# US 2013/0158358 A1 · Tongue depressor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158358 A1 - Document ID: US20130158358A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/817,071 - Filed: 2011-08-18 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-18 - Assignees: Throat Scope Pty Ltd - Inventors: Jennifer Louise Holland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158358A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/24: for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth - A61B 1/00066: {Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles (A61B1/0052 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/00121: {Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle} - A61B 1/0684: {using light emitting diodes [LED]} - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - A61B 1/32: Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body - A61B 13/00: Instruments for depressing the tongue (combined with illuminating and viewing instruments A61B1/24; combined with saliva removers A61C17/10) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A tongue depressor for illuminating an oral cavity, the tongue depressor including a handle which includes a light source and a switch for connecting a power supply to the light source. The tongue depressor also includes a blade for depressing the tongue, the blade being removably coupled to the handle, and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch so that light emitted from the light source is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tongue depressor for illuminating an oral cavity, the tongue depressor including: a) a handle which includes: i) a light source; and, ii) a switch for connecting a power supply to the light source; and, b) a blade for depressing the tongue, the blade being removably coupled to the handle, and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch so that light emitted from the light source is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tongue depressor according to claim 1, wherein the blade is a substantially solid body having a blade cavity at one end for receiving the handle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tongue depressor according to claim 2, wherein the blade includes a projection for engaging the switch when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tongue depressor according to claim 3, wherein the projection is mounted in the blade cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3, 4) The tongue depressor according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the switch is positioned within a recess in the handle, such that the projection enters the recess when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the handle includes at least two light sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tongue depressor according to claim 6, wherein the at least two light sources are spaced apart in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the blade. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the blade further includes at least one depression or projection adjacent the handle to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle. ### Claim 9 A tongue depressor for illuminating an oral cavity, the tongue depressor including: a) a handle which includes a plurality of light sources; and b) a blade for depressing the tongue, wherein light from the light sources is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tongue depressor according to claim 9, wherein the at least two light sources are spaced apart in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the blade. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9, 10) The tongue depressor according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the blade is removably coupled to the handle so that when the blade is coupled to the handle light from the light sources is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tongue depressor according to claim 11, wherein the handle further includes a switch to connect a power supply to the light sources, and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch, such that light is emitted from the light sources when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tongue depressor according to claim 12, wherein the blade includes a projection for engaging the switch when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tongue depressor according to claim 13, wherein the switch is positioned within a recess in the handle, such that the projection enters the recess when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11, 12, 13, 14) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the blade further includes at least one depression or projection adjacent the handle, to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle. ### Claim 16 A tongue depressor for illuminating an oral cavity, the tongue depressor including: a) a handle which includes a light source; and b) a blade for depressing the tongue, the blade being removably coupled to the handle so that when the blade is coupled to the handle light from the light source is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity, and wherein the blade includes at least one depression or projection adjacent the handle to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tongue depressor according to claim 16, wherein the handle further includes a switch to connect a power supply to the light source, and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch, such that light is emitted from the light source when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tongue depressor according to claim 17, wherein the blade includes a projection for engaging the switch when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tongue depressor according to claim 18, wherein the switch is positioned within a recess in the handle, such that the projection for actuating the switch enters the recess when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16, 17, 18, 19) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the handle includes a plurality of light sources. ### Claim 21 A tongue depressor for illuminating an oral cavity, the tongue depressor including: a) a handle which includes: i) a plurality of light sources; and, ii) a switch to connect a power supply to the light sources; and b) a blade for depressing the tongue, the blade being removably coupled to the handle, and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch so that light emitted from the light sources is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity, and wherein the blade includes at least one depression or projection adjacent the handle, to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and 11 to 21, wherein the blade includes a blade cavity for accommodating a portion of the handle when the handle and blade are coupled together. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the blade is adapted to act as an optical waveguide for light emitted from the light source. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the light source generates substantially no heat. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The tongue depressor according to claim 24, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the handle further includes a power supply, wherein the power supply is a battery. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The tongue depressor according to claim 26, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the tongue depressor is for illuminating a selected region within the oral cavity. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The tongue depressor according to claim 28, wherein the blade is a solid body for emitting light substantially from at least one of a blade end and blade edges. