A self-contained intubating stylet device to navigate airway anatomy anatomically correctly for intubating and adjusting tubular configuration during an intubation process into an externally accessible passageway of a patient, the device comprising in combination:
- an intubation device body housing and supporting various components of the device;
- an ergonomically shaped handle extending downwardly and angled away from a proximal end of the body;
- the handle structured in an ergonomic shape to fit a hand of a user to enable comfortable and effective use of the device;
- an elongated configuration adjustable stylet attached to the body and extending vertically downward therefrom, the stylet removably insertable inside an entire length of a standard existing hollow flexible surgical tube, the stylet used for steering and guiding the surgical tube during insertion of the surgical tube into an externally accessable passageway of a patient, the stylet altering the configuration of the surgical tube during insertion to conform to the configuration of the passageway to enable the surgical tube to slide easily into the passageway and fit within the passageway of the patient after insertion and removal of the stylet to leave an interior elongated opening the length of the surgical tube as a clear airway in the passageway of the patient;
- the stylet comprising an elongated array of flexing, extending and stiffening tendons within the stylet along the length of the stylet, the tendons movable in cascading arrays so that the stylet bends along its entire length approximating curves of progressively smaller radiuses to enable the stylet to conform to the anatomically accurate actual shape of the passageway of the patient so that the stylet travels an anatomically accurate path into the internal passageway of the patient;
- a control lever protruding from a bottom of the body adjacent to the handle in communication with the fingers of the user grasping the handle, the control lever used during insertion of the stylet, the control lever movable in a forward and backward relative to the handle by the fingers of the user operating the stylet, to steer the shape-transformable and steerable stylet through the passageway of the patient, the control lever adapted to transform the configuration of the stylet and the tracheal tube to conform to the configuration of the passageway;
- a lens, a camera, and a light source located at a distal tip of the stylet to transmit a real time video image of the view in front of the stylet tip as the stylet is inserted into the passageways of the patient;
- a power source communicating with the camera and light source;
- a video display attached to the body, the video display in communication with the camera to receive the real time video image from the camera, the video display visible to the user holding the handle, the user simultaneously having visual communication with the exterior of the patient at the location of the insertion of the stylet so that the device provides a steerable video monitored intubation device with a surgical tube releasably mounted on a stylet which stylet is anatomically accurately shaped in real time during the intubation procedure using mechanical steering and video capabilities to allow insertion of the surgical tube into the passageway of the patient to a desired point and withdrawal of the stylet leaving the surgical tube in place in the passageway of the patient, thereby providing a self-contained guided intubation device for intubating the externally accessible passageways of patients.