Abstract: An introducer for a surgical airway catheter has a proximal handle; a curved, rod-shaped main section; an opening-enlarging region; and a rod-shaped distal tip, sized to receive the catheter tube. After making an initial opening in a patient's trachea, the operator inserts the distal tip into the initial opening up to the cutting region. The operator uses the opening-enlarging region to sufficiently widen the opening by moving the introducer from side to side or simply by inserting the introducer into the opening to enable the widened opening to receive the tube and cuff of the catheter. The operator rotates the introducer and catheter into the trachea through the widened opening and then removes the introducer leaving the catheter in place. The introducer and catheter can be pre-configured in a surgical kit having a retractable scalpel configurable onto the introducer's handle and used to excise the initial tracheal opening.

Abstract: A miniature video camera (18) mounted on a pair of goggles (12) that substantially captures the monocular perspective of the operator's right eye during the medical procedure of direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The camera is connected to a pentaprism (14) that the operator aligns with the area of interest by slight changes in head position and reference to alignment bands (46) alongside the prism body. The image is reflected through the pentaprism to the camera and then displayed on a nearby video monitor (38). Auxiliary light sources or specialized equipment are not required. Persons other than the laryngoscopist can see the procedure as it is being performed. The pentaprism, camera, and camera mount do not significantly interfere with the operator's vision or performance of direct laryngoscopy or other procedures.