Anatomy-driven design of a prototype video laryngoscope for extremely low birth weight infants

Katherine A. Baker; Eric J. Tremblay; Jason H. Karp; Joseph Ford; Neil Finer; Wade Rich

doi:10.1117/1.3517457

1 November 2010 Anatomy-driven design of a prototype video laryngoscope for extremely low birth weight infants

Katherine A. Baker, Eric J. Tremblay, Jason H. Karp, Joseph Ford, Neil Finer, Wade Rich

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 15, Issue 6, 066023 (November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3517457

Abstract

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants frequently require endotracheal intubation for assisted ventilation or as a route for administration of drugs or exogenous surfactant. In adults and less premature infants, the risks of this intubation can be greatly reduced using video laryngoscopy, but current products are too large and incorrectly shaped to visualize an ELBW infant's airway anatomy. We design and prototype a video laryngoscope using a miniature camera set in a curved acrylic blade with a 3×6-mm cross section at the tip. The blade provides a mechanical structure for stabilizing the tongue and acts as a light guide for an LED light source, located remotely to avoid excessive local heating at the tip. The prototype is tested on an infant manikin and found to provide sufficient image quality and mechanical properties to facilitate intubation. Finally, we show a design for a neonate laryngoscope incorporating a wafer-level microcamera that further reduces the tip cross section and offers the potential for low cost manufacture.

©(2010) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Citation Download Citation

Katherine A. Baker, Eric J. Tremblay, Jason H. Karp, Joseph Ford, Neil Finer, and Wade Rich "Anatomy-driven design of a prototype video laryngoscope for extremely low birth weight infants," Journal of Biomedical Optics 15(6), 066023 (1 November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3517457

Published: 1 November 2010

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

JOURNAL ARTICLE
5 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY