FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to medical devices generally and more particularly to a method for airway management or for airway diagnostics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In cases where patients cannot breathe on their own or protect their own airway, proper placement and positioning of an artificial airway (for example an endotracheal tube) is critical in ensuring a patient receives adequate ventilation and oxygenation. This placement can be particularly difficult in irregular circumstances such as with local injury, unusual patient physicality and emergency situations in general. Being able to accurately visualize and identify the tracheal opening is a critical step in proper artificial airway placement. In many situations, if the artificial airway is not both accurately and quickly positioned, an undesirable outcome may occur.

There are several types of artificial airways that can be used to manage patients, each with its particular applications. Endotracheal tubes are introduced into the trachea in a procedure termed intubation utilizing dedicated intubation tools. Given the importance of accurate, timely and atraumatic placement, these tools include sophisticated, complex and expensive variations to assist in successful placement during difficult circumstances. However, due to their expense, such complex intubation devices are usually only available in limited quantities in any facility such as a hospital, and even less available in non-hospital settings such as EMT (emergency medical treatment) vehicles and medical field service facilities such as in war-zone areas.

Although intubation tools such as video laryngoscopes and video stylets are known and used, their expense limits their availability and they are not commonly a part of intubation kits. It is not uncommon, even in hospital settings that such tools are not readily available at the point of care rather such tools must be requested from another part of the hospital where stored or last in use.

Intubation tools commonly found in an intubation kit include a laryngoscope handle with sized blades; endotracheal tubes (ETT); supra-glottal artificial breathing devices such as a laryngeal mask, laryngeal tube (e.g. King LT as it is known in the U.S.); stylets; tracheal introducers; inflation syringe; and other common items such as face masks, catheters, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present, a method for airway management or diagnostics which includes attaching a removable medical apparatus to an insertion tool suitable to be introduced into an airway, the medical apparatus including a sleeve with a distal end affixed to an outward-facing illumination device and a corresponding forward-facing imaging device. The sleeve includes an open proximal end connecting an inner cavity to an outer space, the open proximal end to slidingly receive therethrough a distal end of the insertion tool and including an inner surface around the inner cavity configured to wholly slide over and removably affix itself to the distal portion of the insertion tool. Optionally, the inner cavity comprises a tubular shape. The method additionally includes inserting the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus into the airway of a subject, illuminating the airway with the illumination device, acquiring images of the airway with the imaging device, and transmitting images of the airway acquired by the imaging device, by means of a communication mechanism in the medical apparatus operably connected to the imaging device, to a remote device for displaying, and displaying the images of the airway on the remote display device.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes, prior to insertion into the airway, inserting the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus into an oro-tracheal intubation tube.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes, prior to insertion into the airway, inserting the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus into a nasotracheal tube.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes, prior to insertion into the airway, inserting the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus into a supraglottic airway device.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes inserting the insertion tool and attached medical apparatus into a respiratory tube and positioning the imaging device at a distal end of the respiratory tube.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes illuminating the airway with the illumination device.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes removing the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus from the airway.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes detaching the medical apparatus from the insertion tool.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes disposing of the medical apparatus.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes sliding an endotracheal tube over the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes positioning a respiratory tube inside the airway based on the acquired images.

In some embodiments, the respiratory tube insertion tool includes a stylet.

In some embodiments, the respiratory insertion tool includes a tracheal introducer.

In some embodiments, the transmitting includes use of wired communication means.

In some embodiments, the transmitting includes use of wireless communication means.

In some embodiments, the displayed images include real-time images.

In some embodiments, the displayed images include still-images.

In some embodiments, the method additionally includes inserting the insertion tool with the attached medical apparatus into an indwelling endotracheal tube previously inserted into the airway, positioning the imaging device at the distal end of the indwelling endotracheal tube, and adjusting a position of the indwelling endotracheal tube based on acquired images from the imaging device.

