DIY videolaryngoscope for approx. 15€

thingiverse

Human: DIY Videolaryngoscope for Approximately 15€ I was fascinated by the idea of www.airangelblade.org. By combining a cheap USB endoscope camera (under 10€ from China) with a 3D printed part, you can create a fully functional video laryngoscope for training and tutoring purposes or even life-saving respiratory protection in areas where commercial videolaryngoscopes are unaffordable. I contacted Bryan Archpru at the address listed on the website, and he immediately sent me the STL file of the laryngoscope. However, I encountered difficulties with printing the part. The finished print costs about 70€ at Shapeways, which puts the low-cost idea into perspective. The print model is suitable for DIY-3D printing to a limited extent due to its design. It can only be printed with large overhangs, making it difficult to lay flat on the printing surface without huge support structures that increase printing time and material requirements. Hyperangulated Laryngoscope? Bryan Archpru and Steven Bazan, the creators of Airangel, have opted for a hyperangulated video laryngoscope. I prefer a videolaryngoscope with Macintosh-like blades as recommended in the S1 guidelines for prehospital airway management by the German Society of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine. Own Design I created a draft of a low-cost DIY video laryngoscope in Autodesk Fusion 360 (free for hobbyists). The blade shape is a Macintosh blade slightly larger than size 3, and the handle length is oriented to conventional laryngoscope handles. This design allows printing the video laryngoscope lying on its left side without any support structure on most household 3D printers. Disclaimer: A DIY-Videolaryngoscope is not a medical product! It has not been tested according to any specifications (BfArM/MPG, FDA, etc.) and must therefore not be used on humans. The application is limited to training and education (as well as perhaps a life-saving application in underdeveloped regions or crisis areas). Use on the patient could result in injury and life-threatening complications. 3D Printing The prototypes were printed on an Ultimaker 2 plus with layer height of 0.2 mm, nozzle size of 0.4 mm, and infill of 100%. PA (nylon) is recommended as the material since the printed part becomes dishwasher-safe and high-strength. Even PLA delivers excellent results, except for temperature sensitivity. Addendum I have also published a slightly modified draft with some improvements. The camera bore was reduced by 0.1 mm to prevent the endoscope camera from rotating unintentionally. Additionally, the handle was shortened by 2 cm to make the laryngoscope more compact and save material and printing time.