WO2019147207A2

WO2019147207A2 - A laryngoscope with rotating handle and having a display and tongue lever

Info

Publication number: WO2019147207A2
Application number: PCT/TR2018/050454
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yahya YILDIZ
Original assignee: T.C. Istanbul Medipol Universitesi
Priority date: 2017-10-16
Filing date: 2018-08-30
Publication date: 2019-08-01
Also published as: TR201715881A2; WO2019147207A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laryngoscope with a display and tongue-lever having a rotatable handle which is used in the fields of anesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine, for inserting the intubation tube into the trachea or for placing material into throat or oesophagus for ensuring airway safety, adequate and safe breathing.

Description

A LARYNGOSCOPE WITH ROTATING HANDLE AND HAVING A DISPLAY

AND TONGUE LEVER

Technical Field

Prior Art

Nowadays, laryngoscopes are used to put the intubation tube into the breathing tube (trechea) which is necessary for providing general anesthesia or ensuring the airway is secured and adequate respiration is ensured. Different instruments like laryngoscope and Laryngeal mask airway (LMA) are used for ventilation.The laryngoscope helps a device through the throat, for example for transmitting said device to oesophagus or stomach. In addition, laryngoscopes can be used in the examination process carried out in the entrance of the throat or trachea, and different types of laryngoscopes can be used in the management of cases known as difficult intubations.

The classical laryngoscopes used for intubation consist of two main parts, namely the handle and the blade.There is a light source at the lower end of the handle section, and a battery and/or similar power source inside the handle. Manipulation of the mouth, tongue, tongue root, pharynx, larynx and epiglottis is performed in order to perform intubation with the paddle attached to the handle.After holding the laryngoscope at the stem, with the help of the paddle at the tip of the intubation tube; the tube is passed through the vocal cords under the epiglottis and placed into the trachea, this is called as intubation procedure. Today, especially for children and newborns, intubation tubes which does not have cuff or has low cuff pressure are used. These tubes are inserted into the trachea slightly and can easily be removed easily after interventions made at the upper end of the mouth, throat or trachea.In the neck and rib cage operations, where sterile dyeing and sterile covering are made up untli the lip level, it may be necessary to change the intubation tube or replace the intubation tube which was removed unintentionally. Additionally, while making an intubation procedure with a state of the art laryngoscope the sterile covers are removed because the paddle is towards the feet of the patient causing concern about sterility of the sterile area and also causes interruption of the procedure for a short or long time due to long intubation process and hence the opreation team lose their concentration.Moreover, due to the fact that the paddle is towards the feet of the patient, especially in the cardiovascular surgeries, the connections of the heart and lung machine, which are attached to the covers present in front of the patient, sometimes move and even disconnect during re-intubation procedure and cause undesirable results.Also, especially during attachment and detachment of transesophageal echo (TEE) probe to the intubated patient, dislocation or disconnection of the intubation tube takes place and sometimes requires re-intubation of the patient.Finally, for every patient especially in patients who are heparinized and have a high risk of bleeding; bleeding, tearing or damage can occur in the mouth, throat or trachea during the placement of the TEE probe or gastric catheter into the trachea.

The international patent application W02013072706, which is included in the prior art, relates to a laryngoscope and video laryngoscopes.In said document a laryngoscope body, a handle and a knife handle element immobilizing the knife in different positions for use with laryngoscope knives was disclosed.The knife handle element allows the knife to move in different angles and stabilize. Thus, a rotatable laryngoscope which can be rotated by the movement of the blade in obtained. In said document it is also stated that the rotatable laryngoscope is a laryngoscope comprising a video camera. In the laryngoscopes disclosed in the prior art, there is a 90 degree angle between the stem and the paddle, and the paddle is making a rotating movement on a horizontal axis.But this rotational movement does not work for users to overcome the difficulties mentioned above.

Brief Description of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a laryngoscope in which the handle rotates in all directions, in particular forward or backward, ie towards the patient and from the patient backwards, so that the laryngoscope is directed towards the person on the head side of patient or on the opposite side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laryngoscope with a display element in addition to the rotatable handle.

Another object of the invention is to perform a laryngoscope in which emergency medicine, safety of the airway, adequate and safe breathing, operation comfort and safety are provided and mouth and throat damage are prevented.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order to attain the aim of the present invention, "a laryngoscope with a rotatable handle and having a display and tongue lever" is shown in the attached figures, wherein;

Figure-1. It is a perspective view of the unrotated handle of the laryngoscope of the invention with rotatable handle and having display and tongue lever.

Figure-2. {0} { /0 } It is a perspective view of the rotated handle of the laryngoscope of the invention with rotatable handle and having display and tongue lever. The parts in the figures are numbered individually and their correspondences are given below.

