Endotracheal tube intubation assist device

An endotracheal tube and an intubation assist device for placing an endotracheal tube of predetermined length within a patient's trachea, said endotracheal tube having proximal and distal ends, said assist device including;

• a substantially cylindrical handle having a central longitudinal axis, a proximate end and a distal end and having a centrally located single passageway extending longitudinally therethrough from one end to the other end along said axis;
• a tubular insertion section, malleable along its entire length, having an open distal end and a proximate end received in said centrally located single passageway and extending through said cylindrical handle so that said centrally located single passageway and distal end of said tubular insertion section are in axial alignment, said distal end of said insertion section being positionable within the distal end of the endotracheal tube so that the entire length of said tubular insertion section is positionable within the endotracheal tube, and shapeable along its entire length to a substantially fixed configuration, prior to attachment of the endotracheal tube, for insertion into a patient without further manipulation;
• attachment means at said distal end of said substantially cylindrical handle for removably attaching the endotracheal tube to said substantially cylindrical handle in air-tight relationship, with said insertion section removably positionable through the endotracheal tube but within the distal end thereof so that the endotracheal tube is formable to said predetermined substantially fixed configuration of said malleable insertion section and is in fixed relation thereto during insertion;
• oxygen supply means extending through said substantially cylindrical handle for providing oxygen to the endotracheal tube during the intubation process;
• and
• an endoscope assembly having a viewing end located at the open distal end of said insertion section, locatable within the distal end of the endotracheal tube when it is connected to said attachment means, and including an optic lens, a light carrying bundle of optical fibers, processing means including a light source and a video camera for processing an image from the optic lens, an external viewing monitor for displaying a visual image from the viewing end, and an optic cable assembly placed through said insertion section to connect the light carrying bundle of optic fibers, optic lens and processing means;
• so that said insertion section and the endotracheal tube may be placed into the patient's trachea and said substantially cylindrical handle may be manipulated to insert the endotracheal tube within the trachea using a visual image within said distal end of said endotracheal tube as a guide.