Video laryngoscopy apparatus

A video laryngoscopy apparatus which facilitates selective depression of the epiglottis in the airway of a patient to facilitate unobstructed viewing of the vocal cords and ease in placement of an endotracheal tube in the patient's larynx, comprising:

• a head portion configured for attachment to a video cable connected to a video monitor of a video laryngoscopy system;
• a grip portion extending from the head portion for gripping by an operator of the apparatus;
• an elongated, curved blade support segment extending from the grip portion;
• a camera terminating the blade support segment, the camera functionally interfacing with the head portion to facilitate connection between the video cable and the camera;
• a substantially straight blade housing extending from the blade support segment;
• a substantially straight blade positional in a stowed blade position in the substantially straight blade housing and in a first extended blade position and a second extended blade position from the substantially straight blade housing;
• and
• a mechanical or electrical blade actuator proximal to the substantially straight blade housing operably engaging the substantially straight blade, the mechanical or electrical blade actuator operable to facilitate selective deployment of the substantially straight blade in the stowed blade position, the first extended blade position and the second extended blade position,
• wherein the head portion includes a head portion base, the grip portion extending from the head portion base, a head portion body extending from the head portion base opposite the grip portion, and a user interface being provided on the head portion body,
• wherein the substantially straight blade is configured to depress the epiglottis against a surface of the substantially straight blade housing, and
• wherein the mechanical or electrical actuator maintains the substantially straight blade in the stowed blade position until the substantially straight blade reaches the epiglottis.

A video laryngoscopy apparatus which facilitates selective depression of the epiglottis in the airway of a patient to facilitate unobstructed viewing of the vocal cords and ease in placement of an endotracheal tube in the patient's larynx, comprising:

• a head portion configured for attachment to a video cable connected to a video monitor of a video laryngoscopy system;
• a grip portion extending from the head portion for gripping by an operator of the apparatus, the head portion including a head portion base, the grip portion extending from the head portion base, a head portion body extending from the head portion base opposite the grip portion, and a user interface being provided on the head portion body;
• an elongated, curved blade support segment extending from the grip portion;
• a camera terminating the blade support segment, the camera functionally interfacing with the head portion to facilitate connection between the video cable and the camera;
• a blade housing extending from the blade support segment and having a proximal housing end at a distal blade support segment end of the blade support segment and a distal housing end opposite the proximal housing end;
• a blade positional in a stowed blade position in the blade housing and in a first extended blade position and a second extended blade position from the blade housing, wherein the blade housing is elongated and in the stowed blade position, the blade is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade housing and in the first and second extended blade positions, the blade is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade housing;
• and
• a mechanical or electrical blade actuator proximal to the substantially straight blade housing operably engaging the blade, the blade actuator operable to facilitate selective deployment of the blade in the stowed blade position, the first extended blade position and the second extended blade position,
• wherein the user interface includes at least one manually manipulatable wheel, ball, knob, switch or handle which facilitates selective deployment of the blade in the stowed blade position, the first extended blade position, and the second extended blade position, and
• wherein the substantially straight blade is configured to depress the epiglottis against a surface of the substantially straight blade housing.