Laryngoscope blade with light guide

Abstract

A laryngoscope blade is provided for insertion into an airway of a patient. The laryngoscope blade includes a tongue depressor having a top surface, a proximal end region, a distal end region, and a longitudinal centerline extending from the proximal end region to the distal end region. A connector base is provided at the proximal end of the tongue depressor for coupling the blade to the laryngoscope handle. The light guide has a first end attached to the connector base by a resilient fastener, and a second end capable of illuminating an airway of a patient. A housing is provided proximate a top surface of the tongue depressor and includes a space for receiving a portion of the light guide. The second end of the light guide has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the tongue depressor such that light emitted from the second end of the light guide is oriented directly toward the tip of the tongue depressor.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a laryngoscope blade for use with a laryngoscope handle, and more particularly, to a laryngoscope blade having a light guide for illuminating a patient's airway. BACKGROUND

[0002] A laryngoscope is a device used to assist in visualizing the oral cavity, particularly the laryngeal region. The device is often used to aid in the placement of a tube into a patient's larynx. In order to achieve accurate placement, the laryngoscope must be able to restrain the patient's tongue while the epiglottis is engaged to expose the larynx for visual observation. Laryngoscopes can also be used for routine examination of the larynx. Typically, the primary function of a laryngoscope is to expose the larynx to facilitate insertion of a tracheal tube.

[0003] During such procedures, the surface of the laryngoscope blade adjacent to the handle is pushed against the tongue and the mandible to expose the larynx, and the opposite blade surface is positioned opposite the patient's upper front teeth. For example, the surface of the blade adjacent to the handle is used to press against the tongue and the mandible of a patient in a supine position to prevent the patient's tongue from obstructing visual examination of the larynx. These functions are aided primarily by using a light guide in conjunction with the laryngoscope blade to create localized illumination of the area to be examined.

[0004] Many conventional laryngoscopes have a number of drawbacks and deficiencies. For example, in conventional laryngoscopes, the proximal end of the light guide is coupled to a light source in the handle, and the distal end of the light guide is configured to illuminate a portion of the blade. However, a portion of the light guide is typically bent in order to achieve this arrangement, thereby reducing the intensity of the light emitted from the distal end of the light guide. Further, in conventional laryngoscopes, due to the orientation of the distal end of the light guide, only a portion of the blade (such as the tip of the blade) can be illuminated. Thus, conventional laryngoscopes typically have a small or limited illuminated area. Additionally, in conventional laryngoscopes, the placement of the light guide relative to the blade often obstructs the field of view of the practitioner during use and interferes with the tracheal tube during intubation. Further, in conventional laryngoscopes, the light guide is often fully exposed and thus is susceptible to contamination or damage during use. The exposed portion of the light guide or the portion of the blade that secures the light guide can also be harmful to the patient during use, as they can cause injury to the patient during insertion.

[0005] The present disclosure addresses these aforementioned problems. Thus, the laryngoscope of the present disclosure is operable such that the intensity and direction of the light emitted from the light guide are critical factors that allow a physician to perform a successful intubation in the shortest time and without harming the patient. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0006] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 711,859, filed July 30, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This disclosure largely fulfills the aforementioned requirements, wherein a laryngoscope blade is configured for insertion into a patient's airway, the laryngoscope blade comprising: a tongue depressor having a top surface, a proximal region, a distal region, and a longitudinal centerline extending from the proximal region to the distal region; a connector base located at the proximal end of the tongue depressor and configured to removably couple the laryngoscope blade to a laryngoscope handle; a light guide having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the connector base by a resilient fastener, and the second end being configured to illuminate the patient's airway; and a light guide housing adjacent to the top surface of the tongue depressor, the light guide housing having sidewalls defining a space configured to receive a portion of the light guide. The second end of the light guide has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the tongue depressor, such that light emitted from the second end of the light guide is directed directly toward the tip of the tongue depressor.

[0008] On the other hand, the light guide housing has a stepped configuration including a sidewall extending substantially vertically from the top surface of the tongue depressor and a top wall extending laterally from the edge of the sidewall.