1.Laryngoscope

2.Handle

3. Paddle

4.1maging unit

5. Lighting unit

6.Tongue

7.Tongue lever

8. Paddle lever

9. Display

10.Tongue lever connection

The invention relates to a laryngoscope ( 1 ) comprising,

• at least one handle (2) having at least one power unit for use as an energy source,

• at least one paddle (3) located at the end of the handle (2), comprising at least one imaging unit (4) and at least one lighting element (5) at its tip,

• at least one tongue (6) movable on a tongue lever (7) and located at the other end of the paddle (3) which is not connected to the handle (2)

• at least one paddle lever (8) on the other end of the paddle (3), which is used for the movement of the tongue (6), and

• at least one display (9) in which images acquired by the imaging unit (4) on the handle (2) are shared.

In a laryngoscope (1) according to the invention, the handle (2) is pivoted about an axis which is angled with respect to the paddle (3). With the help of this feature the position of the handle (2) can be changed according to the user. That is, the handle (2) which is towards the patient's foot at the first instance is then rotated about an angled axis to make towards patient's head or towards the user. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle (2) carries out its rotational movement in the area of the elbow which is the point where the handle engages with the paddle (3). This way, the length of the handle (2) is utilized as much as possible.In a further preferred embodiment, the handle (2) carries out its rotational movement directly beneath the elbow joint with the paddle (3). In this way, the movement of the paddle (3) on the elbow can be made possible.

In another preferred embodiment of the laryngoscope (1) according to present invention, the handle (2) is composed of two parts, wherein one of the parts move about an axis which is angled with respect to the other part of the handle (2). In a preferred embodiment, the movable part of the handle (2) is the part thats is away from the paddle (3). In this way, the direction of the handle (2) is changed according to the user by rotating only one part of the handle (2) which is composed of two parts, without any rotational movement at the elbow where the handle (2) and the paddle (3) are joined.

In the laryngoscope ( 1 ) according to present invention, the handle (2) is rotated back and forth from the elbow portion, just below the elbow, or by rotating the two-part handle (2) about the angular axis and this way the handle rotates towards the person on the side of patient's head.In this case, intubation is performed more comfortably using laryngoscope (1).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle (2) comprises at least one compartment in the interior of which there is at least one battery and battery housing for supplying with the energy required for the imaging unit (4), the lighting element (5) and the screen (9). In this view, the laryngoscope (1) works without the need for energy supply from the outside.

In the laryngoscope (1) of the present invention, the paddle (3) can also be folded on the handle (2) axis thus making movements towards the handle (2) or away from handle (2). This way, in addition to the rotation of the handle (2), the extra rotation provided by the paddle (3) facilitates easier operation. Here, with the handle (2) approaching movement of the paddle(3), the paddle (3) is almost parallel to the handle (2) . The 90 degree opening between the paddle (3) and the handle (2) is normally increased by the departing motion of the paddle (3).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the paddle (3) comprises at least one a tongue lever connection (10) which is used to connect the tongue (6) and the paddle lever (8) to one another and thereby to transfer the movement given to the paddle lever (8) to the tongue (6). In a preferred embodiment, the tongue lever connection (10) is located on the inner side of the paddle (3).

With the laryngoscope (1) according to present invention it is possible to perform the operations such as the neck and rib cage operations, where sterile dyeing and sterile covering are made up untli the lip level, without interfering with the sterile area and course of the operation by changing intibation tube or re-palacing the intubation tube which was removed unintentionally, in other words it is possible to perform such operations without pausing the operation and distracting the operation team.

In addition, when intubation is performed with the laryngoscope (1), the concerns about the sterility of the sterilized area are removed by preventing the movement of the covers because there is no contact with the sterile covers due to the rotation of the handle (2) .Furthermore , intubation with the laryngoscope (1) comprising the rotatable handle (2) prevents the operation from pausing for a short or long time and distracting the operation team.

Additionally, by use of the laryngoscope (1) with a rotatable handle (2), display and tongue (6) lever for major vascular surgery operations in which heart and/or chest is opened; the connections of the heart-lung machine / pump attached to the covers in the right hand side front section of the patient are prevented from dislocation during the intubation of the patient.

With the use of the laryngoscope (1) of the present invention, the possibility of displacement or removal of the intubation tube during the insertion or removal of the transaesophageal echo probe, in particular to the intubated patient and the possible of uncertainity about the sterilization due to moving of the sterile covers during replacement of the intubation tube are no longer valid and laryngoscopy is performed without complication.Additionally , for all patients but especially for heparinized patients and high risk patients prone to hemorrage; ease of echo probe and gastric tube is provided thus bleeding, tearing, or damage to the mouth, throat, or trachea is prevented with the laryngoscope (1) according to present invention.

