LED Lamp Hub for Laryngoscope

Abstract

A handle-mounted lamp hub for a laryngoscope, the lamp hub (10) comprising a depressible switch (16), a light source (14), and electrical contacts (18), wherein the switch (16) moves the electrical contacts (18) into contact with a power source, causing current to flow to power the light source (14), and wherein when the switch is depressed, the switch exposes the illuminated light source (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a laryngoscope, and more particularly, to a lamp hub for a laryngoscope. Background Art

[0002] A laryngoscope is used to illuminate the larynx or vocal cords for visual examination. One type of laryngoscope can be inserted into a patient's mouth to depress the patient's tongue for a clear view of the patient's pharynx.

[0003] Due to the increase in the elderly population and the expanded insurance coverage prompted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the United States, the demand for disposable medical supplies has increased. Healthcare organizations have turned to disposable supplies in response to increased pressure from federal, accrediting organizations, and other regulatory agencies to prevent patient and staff harm.

[0004] The primary reason for manufacturing disposable devices is infection control. When an item is used only once by a caregiver, it does not transmit infectious agents to subsequent patients.

[0005] While an obvious factor in the design of single-use products may be cost, given the nature of medical devices, disposable medical devices need to achieve a careful balance among performance, cost, reliability, materials, and shelf life.

[0006] Currently, disposable device components mainly rely on injection-molded parts and / or assembly by bonding, gluing, ultrasonic welding, or radio-frequency welding. The high production volume of single-use devices requires automated assembly in a clean room to minimize personnel contact. Unlike reusable devices that are typically sterilized in a healthcare facility, disposable devices are sterilized before leaving the production site and are thus provided in a ready-to-use state.

[0007] The handle of a laryngoscope supports the operating components of the laryngoscope, such as a battery assembly that includes a blade contact assembly, and the battery assembly includes a battery, a battery spring, and a contact spring such that power for a light source on a blade of the laryngoscope can be made to emit light when the laryngoscope is in use. Summary of the Invention

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a handle-mounted lamp hub for a laryngoscope. The lamp hub has a depressible switch; a light source; and electrical contacts. The switch moves the electrical contacts into contact with a power source, causing current to flow to power the light source, wherein when the switch is depressed, the switch exposes the illuminated light source.

[0009] The switch includes a circular ring that surrounds the light source located at the center of the ring. In one or more embodiments, the switch projects upward from the surface wall of the handle and extends above the surface wall of the handle. In one or more embodiments, the switch is a spring-biased switch for moving the switch to a closed position when pressure from the blade is removed.

[0010] The switch projects upward from the stationary housing of the light hub, where the switch is pressable into the housing, and the housing also supports a spring below the depressible switch.

[0011] The switch is configured to engage a blade mounted on the handle such that the switch engages the blade when the blade depresses the switch.

[0012] The light source is an LED lamp.

[0013] The light hub is made of a rigid plastic material.

[0014] The power source is housed within the laryngoscope handle.

[0015] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a light hub for a laryngoscope, the light hub having a housing that supports a depressible switch and a light source, both the depressible switch and the light source extending upward from the handle of the laryngoscope, wherein the switch is depressible to activate the light source and expose the light source for illumination when a blade is mounted on the laryngoscope.

[0016] The depressible switch includes a contact surface for the blade, the contact surface surrounding the light source located within a central opening of the switch such that the switch can be activated by depressing the switch at any point on the contact surface.

[0017] The contact surface is a peripheral ring extending upward a first distance from the handle, and the light source includes a bulb extending upward a second distance from the handle, wherein when the contact surface is depressed, the first distance decreases and the second distance remains unchanged such that depressing the switch lights and exposes the light source on the handle in an on position.

[0018] When the switch is in the off position, the first distance and the second distance are substantially the same.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the light hub is provided on a disposable laryngoscope handle.

[0020] The housing also includes a spring that is compressible between the depressible switch and the bottom surface of the housing such that the switch is a spring-biased switch.

[0021] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of activating a light for a laryngoscope by providing a laryngoscope having a handle-mounted light hub that includes a depressible switch, an LED light source, and electrical contacts. Activating the light source includes mounting a blade on the laryngoscope and depressing the switch with the base of the blade to move the electrical contacts into connection with a power source held within the laryngoscope handle, thereby exposing and lighting the light source.