[0009] On the other hand, the first portion of the sidewall, the top wall, and a portion of the top surface of the tongue depressor cooperate to define a cavity, which is configured to receive and retain a portion of the light guide in a safe position.

[0010] On the other hand, the laryngoscope also includes a cover that is removably attached to the housing and configured to seal the cavity to protect the portion of the light guide held therein.

[0011] On the other hand, the cover is configured to removably snap onto a portion of the laryngoscope blade to prevent access to the portion of the light guide held within the housing.

[0012] On the other hand, the cover includes a snap-fit ​​lug configured to engage and engage a corresponding mounting hole located within the cavity.

[0013] On the other hand, the cover also includes a flexible protrusion configured to engage the housing to hold the cover in a position securely mounted above the cavity.

[0014] On the other hand, the sidewalls of the housing and the top surface of the tongue depressor cooperate to form a longitudinal channel, which is configured to allow the practitioner to view along the length of the blade and thus enter the patient's throat, and also to provide access for endotracheal tube intubation.

[0015] On the other hand, the light guide housing also includes an end wall with an opening that defines a light guide path through which the distal end of the light guide extends to provide illumination to the distal region of the depressor.

[0016] On the other hand, the laryngoscope also includes a retaining wall that extends from the top surface of the tongue depressor in the distal region and connects to a second portion of both the end wall and the top wall.

[0017] On the other hand, the end wall has an exit opening through which the distal end of the light guide passes.

[0018] On the other hand, the end wall, the outlet opening, and the retainer wall are configured to position the distal end of the light guide to extend straight toward the distal region of the tongue depressor in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tongue depressor, in order to illuminate the oropharyngeal space during laryngoscopy or intubation.

[0019] On the other hand, the light guide housing has sidewalls extending from the longitudinal edge of the depressor plate and defining a semi-circular cross-sectional channel, the semi-circular cross-sectional channel being configured to stably receive and retain a portion of the light guide therein.

[0020] On the other hand, the light guide housing also includes a retainer wall extending from the tongue depressor in the distal region and having a semi-circular cross-section configured to receive and retain the distal end of the light guide.

[0021] On the other hand, the laryngoscope also includes an outlet opening disposed between oppositely oriented sidewalls and retainer walls, and arranged such that the distal end of a light guide extends through it and is oriented to illuminate the distal region of the tongue depressor, such that the longitudinal axis of the distal end of the light guide is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the laryngoscope tongue depressor.

[0022] On the other hand, the connector base includes a heel portion and a front claw portion, which are configured to detachably engage a portion of the laryngoscope handle.

[0023] On the other hand, the light guide is configured to be fitted within the housing and extend from the distal region of the blade to the proximal region of the blade and to the bottom of the heel portion.

[0024] On the other hand, the laryngoscope also includes an annular resilient fastener configured to fitably and securely receive the proximal end of the light guide therein.

[0025] On the other hand, the fastener includes a lip extending from the bottom surface of the heel portion, such that the proximal end of the light guide also extends from the bottom surface of the heel portion.

[0026] On the other hand, the lip portion of the fastener has a frustoconical shape.

[0027] Therefore, certain embodiments of this disclosure have been outlined to better understand the detailed description herein and to facilitate a better understanding of the present contribution to the art. Further embodiments of this disclosure, which form the subject matter of the appended claims, will now be described.

[0028] In this regard, before explaining at least one embodiment of this disclosure in detail, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to its application to the details of the following structures and the arrangement of components illustrated in the following specification or drawings. In addition to the described embodiments, this disclosure is also capable of having embodiments practiced and implemented in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein, as well as the abstract, are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting.

[0029] Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the concepts upon which this disclosure is based can be readily utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for achieving certain objectives of this disclosure. Therefore, it is important that the claims be considered to include such equivalent constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a left-side view showing a laryngoscope blade according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 Right side view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0032] Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 Front view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0033] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 1 Rear view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0034] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 1 Top view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0035] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 1 A top-view plan view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0036] Figure 7 It is shown Figure 1 Rear-view stereoscopic view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0037] Figure 8 It is shown Figure 1 A frontal stereoscopic view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0038] Figure 9 There is no snap-on cover. Figure 1 Side view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0039] Figure 10 It is used for Figure 1 A perspective view of the snap-on cap of a laryngoscope blade.

