Telescopic intubation tube with distal camera

A telescopic intubator which comprises:

• (a) a tube assembly comprising
• (i) a base tube having a proximal end and a distal end and formed with a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end thereof,
• (ii) a first extension tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and formed with a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end thereof, and mounted in the lumen of the base tube for a fore-and-aft movement therewith, the proximal end of the first extension tube being distal to the proximal end of the base tube;
• wherein the tube assembly decreases in diameter;
• and
• (iii) a second extension tube, wherein the second extension tube has a proximal end and a distal end and is mounted in the lumen of the first extension tube for a fore-and-aft movement therein to selectively extend the distal end of the second extension tube beyond the distal end of the first extension tube,
• wherein there is no relative rotation between adjacent tubes in the tube assembly;
• (b) a first set of control wires having distal ends attached to the distal end of the first extension tube for bending the first extension tube and reciprocally moving the first extension tube fore-and-aft relative to the base tube, and a second set of control wires having distal ends attached to the second extension tube for bending the second extension tube and reciprocally moving the second extension tube fore-and-aft relative to the first extension tube and base tube to advance the first and/or second extension tube into a trachea of a patient;
• and
• (c) an optical assembly comprising an eyepiece mounted on the proximal end of the base tube and an optical fiber extending from the eyepiece to the distal end of the second extension tube for visually monitoring an advancement of the intubator into a trachea of a patient.