer's point of view.

Fourth, a laryngoscope incorporating a fiber endoscope has a problem in that the obtained images are similar to those of a fiber endoscope. In other words, the number of pixels depends on the number of glass fibers, and there is a structural limit such as size (about 600), and there is a problem that the sharpness of the obtained image is insufficient. Note that this point is the same as in the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-123175.

Fifth, the operation of the laryngoscope requires delicate operation skills that require skill, but since the fiber endoscope is incorporated, the light source and the cable for image transmission become thick and heavy, and the cables are bulky. As a result, the operation may be interrupted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a laryngoscope capable of showing a significantly better visual field of view (an image with much better definition) than a conventional laryngoscope. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a laryngoscope capable of simultaneously sharing a visual field of a practitioner other than the practitioner, in addition to the above objects.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a laryngoscope capable of simplifying operation and preventing occurrence of a failure in addition to the above objects. Disclosure of the invention

The invention according to claim 1 is a laryngoscope provided with a handle and a blade connected to the handle, wherein a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged in a vertical and horizontal direction in an image field of view directly obtained by an imaging area sensor head. The area sensor head is attached to the blade so that the tip of the blade is included in the blade.The invention according to claim 2, wherein the area sensor head is CC D head.

In the invention according to claim 3, in claim 1 or 2, the tip of the blade is projected at a predetermined position on the handle side in an image visual field directly obtained by the area sensor head.

The invention according to claim 4, according to claim 1, 2, or 3, further includes a wireless transmission unit that outputs an image signal directly obtained by the area sensor head to the outside by wireless communication.

In the invention according to claim 5, according to claim 1, 2, or 3, an image signal directly obtained by the area sensor head is switched to either wireless communication or wired communication and output to the outside. .

In the invention according to claim 6, in claim 1, 2, 3, or 5, the handle has an image signal output terminal for outputting an image signal directly obtained by the area sensor head to the outside.

The invention according to claim 7, according to claim 6, further comprising: a wireless transmission unit detachably attached to the handle, wherein when the wireless transmission unit is attached to the handle, the image signal input terminal of the wireless transmission unit and The image signal output terminal of the handle is electrically connected.

In the invention according to claim 8, in claim 4, a sound collecting means is provided on the handle, and the wireless transmission unit outputs an audio signal obtained by the sound collecting means to the outside by wireless communication. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of the entire laryngoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the laryngoscope viewed from the direction of arrow II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the laryngoscope of FIG. 1 is used.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a position where a blade tip is projected in a video image field of view obtained by the laryngoscope of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a handle in the laryngoscope of FIG.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the handle of the laryngoscope of Fig. 1 (VI- VI line cross section).

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a mounting small box in the laryngoscope of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system capable of wireless communication with the laryngoscope of FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a system for outputting a video image signal obtained by the CCD head of the laryngoscope of FIG. 1 and an audio signal obtained by the microphone phone to the outside through a wire.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for comparing a wired case and a wireless case. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a side view of the entire laryngoscope according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view of the laryngoscope viewed from the direction of arrow II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where the laryngoscope of FIG. 1 is used, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a position where a blade tip is projected in a video image field obtained by the laryngoscope of FIG. It is.

The laryngoscope 1 includes a blade 3 inserted from the patient's mouth into the larynx, a handle 5 connected to the blade 3, and a mounting small box 7 detachably attached to the handle end 6.