[0022] Depressing the switch includes compressing a spring between the switch and the light hub housing, biasing the pressure on the switch.

[0023] The laryngoscope is disposed of after a single use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 Is a side view of a lamp hub for a laryngoscope.

[0025] Figure 2 Is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the lamp hub taken along A-A as shown in

[0026] Figure 3 Is a side view of a laryngoscope handle with a lamp hub.

[0027] Figure 4 Is a side view of a laryngoscope handle with a lamp hub and the light source activated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] A lamp hub for a laryngoscope is described herein. The lamp hub can be disposed on the handle of the laryngoscope, where the lamp hub supports an optical device and a depressible switch for activating a light source. The lamp hub is disposed in the upper portion of the handle such that when the laryngoscope blade is connected to the handle, by depressing a portion of the lamp hub, the lamp is activated using the blade for illuminating the lamp, and the light source is turned off when released. Depressing the lamp hub is also used to further expose the light source for increasing the illumination around the area of the installed blade and for providing illumination during the use of the laryngoscope.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments herein, the lamp hub is located within the neck portion of the handle, with a switch facing outward such that the connection of the base of the blade to the handle places the lamp hub and its switch in a position activated by the base of the blade. The lamp hub includes a circular switch surrounding the light source.

[0030] The lamp hub can be an LED lamp hub that provides a fiber optic light source for the laryngoscope. Activation of the light source occurs when a force is applied to the lamp hub, more specifically, when a force is applied to the switch portion of the lamp hub. This force can be applied through the contact surface of the laryngoscope blade connected to the handle that supports the lamp hub.

[0031] The switch has a contact surface extending upward from the handle, and the lamp hub is mounted on the contact surface. The light source similarly extends upward from the handle. When installed and in the "off" state, the contact surface and the light source extend upward from the handle by substantially the same distance. In one or more embodiments, for different models of lamp hubs, the contact surface can extend above or below the light source. When the switch is depressed by the installed blade, the contact surface is depressed and / or lowered, so that the switch is lowered into the body of the handle, and the light source remains stationary, such that depressing the switch further exposes the light source for unobstructed illumination and activation of the light source.

[0032] When the switch is lowered, an electrical contact surface, which is the surface of the switch opposite the contact surface with the blade, is moved into electrical contact with a power source, which can also be stored within the body of the handle. The light source can be a battery.

[0033] The lamp hub also supports a spring for biasing the switch. When the force used to depress the switch is removed, the spring returns the switch to its "off" position and breaks the electrical contact between the switch and the power supply.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, the lamp hub and the handle assembly are disposable and may be single-use devices. One or more lamp hub components may be constructed of rigid plastic.

[0035] More specifically, in the embodiments shown herein, Figure 1-2 The lamp hub 10 is shown. The lamp hub 10 includes a housing 12 for a light source 14. The light source 14 may be an LED light source. The housing 12 includes and / or supports a switch assembly 16 that includes a first contact surface 18 that extends upward from the housing 12 and surrounds the light source 14, and the light source 14 is also positioned to extend upward from the housing 12. The contact surface 18 and the light source are disposed on the upper portion of the lamp hub 10 and may be exposed on the upper portion of the lamp hub 10 such that when mounted on the laryngoscope handle 30, the lamp hub 10 and thus the switch assembly 16 are accessible from the neck 32 portion of the laryngoscope. When the laryngoscope blade is connected to the neck 32 of the handle 30, the surface on the blade base may physically and directly contact the contact surface 18 of the lamp hub 10.

[0036] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the switch assembly 16 may move vertically within the housing 12 in a reciprocating direction as shown by arrow 34. When a force is applied to the contact surface 18, typically a downward force, the switch assembly 16 moves downward to contact an opposing surface, namely the circuit surface 20 of the switch assembly 16, which has a power supply to illuminate the light source 14. This downward force is typically provided by the blade when the laryngoscope blade is mounted for use. In Figure 4 , the switch assembly is moved to activate and expose the light source, and the blade is not shown to illustrate the position of the switch assembly and the light source in the "on" position. However, in embodiments where the blade is operatively attached to or otherwise supported by the laryngoscope handle, the surface of the blade may directly depress the switch 16 such that the blade itself activates the light source 14. Typically, in this "on" position, the blade operatively connected to the laryngoscope handle is illuminated by the light source, and the light source is also positioned to illuminate the field of view around the blade to illuminate the airway into which the laryngoscope is inserted or may be inserted. When the downward force is removed, the switch assembly moves upward back to the relaxed position where the light source is off and the switch is in the "off" position.

