Laryngoscope with disposable blade and light guide

Claim 2

A disposable laryngoscope blade adapted at the proximal end thereof to be mounted on a handle having a light source and adapted to transmit light from the light source to the distal end of the blade, comprising a. a blade element having a first curved surface generally approximating the shape of the upper surface of the human tongue and extending sufficiently to reach the epiglottis when the blade is inserted into the oral cavity said blade element being formed of a relatively pliable plastic material sufficiently soft to avoid the danger of injurious contact with the teeth of a patient; b. connection means for removably connecting the proximal end of the blade to the handle; and c. light guide means for transmitting light from a point adjacent the proximal end of the blade to a point adjacent the distal end and for stiffening said blade element, said light guide means including a light conducting rod in contact with and encased by the blade element along the entire longitudinal external surface of the light conducting rod and being relatively more rigid than said blade element to stiffen said blade element.

Claim 3

The disposable laryngoscope blade of claim 1 wherein said blade element includes a first surface having a curved section terminating at the distal end of the blade, said curved section having a gradually increasing radius of curvature in the direction of the distal eNd and wherein one end of said light guide means emerges substantially midway between the ends of said curved section, said one end being flush with the surface of said curved section.

Claim 4

a second surface including a curved section terminating at the distal end of the blade, said curved section having a gradually increasing radius of curvature in the direction of the distal end; b. handle means for supporting said blade, said handle means including

Claim 5

a second surface including a curved section terminating at the distal end of the blade, said curved section having a gradually increasing radius of curvature in the direction of the distal end; b. handle means for supporting said blade, said handle means including

Claim 6

a cylindrical projection at one end of said handle body, and

Claim 7

a cylindrical projection at one end of said handle body, and

Claim 8

a light source mounted on the outer end of said cylindrical projection; c. connecting means for removably connecting said blade element to said handle means, said connecting means including a cavity contained within the proximal end of said blade element, said cavity having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blade element and having an open end on the concave side of said first curved surface, said cavity further having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said cylindrical projection of said handle means to permit said blade element to be fitted snugly over said cylindrical projection; and d. light guide means for transmitting light from said light source to the distal end of said blade and for stiffening said blade element, said light guide means including a straight rod surrounded by and in contact with said blade element along the entire longitudinal exterior surface of said rod, said rod emerging at one end into said cavity at a point adjacent said light source when said blade element is mounted on said handle means and emerging at the other end at a point substantially midway between the ends of said curved section of said blade element, said rod being relatively more rigid than said blade element to stiffen said blade element.

Claim 9

a light source mounted on the outer end of said cylindrical projection; c. connecting means for removably connecting said blade element to said handle means, said connecting means including a cavity contained within the proximal end of said blade element, said cavity having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blade element and having an open end on the concave side of said first curved surface, said cavity further having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of said cylindrical projection of said handle means to permit said blade element to be fitted snugly over said cylindrical projection; and d. light guide means for transmitting light from said light source to the distal end of said blade and for stiffening said blade element, said light guide means including a straight rod surrounded by and in contact with said blade element along the entire longitudinal exterior surface of said rod, said rod emerging at one end into said cavity at a point adjacent said light source when said blade element is mounted on said handle means and emerging at the other end at a point substantially midway between the ends of said curved section of said blade element, said rod being relatively more rigid than said blade element to stiffen said blade element.

Claim 10

The disposable laryngoscope blade according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a generally curved side wall and one closed end wall defining a cavity in the proximal end of the blade element, the longitudinal axis of said curved wall is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blade element, said curved wall defines an opening opposite the closed end, said opening is on the concave side of said first curved surface.

Claim 11

The laryngoscope blade according to claim 3 wherein said light guide means is straight and one end of said light guide means emerges through said curved wall of said cavity.

Claim 12

The laryngoscope blade according to claim 3 wherein said light guide means is curved and one end of said light guide means emerges through said closed end wall of said cavity.

Claim 13

A self-illuminating laryngoscope for examining the laryngeal area of a human, comprising a. a disposable blade element formed of pliable plastic including

Claim 14

A self-illuminating laryngoscope for examining the laryngeal area of a human, comprising a. a disposable blade element formed of pliable plastic including

Claim 15

The self-illuminating laryngoscope according to claim 6 wherein said cavity includes a reflective coating opposite said one end of said rod.

Claim 16

The self-illuminating laryngoscope according to claim 6 wherein said cylindrical projection includes a reflector extending axially from said outer end of said cylindrical projection, said reflector being positioned opposite said one end of said rod when said blade element is mounted on said handle means.

Claim 17

A self-illuminating laryngoscope according to claim 6 wherein said handle means includes a standard sized battery case and connector means for removably attaching said projection to said battery case.

Claim 18

A self-illuminating laryngoscope according to claim 9 wherein said handle means further includes a socket mounted at one end of said projection for receiving said light source; a contact mounted at the other end of said cylindrical projection; and an electrical circuit fOr establishing an electrical connection from said contact to said light source.