First, the blade 3 will be described. The blade 3 is equipped with a very small CCD (Charge Coupled Device) head 11 (outer diameter 7.5 mm, length 47 mm). The CCD head 11 is an area sensor head in which a plurality of light receiving elements constituted by photodiodes are arranged vertically and horizontally, and a CCD cable 13 extending to the handle 5 is connected to this. . In addition to the CCD head 11 and the CCD cable 13, a video image of the patient's vocal cords and the tracheal entrance is directly captured by a CCD video camera having a video amplifier 20 in a handle 5 described later. In this video image, as shown in Fig. 3, the practitioner holds the handle 5 with one hand and inserts the blade 3 from the patient's mouth into the larynx while aligning the line of sight 71 with the axis through which the larynx extends to the trachea. The blade tip 9 is thus included in this video image field of view, consistent with the vertical relationship when the practitioner looks from above the patient's head. In FIG. 4, the blade tip 9 is projected at a predetermined position above the video image field of view 73 (the handle 5 side). As shown in FIG. 2, a fiber light source 17 serving as illumination is provided on the CCD head 11 (not shown in FIG. 1). The fiber light guide path 15 also extends to the handle 5.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of the laryngoscope of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the handle of the laryngoscope of FIG. 1 (sectional view taken along the line VI—VI in FIG. 5). ).

Next, the internal configuration of the handle 5 will be described. On the side of the blade 3 in the handle 5, an illumination halogen light and a lens 19 are provided, and illumination light is supplied to the fiber of the blade 3 —the light source guide path 15. The lighting halogen light and lens 19 are connected in series to the AAA batteries 25 and 27 that are the power source, and are included in the closed circuit 29. A video amplifier 20 connected to the CCD cable 13 is provided in the handle 5, and the video amplifier 20 includes a video amplifier board 21 to which the element 23 is attached. The element 23 of the video amplifier board 21 is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 35 and the video image signal output terminal 37 formed on the end face of the handle end 6. In the handle 5, a very small microphone 31 is provided on the handle end 6 side, and the microphone 31 is electrically connected to an audio signal output terminal 33 formed on the end face of the handle end 6. Connecting.

The mounting small box 7 includes a wireless transmitter 53 as a transmitter capable of performing wireless communication using the antenna 51, and a power supply 55 for a transmitter for supplying power to the wireless transmitter 53. A CCD power supply 61 for supplying power to a video amplifier or the like in order to obtain a video image by the CCD head 11 provided in the blade 3. In the mounting box 7, on the attachment / detachment surface of the handle end 6 with the end face, an audio signal input terminal 57 electrically connected to the wireless transmission section 53, and also electrically connected to the wireless transmission section 53 A video image signal input terminal 59 and a power supply terminal 63 electrically connected to the CCD power supply 61 are formed. When the mounting box 7 is mounted on the handle 5, the audio signal output terminal 3 3 on the handle 5 and the audio signal input terminal 5 7 on the mounting box 7 are electrically connected, and the power supply on the handle 5 is connected. Terminal 3 5 and the power supply terminal 6 3 on the mounting small box 7 side are electrically connected, The video image signal output terminal 37 on the handle 5 and the video image signal input terminal 59 on the mounting small box 7 are electrically connected. A power switch 64 is provided on the surface of the mounting small box 7 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a system capable of wireless communication with the laryngoscope of FIG. This system includes a tuner 65, a video device 45, and a television 43, which are capable of wireless communication with a wireless transmitter 53 in a small box 7 of the laryngoscope 1. The tuner 65 is, for example, a satellite broadcast tuner in the 1.2 GHz band, and receives a video image signal and an audio signal transmitted by the radio transmitting unit 53 by radio waves 67. The received video image signal and audio signal can be recorded by the video equipment 45, and the television 43 displays the received video image as it is or displays the recorded video image on the display. And it is possible to play back audio. The advantages are described below.

First, the video image displayed by the television 43 is an image obtained directly by the CCD head 11, and compared to a case where the number of pixels is determined by the number of fibers (about 6,000 pixels). ), The resolution is greatly increased (about 250,000 pixels), and it is a high quality image. As a result, the visibility of the surgical procedure is improved, and a safer trachea can be secured.

