When to Consider Single-Use Laryngoscopes

January 8, 2020 | Evaluations & Guidance

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In recent years, as concern surrounding effective medical device reprocessing has grown, single-use laryngoscopes have become increasingly common. Both video and direct (i.e., traditional) laryngoscopes come in single-use, reusable, and hybrid configurations. Hybrid devices have both reusable and single-use components. For direct laryngoscopes, a hybrid device would typically have a reusable handle that includes the lamp, and a single-use blade that attaches to the handle. For video laryngoscopes, a hybrid device would typically have a reusable handle with a wand or stem that includes the optics, and a transparent single-use blade that slides over the wand or stem.

Single-use and hybrid laryngoscopes are designed to reduce the risk of cross-contamination associated with reusable laryngoscopes, and have an additional benefit of reducing the reprocessing burden on a facility. In addition, some single-use laryngoscopes have a low capital acquisition cost, making them a good option for low-volume facilities.

As a result of these benefits, many facilities are beginning to use some combination of conventional reusable laryngoscopes and single-use devices. Due to the low up-front cost, it's reasonable for many facilities to purchase single-use laryngoscopes as needed to supplement their reusable systems. If your facility is interested in these devices, you may have questions...

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