Endotracheal intubation assistance device

A method to facilitate endotracheal intubation of a patient with an endotracheal intubation assistance device placed under the head and shoulders of the patient in a supine position, the method comprising:

• inflating a first chamber of said endotracheal intubation assistance device to raise the shoulders of said patient to facilitate insertion of a laryngoscope blade into the patient's mouth;
• substantially deflating said first chamber of said endotracheal intubation assistance device after the insertion of said laryngoscope blade into the patient's mouth;
• and
• inflating a second chamber of said endotracheal intubation assistance device to raise the head of said patient to facilitate viewing of the patient's glottis for insertion of an endotracheal tube.

An endotracheal intubation assistance device placed under the head and shoulders of a patient in a supine position, the device comprising:

• first and second independently inflatable and deflatable chambers;
• said first chamber being substantially inflated and said second chamber being substantially deflated to raise the shoulders of the patient relative to the head of the patient thereby facilitating insertion of a laryngoscope blade into the mouth of the patient;
• and
• said second chamber being substantially inflated and said first chamber being substantially deflated to raise the head of the patient relative to the shoulders of the patient thereby facilitating visualization of a glottis of the patient for insertion of an endotracheal tube.

A method to facilitate endotracheal intubation of a patient with an endotracheal intubation assistance device placed under the head and shoulders of the patient in a supine position, the method comprising:

• raising a first section of said endotracheal intubation assistance device to raise the patient's shoulders to facilitate insertion of a laryngoscope blade into the patient's mouth;
• substantially lowering said first section of said endotracheal intubation assistance device after the insertion of said laryngoscope blade into the patient's mouth;
• and
• raising a second section of said endotracheal intubation assistance device to raise the patient's head to facilitate viewing of the patient's glottis for insertion of an endotracheal tube.

An endotracheal intubation assistance device placed under the head and shoulders of a patient in a supine position, the device comprising:

• a first section;
• a second section coupled to said first section;
• a first platform supporting said first section;
• a second platform supporting said second section;
• said first platform being substantially raised and said second platform being substantially lowered to raise the patient's shoulder relative to the patient's head thereby facilitating insertion of a laryngoscope blade into the mouth of the patient;
• and
• said second platform being substantially raised and said first platform being substantially lowered to raise the patient's head relative to the patient's shoulders thereby facilitating visualization of the patient's glottis for insertion of an endotracheal tube.