Hand operated articulated intubation stylet

Hand operated articulated intubation stylet for use with an endotracheal tube including a flexible hollow tube member with an inboard end and an outboard end, the stylet comprising:

• (a) an articulated stylet member for sliding insertion into the endotracheal tube from its inboard end towards its outboard end, said stylet member having a longitudinal axis and. including an elongated rigid member with a proximal end and with a distal end that diverges away from said longitudinal axis in a side view of said stylet member,
• said proximal end having a curved free end and transversely directed to said longitudinal axis on an opposite side to said stylet member than said distal end, and
• a link pivotably attached to said distal end and having a leading end remote from said distal end, said link being pivotable between an initial position generally co-directional with said distal end and a flexed position with said link's leading end directed toward said stylet member's proximal end to form a hook-like configuration in said side view for manipulating the endotracheal tube's outboard end for insertion into a patient's trachea;
• (b) a hand operated generally L-shaped lever having a short curved cross member and an elongated handle with a free handle end, said short curved cross member having a free cross member end disposed towards said longitudinal axis,
• said L-shaped lever being mounted on said stylet member's proximal end with said short curved cross member transversely directed with respect to said stylet member and said elongated handle on an opposite side to said stylet member than said link in said side view and co-directional with said stylet member with said free handle end directed toward said distal end,
• said short curved cross member of said L-shaped lever being slidingly disposed on said curved free end of said proximal end in a transverse direction to said longitudinal axis;
• (c) a flexible wire extending between said cross member and said link;
• and
• (d) a stopper mechanism mounted on said stylet member for stopping sliding insertion of said stylet member into the endotracheal tube at a suitable position depending on the endotracheal tube's length,
• whereby the arrangement being such that said L-shaped lever handle is manually depressible from a set-up state with said free handle end distanced from said longitudinal axis to a flexing state with its free handle end adjacent said longitudinal axis and said curved cross member having transversely slid on said curved free end relative to said longitudinal axis for tautening said wire for urging said link from said initial position to said flexed position.