My Epiglottis and the Search for the Sub $50 Video laryngoscope
This is my epiglottis.There are many like it but this one is mine..
What You are about to see is not endorsed by my employer. I performed the testing and recording on myself, in my own time and definitely not at work or during work time! I did not use any drugs or anaesthesia at all. 
This shows my test components. A mini USB waterproof flexible endoscope 10mm bought for $20 at local electronics shop (on left of image). Disposable Trulite Miller 2 straight bladed laryngoscope ( on right of image) bought for $16 online . Personal Windows laptop. Total consumables cost =$36 AU. THE CHALLENGE = assemble components to make workable video laryngoscope device and record visualisation of my epiglottis WITHOUT USE OF ANY DRUGS OR ANAESTHESIA IN AN AWAKE SPONTANEOUSLY BREATHING SUBJECT (MYSELF!) THE ASSEMBLY 
Taped waterproof endoscope to distal end of barrel of Miller Blade 
Assemble time to readiness to test = 2 minutes TEST VIDEO Notice how I used external laryngeal manipulation to improve view of the epiglottis. As Levitan says, intubation begins with epiglottoscopy, finding the epiglottis! I found mine today! And I proved to myself that
- Miller blade and sitting position is much more tolerable for awake epiglottoscopy than supine and Macintosh blade.
- As the great pioneers of laryngoscopy taught, external laryngeal pressure is vital in epiglottoscopy
- You do not necessarily need local anaesthesia or any drugs to perform awake epiglottoscopy with this assembled device
- You can make a sub $50 video laryngoscope that effectively images the airway
THE TEST DEVICE WAS SAFELY DISPOSED OF AFTER USE. Such experimental devices should be single use per person. This assembled system is for testing purposes and research only as a proof of concept. IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED SUCH A DEMONSTRATED SYSTEM OR ASSEMBLED DEVICE IS NOT USED IN ANY CLINICAL SITUATION AT ALL. DISCLAIMER : Any attempts to copy this technique or procedure is conducted at the own risk of the person so doing
andrewjtagg
emcrit
ketaminh
ntrueger
Yen Chow
Well done! Straight blades are for experienced laryngoscopists, due to the limited space (which can be handled by a bougie).
Examine the last bit of epiglottis footage guys–it looks like you have a cyst on the ventral aspect of the epiglottis on the right. It is dark brown compared to the surrounding tissue. if it is, don’t panic (it’s not the first one I’ve seen in clinical practice). They are benign.
Thanks boss. That was the chocolate I ate for lunch .
I’ve got your back man! Did the chocolate have local anesthetic in it?
This is very cool! Do you think that it would be possible to view the vocal folds with this? Or is there maybe a different blade that would work for that?
Yeah we demonstrated this on a later PHARM episode with Seth Trueger