[0040] Figure 11 yes Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the connector base of the laryngoscope blade.

[0041] Figure 12 This is a right-side view showing a laryngoscope blade according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 13 It is shown Figure 12 Left side view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0043] Figure 14 It is shown Figure 12 Front view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0044] Figure 15 It is shown Figure 12 Rear view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0045] Figure 16 It is shown Figure 12 Top view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0046] Figure 17 It is shown Figure 12 A top-view plan view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0047] Figure 18 It is shown Figure 12 Rear-view stereoscopic view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0048] Figure 19 It is shown Figure 12 A frontal stereoscopic view of the laryngoscope blade.

[0049] Figure 20 yes Figure 12A partial cross-sectional view of the connector base of the laryngoscope blade. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are always indicated by like reference numerals. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a laryngoscope blade is provided configured for insertion into a patient's airway. The laryngoscope blade is also configured to be removably attached to a laryngoscope handle (not shown) to form an operable, generally L-shaped configuration for assisted intubation.

[0051] Specifically, Figures 1-11 An embodiment of a generally curved laryngoscope blade 10 according to this disclosure is shown. The laryngoscope blade 10 may be made of metal, plastic, or a combination thereof. For example, the blade 10 may be made of austenitic stainless steel or may be molded from biocompatible plastic. Furthermore, the laryngoscope blade 10 may be a single-use design to prevent potential contamination between uses. The laryngoscope tongue depressor 10 includes a laryngoscope tongue depressor 12 having a top surface 13 and a bottom surface 14. The laryngoscope tongue depressor 12 also has a longitudinal centerline 15 and proximal and distal regions 16 and 17 respectively, correspondingly close to and distant from the laryngoscope handle in an operable generally L-shaped configuration. The distal region 17 of the tongue depressor 12 terminates at a tip 18 with a rounded edge to prevent or minimize injury to the patient during insertion into the patient's airway.

[0052] The laryngoscope blade 10 also includes an illumination arrangement for providing illumination at the distal region 17 of the tongue depressor 12 when in an operational configuration. The illumination arrangement includes a handle-mounted illumination source (such as a light bulb) and a blade-mounted light guide 30 (such as a polymer-based flexible carrier tube) having an optical cable or bundle disposed therein to facilitate the transmission of illumination light from the illumination source to the distal region 17 of the tongue depressor. More specifically, the light guide 30 includes a proximal end 32 configured to communicate with the illumination source and a distal end 33 configured to illuminate the distal region 17 of the tongue depressor 12 to aid in visual examination of the patient's larynx or esophagus. It should be understood that various types of light sources can be incorporated into the illumination system. For example, the light source can be mounted in the handle and can include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), halogen bulbs, krypton bulbs, and / or xenon bulbs, etc. In some embodiments, the light source can be located within the laryngoscope blade. A power source, such as a battery, for powering the illumination source can be provided within the handle.

[0053] The proximal region 16 of the laryngoscope blade 10 includes a connector base 20 having a snap-fit ​​arrangement for removably engaging the laryngoscope blade 10 with a laryngoscope handle. The laryngoscope handle may be reusable and includes a grippable housing configured to hold a power source (such as a battery) and a light source (such as a bulb). The light source and power source are configured to be actuated when a portion of the laryngoscope blade contacts a conductor on a fixable mounting end of the handle surrounding the bulb.

