# US 12,108,931 B2 · Medical device imaging systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,108,931 B2 - Document ID: US12108931B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/476,744 - Filed: 2021-09-16 - Published: 2022-04-14 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-14 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Peter Douglas Colin Inglis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12108931B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/0005: {combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled} - A61B 1/00006: {of control signals} - A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope} - A61B 1/00016: {using wireless means} - A61B 1/267: for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes or bronchoscopes - A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras} - A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation} - G06V 10/803: {of input or preprocessed data} - G06V 20/64: Three-dimensional [3D] objects - H04N 5/265: Mixing - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/53: of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable - A61B 90/96: using barcodes - A61B 2090/364: {Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body} - A61B 2090/371: {with simultaneous use of two cameras} - A61B 2090/372: {Details of monitor hardware} - G06V 2201/03: Recognition of patterns in medical or anatomical images - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A time-synchronized video imaging system includes an environmental camera that acquires environmental images of a patient while a video laryngoscope acquires airway images of the patient. A monitor receives the airway images from the video laryngoscope and the environmental images from the environmental camera. The monitor time-synchronizes the airway images and the environmental images to each other to generate a combined view video file of the time-synchronized airway images and environmental images to permit review of macro or environmental effects on a patient intubation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A video imaging system, comprising: a monitor comprising a display screen; a video laryngoscope comprising a camera that acquires airway images of a patient; and an environmental camera that acquires environmental images of a patient environment; wherein the monitor operates to: receive the airway images from the video laryngoscope and the environmental images from the environmental camera; receive a video laryngoscope clock time from the video laryngoscope; determine a first difference between the video laryngoscope clock time and a monitor clock time; synchronize the airway images and the environmental images based on the first difference; and combine the synchronized airway and environmental images into a combined video file. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein the combined video file comprises a side-by-side view of the synchronized airway images and environmental images. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein the monitor operates to use the first difference to synchronize the airway images to the monitor clock time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein the monitor operates to receive an environmental camera clock time from the environmental camera and determine a second difference between the environmental camera clock time and the monitor clock time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The video imaging system of claim 4, wherein the monitor operates to use the second difference to synchronize the environmental images to the monitor clock time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein the environmental camera is housed in or on the monitor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises a portable tablet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The video imaging system of claim 7, wherein the environmental camera is coupled to the portable tablet on a side opposite the display screen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the monitor or the environmental camera is coupled to a portable stand. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The video imaging system of claim 1, wherein the monitor operates to: identify the video laryngoscope in the environmental images; and adjust a field of view of the environmental camera to retain the video laryngoscope in the field of view. ### Claim 11 A medical device system comprising: a video laryngoscope that acquires airway images of a patient; an environmental camera that acquires environmental images; a monitor that operates to: receive the airway images from the video laryngoscope; receive the environmental images from the environmental camera; determine a first time difference between a monitor clock and a video laryngoscope clock, and a second time difference between the monitor clock and an environmental camera clock; shift the airway images relative to the environmental images based on the first and second differences, to time-synchronize the airway images and the environmental images to each other; and generate a video file comprising the time-synchronized airway images and environmental images. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medical device system of claim 11, wherein the environmental camera is mounted to a portable stand. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The medical device system of claim 11, wherein the monitor receives the airway images wirelessly and in real time. ### Claim 14 A method, comprising: receiving, at a monitor, airway images and laryngoscope clock information from a video laryngoscope; acquiring, by the monitor, environmental images from a room-facing environmental camera on the monitor, wherein the environmental images are acquired simultaneously with the airway images; determining a relative time difference between the laryngoscope clock information and a monitor clock information; time-synchronizing the airway images and the environmental images based on the relative time difference; and generating a composite video file with a combined view of the time-synchronized airway images and environmental images. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the composite video file includes a picture-in-picture or a side-by-side view. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the environmental images are time-stamped with monitor clock information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving, at the monitor, endoscopic images and endoscope clock information from an endoscope; determining a second relative time difference between the endoscope clock information and the monitor clock information; and time-synchronizing the endoscopic images with the environmental images based on the second relative time difference, wherein the combined view in the composite video file further includes the time- synchronized endoscopic images. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving patient vital sign data from a patient monitor; identifying a patient event and an associated time of the patient event in the patient vital sign data; and overlaying information indicative of the patient event onto the composite video file at the associated time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying the composite video file on a display screen of the monitor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the combined video file with a patient record.