Handy-to-use Medical Equipment: Example Of Laryngoscope

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When managing airways it is very important to ensure the patient's safety. Equipment failure is practically inexcusable in emergency cases. Such intubation medical device as laryngoscope often has to cope with various challenges, among which is blood, distorted anatomy, dynamic deteriorating, secretions, vomit masses, etc.

Laryngoscope is a flexible tube, equipped with a special blade and a battery system, used to examine the larynx. It is inserted through the patient's mouth into the upper airway. Design of blade and lighting capacities affect the performance of laryngoscope, especially its delivery and illumination.

Functions
- Is used in intubation during general anesthesia or for mechanical ventilation of airways.
- Helps to define specific causes of voice-related problems: absence of voice, weak voice or hoarse voice.
- Discerns what causes swallowing problems.
- Detects exact causes of pain in ear and throat area.
- Detects obtrusive masses in the airway.
- Detects throat injuries.

Blade designs
Medical equipment design plays a crucial role in performing ...
... its primary functions successfully. There are multi-shaped laryngoscope blade designs, which enable different functions of this convenient medical device.

The first laryngoscopes used in medical practice had straight "Magill blade". They are still widely applied in veterinary. Such type of blade with time was substituted with two other models. These are – the straight blade (the most popular is the Miller blade) and the curved blade (the most popular is the Macintosh blade). All blades are currently available in various sizes:
- Large adult.
- Small adult.
- Infant.
- Neonate.
- Pediatric.

Other blades include Philips, Sykes, Wisconsin, Robertshaw, etc. Some of them are equipped with special accessories. For example, a mirror on laryngoscope is used for obtainment a broader view of the area. It is also possible to deliver oxygen to the airway through a special port in laryngoscope structure.

Since its invention in 1895 by Kirstein, laryngoscope had been the most popular medical equipment item used for tracheal intubation. This handy tool has been upgraded and modified and as a result now we have a medical device, which consists of interchangeable blades of various shape and a handle supplied with a light source.

Want some more information about medical equipment and facts in them? Enjoy reading and make up your own decisions about medical device.

For more info visit author new blog: Medical Equipment Used for Transporting Patients: Transport Stretchers.