Ergonomic assisted direct laryngoscopic intubation: Headup display, wireless camera and fiberoptic With resistance to fouling

Endotracheal intubation, or placement of a tube into the airway (windpipe), is a commonly performed procedure. In most cases it can be managed with simple equipment by persons with basic training. However, in 1 - 5% of intubation attempts under controlled conditions and up to 10 - 30% of attempts during emergencies and out-of-hospital cases, there is ldquothe difficult airway.rdquo This situation is marked by inability to either see the airway entrance (vocal cords) or to get a tube past them. New devices with optical systems are making difficult airway access much safer. However, there is still a tendency for optical systems to become fouled by secretions or blood and ergonomic problems persist. In this paper we present a prototype device designed to address these issues.