The laryngoscope (1) according to present inventon, having a rotating handle (2) and a display and tongue lever (6) can also be used during a daily routine endotracheal intubation operation.

The fact that the laryngoscope (1) according to the invention displays the image captured by the imaging unit (4) by projection paves the way for manipulating the tongue (6) located at the tip of the paddle (3) with paddle lever (8) to ease appearance of the vocal cord by coming over the epiglottis and ease the intubation operation. This way a reduction in mortality, morbidity and an increase in patient satisfaction is observed.

It can also be used for laryngoscopy in the ENT (ear, nose, throat) for the examination of the throat, pharynx, larynx and vocal cord.

Furthermore, in the laryngoscope (1) having a rotatable handle (2), with the help of the imaging unit (4), which is preferably a camera located at the end of the paddle (3), and the display (7) to which the images received by the imaging unit (6), the operations such as intubation and examination are made and placement of an item becomes much easier. In the classical intubation used in the current state of the art, throat pain is formed due to the so-called tongue root lifting process; In the laryngoscope (1) of the invention, there is no tongue root lifting and therefore no sore throat. The laryngoscope (1) comprising a rotatable handle (2), display and tongue (6) lever is conveniently used in emergency teams, search and rescue teams. For example, due to something falling on the victim in the event of an accident or disaster, the intubation difficulty with the use of prior art laryngoscopes having non-rotatable handle and facing forward is removed with the inventive laryngoscope (1), as the handle (2) of the laryngoscope (1), is rotatable.

In the prior art laryngoscopes the opening provided by the paddle (3) going through the tooth, depending on the diamater of the tube and the paddle, has a lower diameter than the outer diamater of the intubation tube and thus it is not possible to place the intubation tube through the opening provided by the placement of the paddle (3) to the patient's teeth, but rather requires lifting of the jaw with the laryngoscope to obtain a wider opening. However, in the laryngoscope (1) according to present invention having a rotatable handle (2), display and tongue lever, the paddle (3) is placed in the mouth and from the opening provided thereon it is possible to carry out intubation without the need for lifting the chin.The laryngoscope (1) of the invention has various sizes wherein there are 4 paddles with number 1 being the smallest and number 4 being the largest. The interdental opening provided by the number 1 with the smallest paddle is 4-4.5 mm and is sufficient to convey the small intubation tube; the largest paddle (3) is the number 4; and the interdetanl opening provided by it is 14 mm. The mouth opening provided by the paddle (3) provides great convenience especially in cases of difficult intubation.

Finally, with the conventional laryngoscope (1) used in the prior art, after the the paddle (3) is inserted into the mouth, the lifting maneuver, that is pushing the paddle (3) towards the outside and front by holding from the handle (2), to see the tongue root, larynx, pharynx etc. with the naked eye will be made less frequently and thus the aforementioned problems will be seen less frequently.

Around the basic concepts disclosed above, it is possible to develop a wide variety of applications for a laryngoscope (1) "with a handle and a display and tongue (6)"according to the invention, and the invention is not limited to the examples described herein and is essentially as disclosed in the claims.

Claims

1. A Laryngoscope (1) comprising, - at least one handle (2) having at least one power unit for use as an energy source,

• at least one tongue (6) movable on a tongue lever (7) and located at the other end of the paddle (3) which is not connected to the handle (2),

• at least one paddle lever (8) on the other end of the paddle (3), which is used for the movement of the tongue (6),

• at least one display (9) in which images acquired by the imaging unit (4) on the handle (2) are shared,

characterized in that the handle (2) is pivoted about an axis which is angled with respect to the paddle (3).

2. A laryngoscope (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle (2) performs its rotational/pivoting movement from the elbow area where it joins with the paddle (3).

3. A laryngoscope (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the handle (2) performs the rotational/pivotal movement from directly beneath the region of the elbow connected with the paddle (3).

4. A laryngoscope (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the handle (2) comprises two parts wherein one of the parts move about an axis which is angled with respect to the other part of the handle (2).

5. A laryngoscope (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the movable part of the handle (2) is the part that is away from the paddle (3)

6. A laryngoscope (1) according to any of the above claims characterized in that the handle (2) comprises at least one compartment in the interior of which there is at least one battery and battery housing for supplying with the energy required for the imaging unit (4), the lighting element (5) and the screen (9)

7. A laryngoscope (1) according to any of the above claims characterized in that the paddle (3) folds on the handle (2) axis thus making movements towards the handle (2) or away from handle (2).

8. A laryngoscope (1) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the paddle (3) comprise at least one tongue lever connection (10) which is used to connect the tongue (6) and the paddle lever (8) to one another to transfer the movement given to the paddle lever (8) to the tongue (6).