Tracheal intubation system including a laryngoscope

Abstract

A tracheal intubation system including a laryngoscope is disclosed. An endotracheal tube exchange system is also disclosed. In some examples, the system includes a laryngoscope, a stylet, and an endotracheal tube. In some examples the stylet is an articulating stylet. An endotracheal tube with one or more depth-assessment bands is also disclosed. An articulating stylet with one or more depth-assessment bands and an orientation mark is also disclosed. A method of positioning an endotracheal tube in a patient is also disclosed. A method of positioning a stylet for placement of an endotracheal tube is also disclosed. A method of performing an endotracheal tube exchange procedure is also disclosed.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A tracheal intubation system comprising:
 a stylet comprising:
 a shaft having a tip configured to articulate in at least one direction; 
 at least one depth assessment band on the shaft, the at least one depth assessment band being visually distinct from an adjacent portion of the shaft; and 
 a control mechanism coupled to the shaft and configured to cause the tip of the shaft to articulate in at least one direction; and 
   a laryngoscope for viewing the at least one depth assessment band and a glottis of a patient at a same time.   
     
     
         11 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a hollow tube configured to be placed in an airway of the patient using the stylet; and   a sealing mechanism coupled with the hollow tube and configured to seal the airway of the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow tube is configured to be positioned on the stylet as the stylet is inserted into the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 11 , wherein the hollow tube is configured to fit over the control mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein the laryngoscope further comprises:
 a blade having a first end configured to be inserted into a mouth of the patient.   
     
     
         15 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein the laryngoscope further comprises:
 an optical capture device configured to capture an image that includes the at least one depth assessment band and the glottis of the patient.   
     
     
         16 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 15 , wherein the laryngoscope further comprises:
 a display device configured to display the image captured by the optical capture device that includes the at least one depth assessment band and the glottis of the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein the stylet further comprises:
 an orientation mark on the shaft and configured to indicate a radial orientation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis and a direction of movement that the tip is configured to articulate.   
     
     
         18 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band abuts at least one other depth assessment band. 
     
     
         19 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band comprises a visually distinct color or a visually distinct pattern from a second depth assessment band. 
     
     
         20 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein the control mechanism further comprises:
 a lever configured to cause the tip of the shaft to articulate in at least one direction in response to a movement of the lever.   
     
     
         21 . The tracheal intubation system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the tip of the shaft articulates in a first direction when the control mechanism pivots in a second direction; and   the tip of the shaft articulates in a third direction different than the first direction when the control mechanism pivots in a fourth direction different than the second direction.   
     
     
         22 . A stylet adapted for mounting an endotracheal tube, the stylet comprising:
 a shaft having a tip configured to articulate in at least one direction;   at least one depth assessment band on the shaft, the at least one depth assessment band being visually distinct from an adjacent portion of the shaft, wherein the at least one depth assessment band is configured to indicate a placement of the stylet when viewed in proximity to a glottis of a patient; and   a control mechanism coupled to the shaft and configured to cause the tip of the shaft to articulate in at least one direction.   
     
     
         23 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band contacts at least one other depth assessment band. 
     
     
         24 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band further comprises:
 a first depth assessment band having a first dimension along a length of the shaft; and   a second depth assessment band having a second dimension along the length of the shaft, the first dimension different than the second dimension.   
     
     
         25 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band further comprises:
 a first depth assessment band having a first color; and   a second depth assessment band having a second color different than the first color.   
     
     
         26 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band further comprises:
 a first depth assessment band having a first pattern; and   a second depth assessment band having a second pattern different than the first pattern.   
     
     
         27 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one depth assessment band further comprises:
 a first depth assessment band having a first color and a first pattern; and   a second depth assessment band having a second color different than the first color and a second pattern different than the first pattern.   
     
     
         28 . The stylet of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 an orientation mark on the shaft and configured to indicate a radial orientation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis a direction of movement that the tip is configured to move.   
     
     
         29 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the control mechanism further comprises:
 a lever configured to cause the tip of the shaft to articulate in at least one direction in response to a movement of the lever.   
     
     
         30 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the tip of the shaft articulates in a first direction when the control mechanism pivots in a second direction; and   the tip of the shaft articulates in a third direction different than the first direction when the control mechanism pivots in a fourth direction different than the second direction.   
     
     
         31 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the tip further comprises:
 a distal end that is rounded and closed.   
     
     
         32 . The stylet of  claim 22 , wherein the shaft further comprises:
 an exterior surface configured to be sterilized without using an autoclave.   
     
     
         33 . A method of positioning an endotracheal tube in a patient, comprising:
 inserting a laryngoscope in a mouth of the patient;   mounting the endotracheal tube on a stylet having a tip configured to articulate in more than one direction and at least one depth assessment band on an exterior surface of the stylet, the at least one depth assessment band being visually distinct from an adjacent portion of the stylet;   inserting the stylet into an airway of the patient;   monitoring, using the laryngoscope, a position of the at least one depth assessment band relative to a glottis of the patient;   modifying a depth that the stylet is inserted into the airway of the patient until the at least one depth assessment band indicates that the stylet is positioned at an appropriate depth in the patient based at least in part on; and   sliding the endotracheal tube along the stylet and into a trachea of the patient.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 determining that the endotracheal tube is positioned in a zone of caution based at least in part on monitoring the position of the at least one depth assessment band relative to the glottis of the patient, wherein modifying the depth of the stylet is based at least in part on determining that the endotracheal tube is positioned in the zone of caution.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 viewing the trachea of the patient on a display associated with the laryngoscope, wherein monitoring the position of the at least one depth assessment band uses one or more images captured by an optical capture device of the laryngoscope.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein inserting the laryngoscope further comprises:
 inserting a blade of the laryngoscope in the mouth of the patient, wherein inserting the stylet into the airway of the patient is based at least in part on inserting the blade.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 articulating the tip of the stylet towards an entrance of the trachea, wherein monitoring the position of the at least one depth assessment band relative to the glottis of the patient is based at least in part on articulating the tip of the stylet.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein modifying the depth that the stylet is inserted into the airway of the patient further comprises:
 inserting the stylet at least partially into the airway of the patient based at least in part on monitoring the position of the at least one depth assessment band relative to the glottis of the patient.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein modifying the depth that the stylet is inserted into the airway of the patient further comprises:
 withdrawing the stylet at least partially out of the airway of the patient based at least in part on monitoring the position of the at least one depth assessment band relative to the glottis of the patient.