Surgery – Specula – Laryngoscope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-08-21
Smith, Jeffrey A. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Specula
Laryngoscope
C600S185000, C362S158000, C362S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277068
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to medical diagnostic devices and more particularly to a laryngoscope or similar device having internal electrical contacts which are effectively sealed from dirt, debris, fluid and the like without requiring a seal for the entire instrument.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Laryngoscopes are commonly used medical diagnostic instruments used to observe the throat area of a patient generally including a handle and a laryngeal blade which is removably attachable to the handle. The handle typically retains a power supply, such as a set of dry cell batteries, which energize a miniature lamp retained in an upper end of the handle. Light from the miniature lamp is directed to the end of the attached laryngeal blade in order to provide illumination and allow examination of the larynx. The laryngeal blade is constructed so as to push on the tongue during examination.
Instruments having light sources mounted in the upper end of the handle do not energize the light source until the laryngeal blade is attached. Typically, connection of the blade to the instrument handle draws the electrical contacts of the lamp assembly to the corresponding contacts of the power source.
In prior art devices, as described, it is possible for debris and body fluids to enter the blade and ultimately the hollow handle and the lamp assembly, thereby fouling the electrical contacts to the point in which premature replacement is required.
Certain prior art devices, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,669,449 and 4,694,822, each issued to Bauman, describe laryngoscopes having handles which are completely submersible. These devices have elaborate sealing means which include a tubular elastomeric body which is fitted in an upper portion of the handle, the body having additional provision for a pair of electrical terminals extending through the elastomeric body. Though these devices are quite useful, it is not always necessary to make the entire instrument handle fluid tight. On the other hand, it is highly desirous for the reasons stated above to protect the internal electrical contacts interconnecting the lamp assembly and the power source. Moreover, it is equally desirous to be able to maintain an effective seal regardless of whether or not the blade is actually attached to the handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the above noted problems found in the prior art.
It is another primary object of the invention to provide an improved laryngoscope having internal electrical contacts that are effectively sealed from debris and/or fluids.
Therefore and according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laryngoscope comprising:
an instrument handle including a contained power supply;
a laryngeal blade releasably attachable to an upper end of said handle;
a lamp assembly including a miniature lamp biasedly attached to the upper end of said instrument handle such that attachment of said blade causes an electrical connection between said lamp assembly and said power supply to cause energization of said miniature lamp; and
a lamp cartridge including a housing for retaining said lamp assembly with respect to said instrument handle and sealing means for sealing electrical contacts of said lamp assembly and said power supply from fluid and debris.
Preferably, the lamp carrier member is attached to the cartridge housing to allow axial movement between respective nonengaged and engaged positions relative to the electrical contacts contained within the cartridge housing. The lamp carrier member is biased in the non-engaged position until the laryngeal blade has been positively attached to the instrument handle. Blade attachment then causes the lamp carrier member to be shifted axially to the engaged position in which the electrical contacts of the lamp assembly and the power supply are brought into contact with one another.
The lamp carrier member retains the sealing member, preferably a rubberized quad ring, diaphragm, or O-ring, which engages the interior wall of the cartridge housing and provides a seal regardless of the axial position of the lamp carrier member.
According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a lamp cartridge assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior;
a lamp assembly retained by said housing having an electrical contact contained within said housing interior; and
sealing means for sealing the interior of the cartridge housing, including said electrical contact, from fluid and debris.
An advantage of the present invention is that an adequate fluid and dust tight seal is provided for the electrical contacts of the laryngoscope without requiring the entire handle to be sealed providing a cost effective and lightweight design.
Another advantage is that the seal is effective and reliable regardless of the axial position of the supported lamp carrier member. Furthermore, the components are each easily accessible for replacement as needed.
Another advantage of the present invention is that only external cleaning of the laryngoscope handle is required. That is, provision of a sealed cartridge assembly ensures that there is no need to concern oneself about the cleanliness of internalized areas.
Yet another advantage is that the described cartridge assembly can be cleaned as needed without the concerns of cleaning fluids entering the assembly and oxidizing or otherwise damaging the internal contacts so as to prevent proper function of the lamp assembly.
Yet another advantage is that provision of a seal as described prevents debris, body fluids, and/or cleaning fluids from penetrating the cartridge assembly and creating a potential area of bacterial growth. Consequently, there is no future risk of trapped fluid leakage from the cartridge, which previously could cause illness, contamination and undue stress of a patient.
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patent: 5542905 (1996-08-01), Nussenbaum
patent: 6013026 (2000-01-01), Krauter et al.
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Grant Thomas James
Rink Stephen Edward
Wojnowicz Catherine Marie
Smith Jeffrey A.
Wall Marjama & Bilinski
Welch Allyn Inc.
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