Motor control for disposable steerable endoscope

A medical system comprising:

• an introducer comprising:
• a proximal end including a drum connected to a pull wire;
• and
• a distal end that is steerable based on movement of the pull wire;
• and
• a cartridge, attachable to a video laryngoscope, the cartridge comprising:
• a first electrical interface;
• a port that receives the proximal end of the introducer;
• an output drive that mechanically connects to the drum in the proximal end of the introducer when the proximal end of the introducer is inserted into the port;
• and
• a rotor portion of a motor mechanically connected to the output drive, wherein, when the cartridge is coupled to the video laryngoscope, the rotor portion of the motor moves due to magnetic flux generated by a stator portion of the motor housed within the video laryngoscope.

A medical video system comprising:

• a video laryngoscope comprising a housing, a display screen, a processor, and first electrical contacts exposed on the housing;
• a cartridge removably attached to the housing of the video laryngoscope, the cartridge comprising a port, an output drive, second electrical contacts, and a motor mechanically connected to the output drive, wherein the motor operates based on a steering signal received from the video laryngoscope;
• and
• an endoscope with a proximal end having a drive system and third electrical contacts, the endoscope further having a distal end with a camera, and a pull wire connecting the drive system and the distal end such that movement of the drive system causes articulation of the distal end;
• wherein the proximal end of the endoscope is sized to enter the port, align the third electrical contacts with the second electrical contacts, and engage the drive system with the output drive such that movement of the output drive causes movement of the drive system;
• wherein the processor is programmed to receive image data from the endoscope camera, display the image data on the display screen of the video laryngoscope, receive a steering input, translate the steering input into a movement of the output drive, and transmit a steering signal to the motor via the first electrical contacts.