Surgery – Specula – Laryngoscope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-05
2001-04-17
Cohen, Lee (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Specula
Laryngoscope
C600S190000, C600S197000, C600S191000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217514
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally pertains to laryngoscopes and is particularly directed to improvements thereto that ease the use thereof.
A laryngoscope is a device having a blade that is inserted into a person's mouth for the purpose of holding open the person's mouth while displacing the person's tongue in order to facilitate insertion of an endotracheal tube into the person's trachea. Typically, the blade includes a distal portion for insertion through the person's mouth and into the person's oropharynx; and an elongated portion extending from the distal portion; wherein the elongated portion is substantially wider than the distal portion and includes an inner side that is disposed for contacting and displacing the person's tongue when the distal portion is inserted into the person's oropharynx. Some blades are curved longitudinally to define a dorsal side and a curved inner side that includes the inner side of the elongated portion that contacts the tongue. A laryngoscope also includes a handle extending from the blade.
Prior art laryngoscopes are of complex construction. A light source is provided within some laryngoscopes for illuminating the oropharynx to enhance accurate insertion of both the laryngoscope blade and the endotracheal tube. Some laryngoscope blades are made of transparent plastic material for transmitting light from the light source toward the oropharynx. Other laryngoscopes include optical fibers within the blade for transmitting light from the light source toward the oropharynx. In other laryngoscopes, a light source for illuminating the oropharynx is contained within a superstructure on the opposite side of the blade from the side that contacts the tongue.
Prior art laryngoscopes are difficult to use because the tongue is slippery and tends to slide to one side or the other while the laryngoscope is being inserted and thereby partially obstructs the view of the oropharynx and access to the trachea, and because the typical handle is so contoured and disposed in relation to the blade that some persons have trouble gripping the laryngoscope in such a manner as to apply appropriate leverage for holding open the mouth while displacing the tongue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention provides a laryngoscope blade for displacing a person's tongue in order to facilitate insertion of an endotracheal tube into the person's trachea, comprising a distal portion for insertion through the person's mouth and into the person's oropharynx; and an elongated portion extending from the distal portion; wherein the elongated portion is substantially wider than the distal portion and includes an inner side that is disposed for contacting and displacing the person's tongue when the distal portion is inserted into the person's oropharynx; and wherein the inner side of the elongated portion is laterally contoured for restraining the person's tongue in a relatively centered position while the tongue is being displaced. In the preferred embodiment, the inner side of the elongated portion has a concave lateral contour for effecting said restraint of the person's tongue while the tongue is being displaced.
In another aspect, the present invention provides laryngoscope for holding open a person's mouth while displacing the person's tongue in order to facilitate insertion of an endotracheal tube into the person's trachea, comprising a blade for contacting and displacing the person's tongue when a distal portion of the blade is inserted into the person's oropharynx; and a unitary handle including a handle portion extending directly from the blade that is curved longitudinally so that the handle can be gripped at different angles with respect to the blade; wherein a dorsal side of the handle is defined by the curvature of the curved portion of the handle; wherein the blade includes a portion that is curved longitudinally to define a dorsal side of the blade; and wherein the dorsal side of the blade merges with the dorsal side of the handle in a region of continuous longitudinal curvature. Accordingly, one is able to grip the laryngoscope in an individualistic manner in order to better apply appropriate leverage for holding open the mouth while displacing the tongue.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a laryngoscope for holding open a person's mouth while displacing the person's tongue in order to facilitate insertion of an endotracheal tube into the person's trachea, comprising a blade for contacting and displacing the person's tongue when a distal portion of the blade is inserted into the person's oropharynx; and a unitary handle including a handle portion extending directly from the blade that is curved longitudinally so that the handle can be gripped at different angles with respect to the blade; wherein a distal portion of the handle includes a protruding rim for inhibiting slippage of one's hand from the handle.
Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
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Brown Paul Philip
Gruen Arthur Lawrence
Handley, Jr. Erwin Caldwell
Sorensen Jens Ole
Callan Edward W.
Cohen Lee
Gruhan Technologies, Inc.
Ram Jocelyn
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