[0037] The switch assembly 16 can be a spring 22 biased switch assembly, where when the pressure on the contact surface 18 is removed, the spring provides a force to return the switch assembly 16 to the "off" position. In an embodiment, the spring 22 is positioned to be compressed between the bottom surface on the housing 12 and the movable switch 16. As described above, when the switch 16 is vertically movable, the switch descends and presses the spring 22 against the bottom surface of the stationary housing 12. When the downward force on the switch 16 is removed, the spring relaxes and extends to push the switch 16 upward and break the electrical contact for lighting the light source 14. Alternatively, when the switch 16 is pressed down, the spring can be positioned to be compressed between the switch 16 and the inner surface of the handle 30.

[0038] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A handle-mounted light hub for a laryngoscope, the light hub comprising: A depressible switch; A light source; and Electrical contacts, wherein the switch moves the electrical contacts into contact with a power source, causing current to flow to power the light source, and wherein when depressed, the switch exposes the illuminated light source such that the light source is at least partially unobstructed by the switch on each side, the light source being fixedly mounted on the handle of the laryngoscope, and wherein the switch is positioned on the handle of the laryngoscope and at least partially surrounds the light source, and wherein the switch is configured to engage a blade mounted on the handle of the laryngoscope such that when the blade depresses the switch, the switch is actuated by the blade to illuminate and expose the fixed light source.

2. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a circular ring that surrounds the light source located at the center of the ring.

3. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 2, wherein the switch projects upward from the surface wall of the handle and extends above the surface wall of the handle.

4. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 2, wherein the switch projects upward from the stationary housing of the light hub, and wherein the switch is depressible into the housing, and wherein the housing also supports a spring beneath the depressible switch.

5. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 2, wherein the switch is a spring-biased switch for moving the switch to a closed position when the pressure from the blade is removed.

6. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED lamp.

7. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 1, wherein the light hub is made of a rigid plastic material.

8. The handle-mounted light hub according to claim 1, wherein the power source is housed within the handle of the laryngoscope.

9. A light hub for a laryngoscope, comprising a housing that supports a depressible switch and a light source mounted to the light hub, the switch and the light source both extending upward from the handle of the laryngoscope, wherein the switch is depressible relative to the housing, and the light source is for actuating the light source and exposing the light source for illumination when a blade is mounted on the laryngoscope such that the light source is at least partially unobstructed by the switch on each side, and wherein the base of the blade depresses the switch and exposes the light source.

10. The light hub according to claim 9, wherein the depressible switch comprises a contact surface for the blade that surrounds the light source located within a central opening of the switch such that the switch can be actuated by depressing the switch at any point on the contact surface.

11. The light hub according to claim 10, wherein the contact surface is a peripheral ring that extends upward from the handle a first distance, and the light source comprises a bulb that extends upward from the handle a second distance, wherein when the contact surface is depressed, the first distance decreases and the second distance remains constant such that depressing the switch illuminates and exposes the light source on the handle in an open position.

12. The light hub according to claim 11, wherein when the switch is in the closed position, the first distance and the second distance are substantially the same.

13. The light hub according to claim 9, wherein the light hub is provided on a disposable laryngoscope handle.

14. The lamp hub according to claim 9, wherein the outer shell further includes a spring, and the spring is compressible between the depressible switch and the bottom surface of the outer shell, such that the switch is a spring-biased switch.

15. A method of activating a lamp for a laryngoscope, comprising: providing a laryngoscope having a handle-mounted lamp hub, the lamp hub including a depressible switch that encloses a fixed LED light source and electrical contacts; mounting a blade on the laryngoscope; depressing the switch with the base of the blade to move the electrical contacts into connection with a power source held in the handle of the laryngoscope, thereby exposing and illuminating the fixed light source such that the light source is at least partially unobstructed by the switch on each side.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising disposing of the laryngoscope after a single use.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein depressing the switch includes compressing a spring between the switch and the outer shell of the lamp hub such that the spring biases the pressure on the switch.

Images