System and method for video assisted percutaneous needle cricothyrotomy and tracheostomy

A method of performing a cricothyroidotomy or a tracheostomy with a video-assisted system, including the steps of:

• providing a video-assisted system, comprising,
• a display monitor for displaying still or video images,
• a percutaneous needle assembly, comprising,
• a syringe port,
• a needle port,
• a stylet port in communication with the needle port,
• a hollow needle that includes a single lumen releasably attached to the needle port, the hollow needle including a beveled tip,
• a syringe including a cavity for holding a liquid or gas therein,
• a syringe tip in fluid communication with the cavity, and
• a plunger associated with the cavity and configured to extract or retract the liquid or gas through the syringe tip;
• a fiber optic stylet having a proximal end and a distal end that includes an image-capturing device and at least one illuminator;
• a communication module operatively coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic stylet;
• and
• a communication cable having one end operatively coupled to the display monitor, and a second end operatively coupled to the communication module;
• locating an insertion site;
• inserting the needle at the insertion site and positioning the needle at a desired anatomical region;
• advancing the fiber optic stylet further into the anatomical region;
• decoupling the communication cable from the communication module;
• removing the needle from the first anatomical region leaving the fiber optic stylet in the second anatomical region;
• advancing a dilator and an air cannula over the fiber optic stylet and into the anatomical region of the person;
• and
• removing the dilator and fiber optic stylet leaving the air cannula in the anatomical region.

A method of performing a cricothyroidotomy or a tracheostomy with a video-assisted system, including the steps of:

• providing a video-assisted system, comprising,
• a display monitor for displaying still or video images,
• a percutaneous needle assembly, comprising,
• a syringe port,
• a needle port,
• a stylet port in communication with the needle port,
• a hollow needle that includes a single lumen releasably attached to the needle port, the hollow needle including a beveled tip,
• a syringe including a cavity for holding a liquid or gas therein,
• a syringe tip in fluid communication with the cavity, and
• a plunger associated with the cavity and configured to extract or retract the liquid or gas through the syringe tip;
• a fiber optic stylet having a proximal end and a distal end that includes an image-capturing device and at least one illuminator;
• a communication module operatively coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic stylet;
• and
• a communication cable having one end operatively coupled to the display monitor, and a second end operatively coupled to the communication module;
• locating an insertion site;
• inserting the needle at the insertion site and positioning the needle at a desired anatomical region;
• advancing the fiber optic stylet further into the anatomical region;
• decoupling the communication cable from the communication module;
• removing the needle from the first anatomical region leaving the fiber optic stylet in the second anatomical region;
• advancing a dilator and an air cannula over the fiber optic stylet and into the anatomical region of the person;
• removing the dilator and fiber optic stylet leaving the air cannula in the anatomical region;
• and
• connecting an artificial manual breathing unit or a ventilator to the air cannula.