[0054] The light guide housing 40 is connected to the tongue depressor 12. Specifically, the light guide housing 40 has a stepped configuration, including a sidewall 41 extending generally perpendicularly from the top surface 13 of the tongue depressor, and a top wall 42 extending laterally from the edge of the sidewall 41, having a profile approximating the contour of the tongue depressor 12. The top wall 42 may form a curved flange extending from the proximal region 16 of the blade to the distal region 17. The first portions 42a of the sidewall 41 and the top wall 42, and a portion of the top surface 13 of the tongue depressor 12, define a cavity 44 configured to receive and hold a portion of the light guide 30 in a fixed position. As will be discussed in further detail below, a cover 50 may be removably attached to the housing to seal the cavity 44 to protect the portion of the light guide 30 held therein, i.e., to protect it from damage and / or to make it less susceptible to contamination. The sidewall 41 of the housing 40 and the top surface 13 of the tongue depressor 12 also cooperate to form a longitudinal channel 19, which is configured to allow the practitioner to view along the length of the blade and thus enter the patient's throat, and also to provide access for endotracheal tube intubation.

[0055] The light guide housing 40 also includes an end wall 46 having an opening 47 defining a light guide path through which the distal end 33 of the light guide 30 can extend to provide illumination to the distal region 17 of the blade 10. A retaining wall 48 extends from the top surface 13 of the tongue depressor at the distal region 17 and connects to both the end wall 46 and the second portion 42b of the top wall 42. The retaining wall 48 and the second portion 42b of the top wall 42 define a curved distal housing portion. The end wall 46 faces the distal direction and has an outlet opening 47 therein through which the light guide 24 is disposed, allowing the distal end 33 of the light guide 30 to be exposed through the outlet. Specifically, the end wall 46 is obliquely disposed between and connected to the side wall 41 and the retainer wall 48. The first portion 42a and the second portion 42b of the top wall form a continuous surface. For example, as Figure 5As shown, the end wall 46, outlet opening 47, and retainer wall 48 are configured to position the distal end 33 of the light guide 30 to extend straight toward the distal region 17 of the tongue depressor 12, and more specifically, straight toward the blade tip 18 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tongue depressor. Specifically, the longitudinal axis 35 of the light guide 30 at its distal end 33 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline 15 of the laryngoscope tongue depressor 12, so as to illuminate the area directly forward. Therefore, when using the laryngoscope 10, the oropharyngeal space can be illuminated during laryngoscopy or even during intubation. Furthermore, the light guide 30 is centered in the longitudinal direction relative to the connector base 20 so that it does not bend laterally to conform to the surface of the blade. Therefore, the intensity of the light emitted from the distal end of the light guide 30 is not reduced. Moreover, this arrangement provides the practitioner with a better field of vision compared to conventional light guides that bend laterally in a direction across the blade surface and thus obstruct the practitioner's view.

[0056] The cover 50 can be arranged to removably snap onto a portion of the laryngoscope body to prevent access to a portion of the light guide 30 held within the housing 40. Specifically, the snap-on cover 50 is located above the cavity 44 and includes snap-on lugs 52 configured to adapt to and engage corresponding mounting holes located within the cavity. Once mounted to the blade 10, the lugs 52 prevent subsequent removal of the snap-on cover 50. The arrangement of the lugs 52 can also serve as a guide for securely holding the light guide 30 in a predetermined position. In other words, the position of the lugs 52 and the corresponding mounting holes guide the shape of the light guide 30 within the cavity 44 so that the light guide does not bend excessively to prevent a reduction in light intensity emitted from its distal end, and also serves to maintain the distal end of the light guide pointing towards the tip of the blade in a predetermined forward direction without lateral bending of the light guide. Furthermore, the cover 50 may also include flexible tabs 54 configured to function as a latch for the housing to keep the cover 50 securely mounted above the cavity.

