Video laryngoscopic tracheoscope

A laryngoscopic tracheoscope comprising:

• a laryngoscope member having a laryngoscope proximal portion and a laryngoscope distal portion, wherein the laryngoscope distal portion is configured to be inserted into a patient;
• a first lumen extending between the laryngoscope proximal portion and the laryngoscope distal portion, the first lumen having a distal aperture at the laryngoscope distal portion;
• a tracheoscope member having a tracheoscope proximal portion and a tracheoscope distal portion, wherein the tracheoscope distal portion is configured to be advanced out through the distal aperture;
• a camera apparatus including a tracheoscope camera disposed at the tracheoscope distal portion and a laryngoscope camera disposed at the laryngoscope distal portion;
• a light apparatus including a tracheoscope light arranged to illuminate at least a portion of the patient viewed by the tracheoscope camera and a laryngoscope light arranged to illuminate at least a portion of the patient viewed by the laryngoscope camera;
• and
• a suction system including a tracheoscope distal suction aperture disposed proximate the tracheoscope camera to aid in clearing unwanted material which could otherwise obscure imaging from the tracheoscope camera, and a laryngoscope distal suction aperture disposed proximate the laryngoscope camera to aid in clearing unwanted material which could otherwise obscure imaging from the laryngoscope camera.

A method of placing an endotracheal tube in an airway of patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a laryngoscopic tracheoscope including a laryngoscope member and a tracheoscope member and a suction system, the suction system including a laryngoscope distal suction aperture and a tracheoscope distal suction aperture;
• wherein the laryngoscope member includes a laryngoscope proximal portion and a laryngoscope distal portion, wherein the laryngoscope distal portion is configured to be inserted into a patient;
• wherein the laryngoscope member includes a first lumen extending between the laryngoscope proximal portion and the laryngoscope distal portion, the first lumen having a distal aperture at the laryngoscope distal portion;
• wherein the laryngoscope member includes a laryngoscope camera and a laryngoscope light and the laryngoscope distal suction aperture disposed at the laryngoscope distal portion;
• wherein the tracheoscope member includes a tracheoscope proximal portion and a tracheoscope distal portion, wherein the tracheoscope distal portion is configured to be advanced through the first lumen and out through the distal aperture;
• wherein the tracheoscope member includes a tracheoscope camera and a tracheoscope light and the tracheoscope distal suction aperture disposed at the tracheoscope distal portion;
• introducing the laryngoscope member into the airway of a patient and using the laryngoscope camera to facilitate positioning of the laryngoscope member;
• advancing the tracheoscope member through the first lumen and out through the distal aperture and using the tracheoscope camera to facilitate positioning of the tracheoscope member;
• actuating the suction system to draw unwanted material through the laryngoscope distal suction aperture and the tracheoscope distal suction aperture as desired;
• advancing an endotracheal tube over the tracheoscope member and positioning the endotracheal tube within the trachea, past the vocal cords, in the airway as desired;
• and
• removing the tracheoscope member and the laryngoscope member from the patient.