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the tongue depressor is for illuminating a selected region within the oral cavity, and wherein the blade includes one or more apertures for emitting light from the light source to illuminate a selected region within the oral cavity. ### Claim 31 A tongue depressor for illuminating a selected region within the oral cavity, the tongue depressor including: a) a handle; b) a light source; and c) a blade attached to the handle for depressing the tongue, the blade including one or more apertures for emitting light from the light source to illuminate a selected region within the oral cavity. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The tongue depressor according to claim 31, wherein the blade includes an internal cavity with the apertures extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the blade, and wherein the light source is arranged for illuminating the internal cavity. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31, 32) The tongue depressor according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the one or more apertures in the blade include one or more distal apertures for illuminating the oral orifice. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31, 32, 33) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the one or more apertures in the blade include one or more lateral apertures for illuminating one or both cheeks. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The tongue depressor according to claim 34, wherein the one or more apertures in the blade include two or more lateral apertures for illuminating both cheeks. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein the one or more apertures in the blade include one or more superior apertures for illuminating the palate. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The tongue depressor according to claim 31, wherein the blade includes one aperture. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The tongue depressor according to claim 37, wherein the aperture is a distal aperture. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The tongue depressor according to claim 37, wherein the aperture is a superior aperture for illuminating at least part of at least one of: a) the posterior oral cavity; b) part of the palate; c) part of the oral orifice; and, d) part of both cheeks. ### Claim 40 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 39, wherein the tongue depressor is arranged so that substantially all light from the light source is emitted through the one or more apertures. ### Claim 41 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 40, wherein the light source is located within the handle. ### Claim 42 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 41, wherein the blade is removable. ### Claim 43 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 42, wherein the tongue depressor is sealed for sterilisation. ### Claim 44 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 43, wherein the tongue depressor further includes a rechargeable battery. ### Claim 45 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 44, wherein each of the one or more apertures include a transparent window. ### Claim 46 (depends on 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45) The tongue depressor according to any one of claims 31 to 45, wherein the handle and/or the blade are made from one or more materials selected from: polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate and polymethylmethacrylate. ### Claim 47 A blade for depressing the tongue, wherein the blade is configured to removably couple to a handle, the blade including at least one depression or projection positioned to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle, and wherein the blade is adapted to act as an optical waveguide for light emitted from a light source in the handle. ### Claim 48 A blade for depressing the tongue, wherein the blade is configured to removably couple to a handle, the blade including: a) a cavity for accommodating a portion of the handle; and b) a projection within the cavity for actuating a switch in the handle, wherein the blade is adapted to act as an optical waveguide for light emitted from a light source in the handle. ### Claim 49 A handle of a tongue depressor, the handle including: a) a light source; and b) a switch to connect a power supply to the light source, wherein the handle is configured to removably couple to a blade for depressing the tongue, and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch so that light emitted from the light source is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity. ### Claim 50 A handle of a tongue depressor, the handle including a plurality of light sources, wherein the handle is configured to removably couple to a blade for depressing the tongue, and wherein the light sources are positioned so that light emitted from the light sources is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity. ### Claim 51 A method of illuminating the oral cavity of a subject, including a) providing a tongue depressor including: i) a handle which includes: (1) a light source; and (2) a switch to connect a power supply to the light source; and ii) a blade for depressing the tongue, wherein the blade is removably coupled to the handle and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch so that light emitted from the light source is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity; b) coupling the blade to the handle to actuate the switch; and c) depressing the tongue with the tongue depressor to illuminate the oral cavity. ### Claim 52 A method of illuminating the oral cavity of a subject, including a) depressing the tongue with a tongue depressor including: i) a handle which includes a plurality of light sources; and ii) a blade for depressing the tongue, wherein light emitted from the light sources is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity; and, b) illuminating the oral cavity. ### Claim 53 A method of illuminating the oral cavity of a subject, including a) depressing the tongue with a tongue depressor including: i) a handle which includes a light source; and ii) a blade for depressing the tongue, wherein the blade is removably coupled to the handle, and wherein the blade includes at least one depression or projection adjacent the handle, to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle and wherein light emitted from the light source is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity; b) illuminating the oral cavity. ### Claim 54 A method of illuminating the oral cavity of a subject, including a) providing a tongue depressor including: i) a handle which includes: (1) a plurality of light sources; and (2) a switch to connect a power supply to the light sources; and ii) a blade for depressing the tongue, wherein the blade is removably coupled to the handle, and wherein the blade includes at least one depression or projection adjacent the handle, to assist an operator in decoupling the blade from the handle and wherein coupling the blade to the handle actuates the switch so that light emitted from the light sources is transmitted by the blade into the oral cavity; b) coupling the blade to the handle to actuate the switch; and c) depressing the tongue with the tongue depressor to illuminate the oral cavity. ### Claim 55 A method of illuminating the oral cavity of a subject, including a) depressing the tongue with a tongue depressor including: i) a handle; ii) a light source; and iii) a blade attached to the handle for depressing the tongue, the blade including one or more apertures for emitting light from the light source to illuminate a selected region within the oral cavity; and b) illuminating a selected region of the oral cavity.