The $95 Laryngoscope

Every year, paramedics across the country attempt thousands of emergency intubations. Many of them do it blind — with a traditional direct laryngoscope and no camera. Not because video laryngoscopy isn’t better (it is, dramatically), but because the devices cost $2,000+ and most EMS agencies simply can’t afford them.

The Problem

Video laryngoscopy has been standard of care in hospitals for over a decade. The evidence is clear: better first-pass success rates, fewer esophageal intubations, better outcomes. But the prehospital world — where the conditions are worse and the stakes are just as high — has been largely left behind.

The reason is economics, not technology. A fire department running three ambulances would need to spend $6,000+ just on laryngoscopes, then deal with cleaning protocols, battery management, repair cycles, and eventual replacement. For departments already stretched thin, it’s a non-starter.

Our Approach

IntuBlade is a single-use, USB-C video laryngoscope that costs $95 per unit. Plug it into any phone or tablet, get a clear view of the airway, intubate, dispose. No cleaning, no batteries, no repair costs.

At $95, the math changes completely. A department that couldn’t justify a single $2,000 device can now stock every ambulance with video capability. We’ve deployed to 300+ agencies across 25+ states, and the feedback from the field has been overwhelming.

What’s Next

We’re working through the FDA pathway, expanding our manufacturing capacity, and building a charitable donation program to get devices into underserved communities and developing countries where airway management training and equipment are scarce.

The technology to save more lives already exists. The barrier was always cost. We’re removing it.