Title of Invention

"LIGHT GUIDE MOUNT FOR USE WITH A LARYNGOSCOPE"

Abstract

discrete light guide mount (8) for use with a Shucman?TM, type ISO "376/1 compatible laryngoscope blade (3) for removable secure coupling on an ISOO 7376/1 comptabile laryngoscope handle (2), the light guide mount including a miniature halogen bulb (27) disposed in a throughbore co-tiucctional with the laryngoscope handleon secure coupling of the laryngoscope blade thereon. Snap-fit inter-engagement means (32) arc preferably employed to removably retain the light guide mount in a laryngoscope blade which is preferably fitted with a viewing device (42) for assisting m the insertion of an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea.

Full Text

Field of the Invention The invention is in the field of laryngoscopes in general, and light guide mounts for use with laryngoscopes in particular. Background of the Invention Laiyngoscopes can be generally classified into two types as follows: ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscopes having a miniature bulb disposed in their blades, and ISO 7376/3 compatible laryngoscopes having a miniature bulb disposed in their handles. ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscopes can fitted with either one of two types of laryngoscope blades as follows: the conventional type with a miniature incandescent bulb disposed adjacent the tip of the blade and the more recent ShucmanTM type having a miniature halogen bulb disposed in the rear portion of the blade, for example, as illustrated and described in US Patent 4,437,458 to Upsher, and as commercially available from Truphatek International Ltd, Netanya, Israel. Removable fiber optic light pipes have been proposed for ISO 7376/3 compatible laryngoscopes for sterilization and replacement purposes, for example, as illustrated and described in US Patent 4,570,614 to Bauman, US Patent 4,958,624 to Stone et al, US Patent 5,529,570 to Storz, US Patent 6,139,491 to Heine et al, and US Patent 6,213,937 to Vivenzio. In addition, Hilbro Instruments (Pvt) Ltd, Small Industries Estate, Sialkot-Pakistan have exhibited an ISO 7376/3 compatible laryngoscope with a laryngoscope blade having a removable slidingly insertable fiber optic light pipe retained therein by a screw arrangement. Summary of the Invention The present invention is for a Shucman™ type laryngoscope blade with a removable slidingly insertable light guide mount embodying a novel miniature halogen bulb arrangement satisfying the needs of ready component part removable for both sterilization and replacement purposes, and longevity by avoiding electrical components susceptible to corrosion. A removable slidingly iiiscrtablc light guide mount can also be adapted for use with a conventional type ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope blade. The discrete hght guide mounts are preferably retained in their respective ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope blades by snap-fit mter-engagement means. The snap-fit inter-engagement means can be equally applied to a light guide mount including a fiber optic light pipe for use Willi an ISO 7376/3 compatible laryngoscope blade. Brief Description of the Drawings In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be can ed out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which: Fig. 1 is a pictorial view of an ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope with a ShucmanTM type laryngoscope blade having a removable slidingly insertable light guide mount in accurdance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the laryngoscope of Figure 1 along line A-A in Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a partially cut-away front view of the laryngoscope of Figure 1; Fig. 4 is a pictorial view showing the assembly of the laryngoscope of Figure 1; Fig. 5 is a pictorial view showing the release of the light guide mount from the Shucman™ type laryngoscope blade of the laryngoscope of Figure 1; and Fig. 6 is a pictorial view of a laryngoscope in accordance with the present invention including a viewing device for assisting in the insertion of an cndotrachcal tube into a patient's trachea. Detailed Description of'the Prelerred Embodimants Figure 1 shows an ISO 7376/1 type laryngoscope 1 including a laryngoscope handle 2, and a Shucman™ type laryngoscope blade 3 having a base portion 4 for removable secure coupling on the laryngoscope handle 2, and a spatula 6 transversely extending from the laryagoscopc handle 2 for insertion into a patient's mouth for illuminating its interior. The coupling means for coupling the base portion 4 on the laryngoscope handle 2 is in accordance with the ISO 7376/1 standard, and therefore is not described herein for the sake of conciseness, The base portion 4 has an elongated slot 7 (sop Figure 4) co-directional with the laryngoscope handle 2 on coupling the base portion 4 thereon for receiving a light guide mount 8. The light guide mount 8 has a housing 9 and an L-shaped fiber optic light pipe 11 with a short leg 12 securely fastened into the housing 9, and a long leg 13 extending along the spatula 6 towards its tip. Figure 2 shows that the laryngoscope handle 2 has a longitudinal axis 14, a battery 16 (constituting an electrical power source), and a cartridge 17 with a reciprocal electrical contact 18 normally spring biased away from the battery 16 and in electrical couucctin thercwith (as seen in Figure 2) on secure coupling of the ba.sc portion 4 on the laryngoscopc handle 2. The bousing 9 has a throughbore 19 with a longitudinal axis 21 co-axial with the laryngoscope handle's longitudinal axis 14 on coupling the base portion 4 on the laryngoscope handle 2. The thx-oughbore 19 has a narrow neck portion 22 snugly accommodating a so-called floating electrical contact 23 having a contact pin 24 inserted in a flexible plastic bushing 26. The throughbore 19 contains a miniature halogen bulb 27 with its electrical contact 28 juxtaposed against the contact pin 24, and the end of the fiber optic light pipe's short leg 12 inserted into a sleeve 29 against which bears a fastener 31 for ensuring tight electrical contact between the electrical contact 28 and the contact pin 24. Access to the bulb 27 for replacement purposes merely involves uncrewing the fastener 31 and removing the fiber optic light pipe's short leg 12 from the housing 9. Figure 3 shows that the body portion 4 and the housing 9 are each provided with one componeut of a snap-fit inter-engagement means 32 for tightly securing the hght guide mount 8 in the laryngoscope blade 3 on lull insertion of the housing 9 into the slot 7. The snap-fit inter-engagement means 32 is implemented in the form of a spring biased ball detent 