KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc.
In 1945, in the small town of Tuttlingen, Germany, Dr. Karl Storz founded a company that has grown into a global corporation and international leader in the field of endoscopy. Today, the KARL STORZ organization, although still a family-held company, has offices and distribution agents in more than 25 countries worldwide. Now celebrating more than 65 years in business, a significant milestone for a family-owned enterprise, the KARL STORZ company has what is probably the industry’s most complete line of endoscopic equipment, with more than 8,000 different products encompassing more than 15 specialty areas, allowing true standardization with one company.
The KARL STORZ organization today continues a family legacy of dedication to developing innovative products that support the judgment of surgeons and physicians, and extend and strengthen their skills through exceptional device design and functionality. This quest to set new standards of quality is balanced by a commitment to supporting humanitarian and social initiatives.
KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America offers an array of products to simplify tracheal intubation and other airway management applications—including emergency and unexpectedly difficult intubations. Fiber-optic video intubation scopes, optical intubation stylets and video laryngoscopes create a comprehensive video intubation system. Fiberscopes specially designed for intubations have sandblasted shafts for easy insertion of endotracheal tubes, with no need for lubricants. Other products include ergonomically optimized airway carts and standard laryngoscope blades with brilliant LED light sources.
At A GlanceAddress2151 E. Grand Ave. ProductsIntubation fiberscopes, video laryngoscopes (CMOS and fiberoptic), standard laryngoscopes (LED and xenon light), optical intubation stylets, complete airway management cart solutions, OR integration and telemedicine. EmployeesMore than 3,500 worldwide Parent CompanyKARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG President and CEOCharlie Wilhelm |
A critical facet of the company’s latest airway management products is its focus on offering systems-based solutions, rather than standalone devices. The result is product offerings that combine exceptional portability, affordability and flexibility.
A History of Milestones
The KARL STORZ company’s history of innovation includes the extracorporeal electronic flash (1956), cold light source (1960), Hopkins® rod lens system (1965), ultrasound lithotriptor (1970), direct-coupled interface endoscopes (1999) and OR1® Integrated Surgical Suites (2000). In 2001, the company launched the first all-digital imaging system, Image 1®, and its 1080p60 Image 1® high-definition video platform was released just six years later. And, KARL STORZ introduced its first video laryngoscope to the market in 2002.
Recent Notable Advancements
KARL STORZ video laryngoscope blades have been shown to be beneficial in performing tracheal intubation in difficult airways.1 The portable C-MAC® Video Intubation System has been designed for both expected and unexpected difficult airway situations, as well as standard intubations. Standard Macintosh blades are used to promote ease of use, with a reduced learning curve. The standard shaped blade also facilitates training, while its video output feature allows simultaneous viewing that enhances difficult airway management and teaching. Results of a recent study that compared the C-MAC® video laryngoscope with direct laryngoscopy suggest that combining the benefits of direct laryngoscopy with video laryngoscopy in one device may serve for both routine airway management and educational purposes.2
The C-MAC® system has benefited from the addition of Miller blades in sizes 0 and 1 for pediatric and neonatal intubations. And, a specialized blade, the dBlade™, which has a very acute angle, facilitates intubation of patients with very anterior airways. In the first clinical evaluation of the C-MAC® dBlade™, it was found that the highly angulated blade afforded a good view of the glottis, resulting in successful intubation of patients with difficult airways.3 KARL STORZ is the only company now offering eight different reusable and highly durable video laryngoscope blades.
KARL STORZ Brite Blade™ laryngoscopes, with patented LED technology, continue to provide the brightest illumination of the airway among “green standard” intubating laryngoscopes. A “stubby handle” Brite Blade also is available, with a shorter handle that facilitates techniques used for pediatric and neonatal intubations. The stubby handle also allows easier positioning of the laryngoscope in obese patients whose greater chest wall mass can impede proper placement of standard laryngoscopes.
Expanding on the successful C-MAC® video laryngoscope, the new C-CAM™ and C-HUB™ platform represents an innovative system-based approach to airway management, allowing imaging challenges in every discipline to be overcome in both stationary and mobile settings, and offering an economic solution for doctors’ offices, intensive care and emergency medicine.
The new C-CAM™ camera head used on the portable C-MAC® video screen incorporates the latest CMOS technology to provide a superior solution for applications with flexible intubation fiberscopes and optical stylets. The ultra-small, ultra-light device is easy to hold and control, and provides plug-and-play ease of use. With it, the C-MAC® becomes a system for airway management combining video laryngoscopy with flexible fiberscopes and optical stylets.
The C-HUB™ platform allows direct connection with C-CAM™, flexible CMOS intubation scopes and C-MAC® laryngoscope blades, or to any size of external display, as well as directly to any computer interface. The C-HUB can also be used in integrated operating rooms to route the signal to any mounted monitor without interfering the surgical video equipment.
References
- Jungbauer A, Schumann M, Brunkhorst V, Börgers A, Groeben H. Expected difficult tracheal intubation: a prospective comparison of direct laryngoscopy and video laryngoscopy in 200 patients. Br J Anaesth 2009;102:546-550.
- Cavus E, Neumann T, Doerges V, et al. First clinical evaluation of the C-MAC dBlade videolaryngoscope during routine and difficult intubation. Anaesth Analg 2011;112:382-5.
- Cavus E, Carsten T, Moeller T, Kieckhaefer, Doerges V, Wagner K. A randomized, controlled crossover comparison of the C-MAC videolaryngoscope with direct laryngoscopy in 150 patients during routine induction of anaesthesia. BMS Anesth 2011;11:6.
This corporate profile was reviewed and approved by KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc.