easier to use, because they don't require the hand-eye coordination to
place the endotracheal tube that's needed with direct laryngoscopy.
But Dr. Cooper points out that channeled devices are typically bulkier
and that you can only maneuver the endotracheal tube by moving the
laryngoscope. Some providers might balk at losing independent
manipulation, says Dr. Cooper.
Video signals have been upgraded from analog to digital, which has
improved image quality and made recording, exporting and storing
video easier, according to Dr. Cooper.
"The blades have also become less bulky, which is hugely impor-
tant," he adds. The height of the blade on the first video laryngoscope
Dr. Cooper worked with many years ago was 18 mm. The blade on his
current video laryngoscope is 11 mm. It's a reduction in height limited
only by the size of the CMOS camera chip in the tip. "The difference
between 18 mm and 11 mm is huge," says Dr. Cooper. "The blade can
be used on patients with more limited mouth openings or larger
chests. It increases the number of potential patients in whom the
device would prove useful."
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