Q. What is different about the GRANDVIEW Blade surface compared to current blades?

A. The GRANDVIEW Blade is 80% wider than a standard Macintosh blade. This helps keep the tongue out of the way during emergency intubation procedures. The increased surface area allows for a wider field of vision, enabling direct visualization of the vocal cords. This improved view allows for more efficient intubations with less manipulation of the laryngoscope blade and less maneuvering of the endotracheal tube. You no longer have to reposition the blade to get a good view. Less manipulation means less trauma, and less potential damage to the anatomical structures of the patient's airway.

Q. Who invented this product?

A. A practicing Emergency Department physician who works with field EMS personnel on a daily basis felt that the current laryngoscope blades (primarily the Mac and the Miller blades) could be improved, especially for emergency medical applications. He wanted a design that was easier to use in "less than ideal" conditions. He wanted to keep it simple and make it effective. Hartwell Medical worked with practicing paramedics and physicians at numerous Beta test sites to transform this concept into the GRANDVIEW Laryngoscope Blade.

Q. Why is the curve different than a Macintosh blade?

A. The curve is designed to be more anatomically appropriate to the angles of the oral cavity and allow the blade to be used like a Mac OR a Miller blade. With the GRANDVIEW Blade, you can eliminate the necessity of making the choice between a Mac or Miller blade.

Q. Why is the light brighter on the GRANDVIEW Blade?

A. The GRANDVIEW lamp is a patented reflecting lamp that is twice as efficient as a xenon lamp. The light is brighter than a standard lamp, and brighter than most fiberoptic devices. This unique lamp provides a very clean, white light that provides excellent illumination.

Q. What is the blade made of?

A. The GRANDVIEW Blade is crafted of surgical stainless steel, similar to many of the finer laryngoscope blades on the market today. The high quality surgical stainless steel provides strength and years of long-term durability.

Q. Why does the GRANDVIEW Blade have a matte finish instead of a glossy finish?

A. The matte finish reduces the glare from the blade, making it easier to see the cords clearly without unwanted reflections.

Q. What about different sizes?

A. The GRANDVIEW Blade was designed to fit approximately 90% of the adult population. Our field research concluded that most prehospital care providers use one specific blade for the majority of their intubation attempts. The GRANDVIEW blade's almost universal length should accommodate the majority of your adult patients. For your smaller patients, women and children in particular, we offer a small size GRANDVIEW blade. We do not manufacture an infant blade at this time. With the adult and child size GRANDVIEW blades, you will be able to intubate the majority of all your patients.

Q. What about the need for 0-4 size blades for certification?

A. No problem. Keep everything you need for your certification. Our field trials revealed that customers liked the blade so much that they kept the GRANDVIEW Blade on their laryngoscope handle all the time. This way the laryngoscope device was always ready to use immediately. For the majority of patients this works very well. When a pediatric patient or a small adult needed a smaller blade, the EMS provider simply changed to the Pediatric GRANDVIEW blade.

Q. Will the GRANDVIEW Blade fit on a standard laryngoscope handle?

A. Yes, the GRANDVIEW Blade is designed to fit all standard laryngoscope handles with no special connections required. There is no need to have special handles that fit only certain special blades.

Q. How do you clean the GRANDVIEW Blade?

A. Because the GRANDVIEW Blade is made of stainless steel, it can be cleaned and disinfected without damaging the blade. You should follow your local Medical Director's protocols, and current CDC Guidelines, for cleaning and disinfecting laryngoscope blades.

Q. How long will the bulb last and what is the cost of a replacement lamp?

A. The lamp will operate for approximately 15-20 hours of continuous use. Actual longevity of the light source depends on many factors including number of routine tests, storage of the product, temperature variations, and overall handling of the product. The lamp should last at least the equivalent of your current halogen bulbs. The standard large lamp socket means a regular lamp will fit if no spare GRANDVIEW bulbs are available for the GRANDVIEW Blade.