Hi. I am prototyping a new laryngoscope design (for details see http://members.shaw.ca/friesenscope/
for a picture see http://members.shaw.ca/friesenscope/BladePic.htm
Craig Johnson suggested this site as the best place for me to find people who may be able to help me with some questions.
A laryngoscope is a device for visualizing the larynx of a patient for the purpose of inserting an endotracheal tube to provide an airway and control ventilation (eg with trauma, or during anesthesia). Available laryngoscope light souces use either an incandescent bulb or a fiber optic light guide. I believe that an LED light source would have a number of advantages, including cost, cool temperature (very important to avoid burns), and low power requirement. Even the bluish cast of white LED's seems to be an advantage in that it highlights the tonal differences in the predominantly pinkish tissues very well.
There is not much in the medical literature on the required brightness, but a generally accepted benchmark is 100 candelas per meter squared from a neutral gray card about 4 to 5 centimeters from the light source. In my experiments so far, I have found that two 5mm super white LED's (eg 500TW4D from LC LED) do very well. I have run these in parallel using 6 volts from a battery, and appropriate resisters (in parallel).
For compatibilty with available handle, I would like to be able to use a handle designed for two C batteries. My specific questions are:
1: I know that half C 1.2 volt batteries are available, but are half C 1.5 volt batteries available? This would allow 6 volts with minor modifications to the handle. Is there any other battery type available that would do the trick?
2: Can anyone suggest small DC to DC inverters that could allow the use of a 3 volt battery for this purpose. Basically, what is needed would have to be small enough to design into the handle itself. Also, how much would interference would available inverters produce in other electronic equipment (monitors, pacemakers, etc)?
3: Having seen the level of discussion on this forum, I am humbled. I would greatly appreciate ANY suggestions, including better LED's or other ideas for a power source. (The two 5mm LED's represent pretty much a maximum allowable size for the light source, so a single brighter smaller LED would be ideal).
Thank you
for a picture see http://members.shaw.ca/friesenscope/BladePic.htm
Craig Johnson suggested this site as the best place for me to find people who may be able to help me with some questions.
A laryngoscope is a device for visualizing the larynx of a patient for the purpose of inserting an endotracheal tube to provide an airway and control ventilation (eg with trauma, or during anesthesia). Available laryngoscope light souces use either an incandescent bulb or a fiber optic light guide. I believe that an LED light source would have a number of advantages, including cost, cool temperature (very important to avoid burns), and low power requirement. Even the bluish cast of white LED's seems to be an advantage in that it highlights the tonal differences in the predominantly pinkish tissues very well.
There is not much in the medical literature on the required brightness, but a generally accepted benchmark is 100 candelas per meter squared from a neutral gray card about 4 to 5 centimeters from the light source. In my experiments so far, I have found that two 5mm super white LED's (eg 500TW4D from LC LED) do very well. I have run these in parallel using 6 volts from a battery, and appropriate resisters (in parallel).
For compatibilty with available handle, I would like to be able to use a handle designed for two C batteries. My specific questions are:
1: I know that half C 1.2 volt batteries are available, but are half C 1.5 volt batteries available? This would allow 6 volts with minor modifications to the handle. Is there any other battery type available that would do the trick?
2: Can anyone suggest small DC to DC inverters that could allow the use of a 3 volt battery for this purpose. Basically, what is needed would have to be small enough to design into the handle itself. Also, how much would interference would available inverters produce in other electronic equipment (monitors, pacemakers, etc)?
3: Having seen the level of discussion on this forum, I am humbled. I would greatly appreciate ANY suggestions, including better LED's or other ideas for a power source. (The two 5mm LED's represent pretty much a maximum allowable size for the light source, so a single brighter smaller LED would be ideal).
Thank you
![Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes, Clinically Proven, Fragrance Free, Unscented, Water Based, Hypoallergenic, Multi-Use, Hand Wipes 336 Wipes Total (6X Flip-Top Packs) [Packaging May Vary]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41KLBHu9CAL._SL500_.jpg)