[0057] The connector base 20 includes a heel portion 22 and a front claw portion 24, configured to detachably engage a portion of the laryngoscope handle. The light guide 30 can be bent to fit within the housing 40 and extends from the distal region 17 of the blade 10 to the proximal region 16 of the blade, and more specifically, to the bottom of the heel portion 22. The proximal end 32 of the light guide 30 bends downward through a vertically extending groove 23 formed in the heel portion 22. An annular elastomer fastener 25, such as an elastic collar that may be made of PVC or other suitable elastomer material, is adapted and securely received therein for the proximal end 32 of the light guide 30. The fastener 25 is securely received in the vertically extending groove of the heel portion 22 and includes a lip 25a extending from the bottom surface of the heel portion 22, such that the proximal end 32 of the light guide 30 also extends from the bottom surface of the heel portion 22. Figure 11As shown. When the laryngoscope blade 10 is attached to the handle in the operable L-shaped position, the resilient lip 25a of the fastener 25 is correspondingly pressed between them, thereby reducing the tolerance between the laryngoscope blade and the handle to ensure a stable connection during use. In some aspects, the lip 25a of the fastener 25 may have a frustoconical shape to help position the connector base 20 at the center of the handle.

[0058] The claw portion 24 defines an inclined groove configured to receive the cross pin of the laryngoscope handle during assembly, i.e., by pivotally mounting the blade 10 to the handle. A first spring-loaded lift valve 26 is disposed in the heel portion 22 and opens into the groove to resiliently engage with the top of the cross pin to assist in holding the components together. A pair of second spring-loaded lift valves 27 are disposed in the heel portion 22 and extend laterally from corresponding sides of the heel portion to engage matching pawls in the handle to assist in holding the components together. The heel portion 22 also includes a protrusion configured to prevent light emitted from a light source located in the handle from reaching the practitioner's eyes when the blade is operably attached to the handle. In other words, the protrusion on the heel portion 22 is operable to close the gap between the handle and the blade to prevent glare from the light source from affecting the practitioner's vision during patient use of the laryngoscope.

[0059] Figures 12 to 20 Another embodiment of the laryngoscope blade 100 according to this disclosure is shown. The laryngoscope blade 100 is configured for insertion into a patient's airway. The laryngoscope blade 100 is also configured to be removably attached to the laryngoscope handle to form an operable, generally L-shaped configuration for assisted intubation.

[0060] Specifically, Figures 12 to 20 An embodiment of a generally straight laryngoscope blade 100 according to this disclosure is shown. The laryngoscope blade 100 may be made of metal, plastic, or a combination thereof. For example, the blade 100 may be made of austenitic stainless steel or may be molded from a biocompatible plastic. Furthermore, the laryngoscope blade 100 may be a single-use design to prevent potential contamination between uses. The laryngoscope blade 100 includes a laryngoscope tongue depressor 112 having a concave top surface 113 and a convex bottom surface 114. The laryngoscope tongue depressor 112 also has a longitudinal centerline 115 and proximal and distal regions 116 and 117 correspondingly adjacent to and remote from the generally L-shaped operative laryngoscope. The distal region 117 of the tongue depressor 112 may be bent downward and terminate at a tip 118 to prevent or minimize injury to the patient during insertion into the patient's airway.

[0061] The laryngoscope blade 100 also includes an illumination arrangement for providing illumination at the distal region 117 of the tongue depressor 112 when in an operational configuration. The illumination arrangement includes a handle-mounted illumination source (e.g., a light bulb) and a blade-mounted light guide 130 (such as a polymer-based flexible carrier tube) having an optical cable or bundle disposed therein to transmit illumination light from the illumination source to the distal region 117 of the tongue depressor. More specifically, the light guide 130 includes a proximal end 132 configured to communicate with the illumination source and a distal end 133 configured to illuminate the distal region 117 of the tongue depressor 112 to facilitate visual examination of the patient's larynx or esophagus. It should be understood that various types of light sources can be incorporated into the illumination system. For example, the light source can be mounted within the handle and can include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), halogen bulbs, krypton bulbs, and / or xenon bulbs, etc. In some embodiments, the light source can be located within the laryngoscope blade. A power source (e.g., a battery) for powering the illumination source can be located within the handle.

[0062] The proximal region 116 of the laryngoscope blade 110 includes a connector base 120 having a snap-fit ​​arrangement for detachably engaging the laryngoscope blade 110 with a laryngoscope handle. The laryngoscope handle may be reusable and includes a grippable housing configured to hold a power source (such as a battery) and a light source (such as a bulb). The light source and power source are configured to be actuated when a portion of the laryngoscope blade contacts a conductor on a fixable mounting end of the handle surrounding the bulb.

