# US 2014/0194684 A1 · Medical Device for Conducting a Medical Examination and/or Intervention Within a Human or Animal Body

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- Number: US 2014/0194684 A1
- Document ID: US20140194684A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/125,724
- Filed: 2012-06-15
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-15
- Assignees: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
- Inventors: Konstantinos Raymondos
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194684A1

## CPC

- A61M 16/0488: {Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes (guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02)}
- A61B 1/0008: {characterised by distal tip features}
- A61B 1/00181: {for multiple fixed viewing angles (A61B1/00193 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00183: {for variable viewing angles}
- A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments
- A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
- A61B 1/267: for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes or bronchoscopes
- A61B 1/2673: {for monitoring movements of vocal chords}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

The invention is related to a medical device (1) for conducting a medical examination and/or intervention within a human or animal body, the medical device (1) comprising a handle (2) and a curved guiding bar (3) connected to the handle (2), the guiding bar (3) comprising a guiding duct (4) adapted for guiding a medical instrument (5) from the handle area to a distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3) which is distant from the handle (2), the guiding bar (3) comprising on its distal end (7) a first camera (6) which is integrated within the guiding bar (3) or attached to the guiding bar (3), whereby the first camera (6) is arranged and adjusted for capturing an area (8) in front of the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Medical device (1) for conducting a medical examination and/or intervention within a human or animal body, the medical device (1) comprising a handle (2) and a curved guiding bar (3) connected to the handle (2), the guiding bar (3) comprising a guiding duct (4) adapted for guiding a medical instrument (5) from the handle area to a distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3) which is distant from the handle (2), the guiding bar (3) comprising on its distal end (7) a first camera (6) which is integrated within the guiding bar (3) or attached to the guiding bar (3), whereby the first camera (6) is arranged and adjusted for capturing an area (8) in front of the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that an angle (α) between a central line (9) of the area (8) captured by the first camera (6) and an insertion direction (24) of the medical instrument (5) into the guiding duct (4) is smaller that an angle (β) between a hypothetical straight extension line (21) of the guiding bar (3) from its distal end (7) and the insertion direction (48) of the medical instrument (5).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the guiding bar (3) or other elements of the medical device (1) which are inflexibly connected to the guiding bar (3) do not extend from the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3) into the capturing area (8) of the first camera (6).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the guiding duct (4) extends over the whole length of the guiding bar (3) and is arranged for providing a supporting face for the medical instrument (5) within the guiding duct (4) so that the medical instrument lies against the guiding duct (4).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the guiding bar (3) comprises a second camera (41) which is integrated within the guiding bar (3) or attached to the guiding bar (3) between the handle (2) and the distal end (7) but being closer to the handle (2) than the first camera (6), the second camera (41) is arranged and adjusted for capturing the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3) and a surrounding area (42).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the handle (2) shows away from the thorax (43) of a patient (10) if the medical device (1) is introduced into the patient (10) in the course of conducting a laryngoscopy and/or an intubation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

Medical device according to claim 6, characterised in that the handle (2) shows in the direction of the head (44) of the patient (10).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the medical device (1) comprises a first bending area (32) of at least 90°, in particular a curved bending area in an end area of the guiding bar (3) distant from the handle (2).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

Medical device according to claim 8, characterised in that the first bending area (32) comprises the same bending radius over an arc angle of at least 80°.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

Medical device according to claim 8, characterised in that the guiding bar (3) is on the inside (45) of the first bending area (32) at least partially open.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

Medical device according to claim 8, characterised in that the medical device (1) comprises a second bending area (33) of at least 90° in the junction area of the guiding bar (3) and the handle (2).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the assembly comprising the handle (2) and the guiding bar (3) has an S-shape when viewed from the side.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the medical device (1) comprises a flushing channel (26) or a flushing duct for insertion of a flushing conduct, the flushing channel (26) or the flushing duct being integrated within the guiding bar (3) or attached to the guiding bar (3), whereby the flushing channel (26) or the flushing conduct has at least one emission opening (30) for emitting a flushing medium, wherein the at least one emission opening (30) is located at the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3), the at least one emission opening (30) is adjusted in a way that emitted flushing medium is directed to the first and/or second camera (6, 41).

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the medical device (1) comprises a first suction channel (25) or a first suction duct for inserting a first suction conduct, the first suction channel (25) or the first suction duct being integrated within the guiding bar (3) or attached to the guiding bar (3), wherein the first suction channel (25) or the first suction conduct comprises a first suction opening (31) which is located at the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3).

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

Medical device according to claim 14, characterised in that the medical device comprises a second suction channel (59) or a second suction duct for inserting a second suction conduct, the second suction channel (59) or the second suction duct being integrated within the guiding bar (3) or attached to the guiding bar (3), wherein the second suction channel (59) or the second suction conduct comprises a second suction opening which is located at the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3), wherein the second suction opening is adjusted in a way that flushing medium is extractable by suction.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that one or more of the following elements are included within the handle (2):
a) a liquid container (54) in the form of a reservoir for flushing medium,
b) a pumping mechanism (53) for delivery of flushing medium, the pumping mechanism (53) being connected to the reservoir (54) for flushing medium,
c) a liquid container (57) in the form of a storage for liquids gathered through a suction channel (25, 59) or a suction conduct through suction,
d) a suction mechanism (56) for removal of liquids, which is connected to the liquid container (57).

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that a picture processing unit (50) is coupled to the first and/or second camera (6, 41), the picture processing unit (50) being arranged for processing of the pictures delivered by the first and/or second camera (6, 41) by means of pattern recognition and for identifying the actual position of the distal end (7) of the medical device (1) during a laryngoscopy and/or intubation within the patient (10), whereby the picture processing unit (50) is arranged for generating route guidance data (58) based on the identified actual position of the distal end (7) of the medical device (1), the route guidance data (58) are arranged for supporting a user of the medical device (1) in guiding the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3) near to the entry of the larynx (19) and in guiding a medical instrument to pass the vocal cords (14) into the trachea (17).

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that a longitudinal axis of the handle (2) is approximately perpendicular to a plane which is spanned by the first bending area (32) of the medical device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the medical device (1) comprises a handle (2) with two sections, with the guiding bar (3) being fixed to the medical device between the two sections.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first portion of the handle (2) comprises control elements for controlling a flushing mechanism of the medical device (1) and the second portion comprises control elements for controlling a suction mechanism of the medical device (1).

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the medical device (1) is designed for conducting a medical examination and/or intervention within a human or animal body without lifting the epiglottis (18) or the tongue base (13), whereby the medical device (1) is constructed without a lifter for lifting the epiglottis (18) or the tongue base (13).

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first camera (6) is arranged and adjusted for capturing an area in front of the distal end (7) of the guiding bar (3) from a position on a side of the guiding bar.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

Medical device according to claim 22, characterised in that the capturing direction (9) of the first camera (6) is directed from the one side of the guiding bar (3) to the opposite side of the guiding bar (3) in a diagonal direction.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

Medical device according to claim 1, characterised in that the guiding bar is connected to the handle via an articulated joint which allows positioning of the handle in different angles relative to the guiding bar.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

Medical device according to claims 24, characterised in that the articulated joint comprises a notch mechanism which allows an easy fixation of the angular position of the handle relative to the guiding bar through a number of predefined notching positions.