Magnetically orienting laryngeal elevator blade

An intubation apparatus for guiding a tube into a preferred passageway within the patient, comprising:

• an elongated member having an insertion end sized to be inserted through the patient's mouth, said elongated member is bendable along its longitudinal axis;
• a magnetic member movably joined to said insertion end, said magnetic member is disposed to move relative to said insertion end;
• and
• a magnetic field positioned external of the patient, said external magnetic field is moved proximal to the patient to guide the orientation of the magnetic member along an internal passageway within the patient;
• whereby said insertion end is inserted past the patient's vocal cords with said magnetic member guided by said external magnetic field positioned proximal to the patient for guidance of said insertion end into a preferred passageway within the patient.

An intubation apparatus for insertion into an internal passageway within a patient, comprising:

• an elongated body having an insertion end sized for intubation into a patient, said elongated body that is bendable about its longitudinal axis;
• and
• a magnet rotatably enclosed within a flexible member attached to said insertion end of said elongated body, said rotatable magnet is pivotable relative to said insertion end when in the presence of an external magnetic field positioned proximal to the patient;
• whereby said insertion end is inserted into the internal passageway within the patient, said rotatable magnet is pivotable relative to said insertion end when in the presence of said external magnetic field manipulated by the operator in order to position said insertion end into a preferred passageway within the patient.

A method for insertion of a tube guided by a magnetic laryngeal intubation body into a preferred passageway within a patient, comprising the steps of:

• using a bendable elongated body including an insertion end having a magnetic member pivotably connecting thereon;
• positioning said insertion end of said bendable elongated body through the patient's oral cavity;
• adjusting the direction of said insertion end by positioning a magnetic field external of the patient, said step of adjusting remotely adjusting said insertion end to move laterally and longitudinally within the patient;
• manipulating said external magnetic field along the patient's dermal surface, said manipulating step guiding said insertion end into a preferred passageway within the patient;
• and
• inserting a selected length of said bendable elongated body into the preferred passageway within the patient.

An apparatus for guiding an intubation tube into a preferred pathway within the patient, comprising:

• an elongated body having an insertion end sized to be insertable into an opening in the patient, said elongated body is bendable along its longitudinal axis for insertion into a preferred pathway within the patient;
• a flexible member connected at a base end to said insertion end, said flexible member is connected to said insertion end by a deformable sleeve disposed to enclose said base end of said flexible member and to enclose a sufficient length of said insertion end to bond said flexible member base end to said insertion end;
• a magnetic member coupled with said flexible member, said magnetic member is pivotable with said flexible member relative to said insertion end;
• and
• a magnetic field positioned external to the patient, said external magnetic field is manipulated to affect the orientation of the magnetic member within the patient;
• whereby upon insertion of said insertion end into the patient, said external magnetic field is positioned to guide said insertion end into the preferred pathway within the patient.