[0063] The light guide housing 140 is connected to the tongue depressor 112. Specifically, the light guide housing 140 has a sidewall 141 extending from the longitudinal edge of the tongue depressor 112. The sidewall 141 defines a semi-circular cross-sectional channel 144 configured to stably receive and hold a portion of the light guide 130 therein. Specifically, the sidewall 141 has a concave surface forming the channel for receiving the light guide 130. A flat top wall 142 extends laterally from the edge of the sidewall 141 and along the direction of a portion of the tongue depressor 112, thus forming a generally flat flange. A biocompatible adhesive may also be applied between the light guide 130 and the semi-circular channel 144 to further ensure that the light guide is securely held in place. The protruding portion of the sidewall 141 of the housing 140 and the concave top surface 113 of the tongue depressor 112 also cooperate to form a longitudinal channel 119, which is configured to allow the practitioner to view along the length of the blade and thus enter the patient's throat, and also to provide access for intubation of the endotracheal tube.

[0064] The light guide housing 140 also includes a retaining wall 148 that extends from the tongue depressor 112 at the distal region 117 and connects to the top wall 142. Similar to the side wall 141, the retaining wall 148 has a semi-circular cross-section configured to receive and retain the distal end of the light guide 130. Specifically, the concave portion of the retaining wall 148 faces a direction opposite to that of the concave portion of the side wall 141. An outlet opening 147 disposed between the oppositely oriented side wall 141 and the retaining wall 148 is arranged such that the distal end 133 of the light guide 130 can be exposed therein and oriented to illuminate the distal region 117 of the tongue depressor 112, and more specifically, to extend straight toward the blade tip 118. Specifically, the longitudinal axis 135 of the light guide 130 at its distal end 133 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline 115 of the laryngoscope tongue depressor 112 in order to illuminate the area directly in front of it, such as... Figure 16 As shown. Therefore, during operation, the complementary channels or grooves formed by the relatively oriented concave portions of the sidewall 141 and the retainer wall 148 help to ensure that the distal end of the light guide 130 points straight forward along the longitudinal length of the blade. Thus, when using the laryngoscope 110, the oropharyngeal space can be illuminated during laryngoscopy or during intubation. Furthermore, the light guide 130 is centered in the longitudinal direction relative to the connector base 120, preventing it from laterally bending to conform to the blade surface. Therefore, the intensity of light emitted from the distal end of the light guide 30 is not reduced. Moreover, this arrangement provides the practitioner with a better field of vision compared to conventional light guides that laterally bend towards the direction across the blade surface and thus obstruct the practitioner's view.

[0065] The connector base 120 includes a heel portion 122 and a front claw portion 124, configured to detachably engage a portion of the laryngoscope handle. A light guide 130 can be bent to fit within the housing 140 and extends from the distal region 117 of the blade 110 to the proximal region 116 of the blade, and more specifically, to the bottom of the heel portion 122. The proximal end 132 of the light guide 130 bends downward through a vertically extending groove 123 formed in the heel portion 122. An annular elastomer fastener 125, such as a resilient collar that may be made of PVC or other suitable elastomer material, is adapted and securely received therein at the proximal end 132 of the light guide 130. Figure 20As shown, the fastener 125 is securely received in a vertically extending groove in the heel portion 122 and includes a lip 125a extending from the bottom surface of the heel portion 122, such that the proximal end 132 of the light guide 130 also extends from the bottom of the heel portion 122. When the laryngoscope blade 110 is attached to the handle in the operable L-shaped position, the resilient lip 125a of the fastener 125 is correspondingly pressed therebetween, thereby reducing the tolerance between the laryngoscope blade and the handle to ensure a stable connection during use. In some aspects, the lip portion 125a of the fastener 125 may have a truncated conical shape to help position the connector base 120 at the center of the handle.