Further, as described above, not only the image quality is improved by the CCD head 11, but also the use of the CCD head 11 results in the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-123175. Compared to the case where an imaging guide made of glass fiber material is used, the amount of light for illumination is smaller than that of a xenon light source. In. Therefore, power saving is possible. Furthermore, since the image obtained by the CCD head 11 can be displayed by the external television 43, other than the practitioner (including surrounding caregivers) can simultaneously share the field of view of the practitioner. Can also be shared at the same time, and those other than the enforcer can accurately grasp the situation.

Furthermore, not only video images are recorded by the video equipment 45, but also audio is recorded by the video equipment 45, which has great significance in terms of education for trainees and medical records of tracheal intubation. In addition, since radio communication is performed using radio waves 67, a light source and a thick and heavy cable for image transmission are not required as in the case of incorporating a fiber endoscope. Occurrence can be prevented.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a system for outputting a video image signal obtained by the CCD head of the laryngoscope of FIG. 1 and an audio signal obtained by the microphone phone to the outside by wire.

This system includes an external power supply 39, a television 43, and video equipment 45 connected to the television 43. The power supply 39 is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 41, and the video device 45 is electrically connected to the audio signal input terminal 47 and the video image signal input terminal 49. In order for such a system to be used, the mounting box 7 of FIG. An audio signal input terminal 47 on the system side is electrically connected to an audio signal output terminal 33 formed on the end surface of the handle end 6 of the handle 5 shown in FIG. The video signal input terminal 49 on the system side is electrically connected to the image signal output terminal 37, and the power terminal 41 on the system side is electrically connected to the power supply terminal 35 on the handle 5. that _c advantages described above even during such the wire is obtained.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for comparing a wired case and a wireless case. FIG. 10 (A) is a diagram showing a wireless case, and FIG. 10 (B) is a wired diagram. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, switching between wireless and wired is possible using an electrical connection terminal, but no electrical connection terminal is used. In FIG. 10 (A), only the wireless transmission section 53 is provided. The power supply 55 for the transmission unit and the power supply 61 for the CCD alone or a laryngoscope in which the power supply 55 for the transmission unit, the power supply 61 for the CCD and the wireless transmission unit 53 are integrated into the main body may be used. This point is the same in the case of the cable shown in FIG. 10 (B).

In the above embodiment, the CCD cable 13 is disposed outside the blade 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but the CCD cable 13 passes through the center of the blade 3 from inside the handle 5. May be disposed inside the blade 3.

In the above embodiment, the fiber light source 17 using the halogen light and lens 19 for lighting and the fiber-light source guide path 15 is used as the light source for lighting. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims.o Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to show a much better visual field of view (a sharp image or a much better image) than in the past. In addition, it became possible for non-executors to simultaneously share their views. Furthermore, in terms of operability, it has become possible to simplify the operation and prevent the occurrence of a failure.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. In a laryngoscope including a handle and a blade connected to the handle, the tip of the blade is positioned within an image field of view directly obtained by an imaging area sensor head in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged vertically and horizontally. A laryngoscope, characterized in that the area sensor head is mounted on the blade so as to be included.

2. The laryngoscope according to claim 1, wherein the area sensor head is a CCD head.

3. The tip according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the blade is projected at a predetermined position on the handle side in an image field of view directly obtained by the area sensor head.

4. The laryngoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmission unit that outputs an image signal directly obtained by the area sensor head to the outside by wireless communication.

5. The laryngoscope according to claim 1, wherein the image signal directly obtained by the area sensor head is switched to either wireless communication or wired communication and output to the outside.

6. The laryngoscope according to claim 1, wherein the handle has an image signal output terminal for outputting an image signal directly obtained by the area sensor head to the outside.

7. The handle includes a detachable wireless transmitter,

The laryngoscope according to claim 6, wherein when the wireless transmission unit is mounted on the handle, an image signal input terminal of the wireless transmission unit is electrically connected to the image signal output terminal of the handle.

8. The handle is provided with sound collecting means,

5. The laryngoscope according to claim 4, wherein the wireless transmission unit outputs an audio signal obtained by the sound collection unit to the outside by wireless communication.