33 formed in one of the opposite side walls of the slot 7 for being positively urged into a recess 34 formed m the major surface of the housing 9 juxtaposed thereagainst on full insertion of the housing 9 into the slot 7. The housing 9 is formed with a release tab 36 (see Figures 2 and 4) for being snugly received in a cutaway 37 formed in the base portion 4 on full insertion of the housing 9 in the slot 7 for facilitating the release of the light guide mount 8 from the laryngoscope blade 3. In addition, the release tab 36 acts as a stop for facilitating the correct positioning of the housing 9 within the slot 7 during assembly of the laryngoscope blade 3. The assembly and use of the laryngoscope 1 as shown in Figure 4 is as follows: The Hght guide mount 8 is fully inserted into the slot 7 such that its release tab 36 is snugly received in the cutaway 37 and the ball detent 33 is positively urged in the recess 34 for securing the hght guide mount 8 to the laryngoscope blade 3. the laryngoscope blade 3 is securely coupled on the laryngoscope handle 2 whereupon the contact pin 24 depresses the electrical contact 18 for energizmg the bulb 27 for illuminating via the fiber optic light pipe 11 the interior of a patient's mouth on insertion of the spatula 6 thereinto. The release of the light guide mount 8 from the laryngoscope blade 3 as shown in Figure 5 is as follows: The laryngoscope blade 3 is removed from the laryngoscope handle 2 whereupon a user applies pressure with his thumb against the release tab 36 thereby releasing the Hght guide mount 8 from the laryngoscope blade 3. While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims. For example, as shown in Figure 6, either an ISO 7376/1 or an ISO 7376/3 compatible laryngoscope 41 can be fitted with a. viewing device 42, for example, as illustrated and described in US Patent No. 5,873,818 to Rothfels, for assisting in the insertion of an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea. Also, a ShucmanTM type ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope blade can be implemented with the housing integrally formed therewithin. We claim: 1. Light guide mount for an ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope blade having a base portion for removable secure coupling on an ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope handle having a longitudinal axis, an electrical power source and a reciprocal electrical contact normally biased away from the electrical power source and in electrical connection therewith on secure coupling of the base portion thereon, and a spatula transversely extending from the laryngoscope handle on the secure coupling of the base portion thereon for insertion into a patient's mouth, the light guide mount comprising : (a) a housing for removable sliding insertion into a suitably shaped and dimensioned slot formed in the base portion and co-directional with the laryngoscope handle on secure coupling of the base portion thereon, and (b) an L-shaped light pipe with a short leg securely fastened into said housing and a long leg for extending along the spatula towards its tip, said housing having a through bore with a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the laryngoscope handle's longitudinal axis on secure coupling of the base portion thereon, and a component of an inter-engagement means (32) for enabling the removable securing of the light guide mount to the laryngoscope blade, said through bore accommodating a floating contact pin, a portion of said short leg, and a miniature bulb interdisposed between said contact pin and said portion of said short leg, the arrangement being such that said miniature bulb is energized on secure coupling of the base portion on the laryngoscope handle for illuminating via said light pipe the interior of the patient's mouth on insertion of the spatula thereinto. 2. The mount as claimed in claim 1 wherein said through bore has a narrow neck portion for snugly accommodating said contact, and said housing includes a fastener for bearing against said portion of said short leg fastened therein in a transverse direction with respect to said through bore for securing said bulb against said contact. 3. The mount as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 wherein said through bore has a longitudinal axis substantially co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the laryngoscope handle. 4. The mount as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said housing is slidingly insertable and removable into a suitably shaped and dimensioned slot formed in the base portion and co-directional with the laryngoscope handle on coupling the laryngoscope blade thereon, and said housing and the base portion havmg inter-engagement means for removably retaining the light guide mount in the laryngoscope blade. 5. The mount as claimed in claim 4 wherein said inter-engagement means are snap-fit inter-engagement means (32) comprises a spring biased ball detent in one of the opposite side walls of the slot for being positively urged into a recess in the major surface of said housing juxtaposed there against on full insertion of said housing into the slot. 6. The mount as claimed in either claim 4 or 5 wherein said housing has a release tab for being snugly received in a suitably sized and dimensioned cutaway in the base portion on full insertion of said housing in the slot, said release tab having an exposed surface on detachment of the base portion from the laryngoscope handle for enabling thumb pressure to be readily applied thereto for releasing the light guide mount from the laryngoscope blade. 7. An ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope blade integrally formed with said housing as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3. 8. An ISO 7376/1 compatible laryngoscope blade for use with the light guide mount as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6. 9. The blade as claimed in any claim 7 or 8 and further comprising a viewing device for assisting in the insertion of an endo-tracheal tube into a patient's trachea.

Documents:

955-delnp-2004-abstract.pdf

955-delnp-2004-claims.pdf

955-delnp-2004-complete specification(granted).pdf

955-DELNP-2004-Correspondence-Others-(23-01-2009).pdf

955-delnp-2004-correspondence-others.pdf

955-delnp-2004-correspondence-po.pdf

955-delnp-2004-description (complete).pdf

955-delnp-2004-drawings.pdf

955-delnp-2004-form-1.pdf

955-delnp-2004-form-13-(23-01-2009).pdf

955-delnp-2004-form-18.pdf

955-delnp-2004-form-2.pdf

955-delnp-2004-form-3.pdf

955-delnp-2004-form-5.pdf

955-delnp-2004-gpa.pdf

955-delnp-2004-pct-409.pdf

955-delnp-2004-petition-137.pdf

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