[0066] The claw portion 124 defines an angled groove configured to receive a crosspin of the laryngoscope handle during assembly, i.e., by pivotally mounting the blade 110 to the handle. A first spring-loaded lift valve 126 is disposed in the heel portion 122 and opens into the groove to resiliently engage with the top of the crosspin to help hold the components together. A pair of second spring-loaded lift valves 127 are disposed in the heel portion 122 and extend laterally from corresponding sides of the heel portion to engage matching pawls in the handle to help hold the components together. The heel portion 122 also includes a protrusion configured to prevent light emitted from a light source located in the handle from reaching the practitioner's eyes when the blade is operably attached to the handle. In other words, the protrusion on the heel portion 122 is operable to close the gap between the handle and the blade to prevent glare from the light source from affecting the practitioner's vision during patient use of the laryngoscope.

[0067] Furthermore, each of the embodiments of the laryngoscope blade discussed herein may include a zinc alloy and a powder coating, and may be designed for single-use or disposable purposes.

[0068] From the detailed description, many features and advantages of this disclosure will be apparent, and therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of this disclosure that fall within the true spirit and scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, since various modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit this disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and therefore, all suitable modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of this disclosure may be employed. For example, it should be clearly understood that the particular laryngoscope blade shown in the drawings is merely an example of a large number of blades of different shapes that can be used in a variety of different situations, and therefore, this disclosure extends to all forms of laryngoscope blades provided and is not limited to the blade shown.

Claims

1. A laryngoscope blade configured for insertion into a patient's airway, the laryngoscope blade comprising: The tongue depressor has a top surface, a proximal region, a distal region, and a longitudinal centerline extending from the proximal region to the distal region; A connector base is provided at the proximal end of the tongue depressor and is configured to removably couple the laryngoscope blade to the laryngoscope handle. The light guide has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the connector base and configured to be connected to an illumination source, and the distal end being configured to illuminate the distal end of the tongue depressor to assist in visual observation of the patient's airway. as well as A light guide housing connected to the tongue depressor, the light guide housing having a sidewall extending from the tongue depressor and a top wall extending laterally from the sidewall and in a direction above the tongue depressor; The longitudinal axis of the distal end of the light guide is substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of the tongue depressor.

2. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 1, wherein, The sidewall defines a semi-circular cross-sectional channel configured to stably receive and retain a portion of the light guide therein.

3. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 1, wherein, The tongue depressor includes a concave top surface and a convex bottom surface.

4. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 3, wherein, It also includes a longitudinal channel configured to allow the practitioner to view along the length of the tongue depressor and thus access the patient's airway, and to provide access for endotracheal tube intubation, the longitudinal channel being formed by a protruding portion of the sidewall of the light guide housing and a concave top surface of the tongue depressor.

5. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 1, wherein, It also includes a retaining wall that extends from the distal region of the tongue depressor.

6. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 5, wherein, The retaining wall is further connected to the top wall.

7. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 6, wherein, The retaining wall includes a semi-circular cross-section configured to receive and retain the distal end of the light guide.

8. The laryngoscope blade of claim 5, further comprising an outlet opening disposed between the sidewall and the retainer wall, the outlet opening being arranged such that the distal end of the light guide extends therethrough to illuminate the distal region of the tongue depressor.

9. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 1, wherein, The longitudinal centerline of the tongue depressor is offset relative to the longitudinal centerline of the connector base.

10. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 9, wherein, The optical guide is centered relative to the longitudinal centerline of the connector base.

11. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 1, wherein, The distal end of the light guide is straight.

12. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 1, wherein, The connector base includes a heel portion and a front claw portion, which are configured to detachably engage a portion of the laryngoscope handle.

13. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 12, wherein, The distal end of the optical guide is configured to be fitted into the heel portion of the connector base.

14. The laryngoscope blade of claim 13, further comprising an annular resilient fastener configured to secure the proximal end of the light guide in the heel portion of the connector base.

15. The laryngoscope blade according to claim 14, wherein, The fastener includes a lip extending from the bottom surface of the heel portion of the connector base, such that the proximal end of the light guide also extends from the bottom surface of the heel portion of the connector base.

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