# US 2018/0020907 A1 · Adaptive laryngoscope and adaptive blade for a laryngoscope > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0020907 A1 - Document ID: US20180020907A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/656,101 - Filed: 2017-07-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21 - Assignees: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Martina Aleckner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180020907A1 ## CPC - A61B 1/267: for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes or bronchoscopes - A61B 1/0055: {Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An adaptive blade for a laryngoscope includes a proximal end. a distal end. a first chain arranged between the ends and composed of a plurality of chain links connected in pairs in an articulated manner, a second chain arranged between the ends and composed of a plurality of chain links connected in pairs in an articulated manner, and a spacer component, connected at a first end in an articulated manner to the first chain, and connected at a second end in an articulated manner to the second chain. One or more or all of the articulated connections between the chain links of the first chain, the chain links of the second chain and the spacer component are provided as a form-fit hinge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adaptive blade for a laryngoscope, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end; a first chain arranged between the proximal end and the distal end of the adaptive blade and composed of a plurality of chain links which are each connected in pairs in an articulated manner; a second chain arranged between the proximal end and the distal end of the adaptive blade and composed of a plurality of chain links which are each connected in pairs in an articulated manner; a spacer component, wherein a first end of the spacer component is connected in an articulated manner to one of the chain links of the first chain, and wherein a second end of the spacer component is connected in an articulated manner to one of the chain links of the second chain, wherein one or more or all of the articulated connections between the chain links of the first chain, the chain links of the second chain and the spacer component comprise a form-fit hinge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive blade has a plurality of spacer components, a first end of each spacer component of the plurality of spacer components is connected in an articulated manner to one of the plurality of chain links of the first chain, a second end of each spacer component of the plurality of spacer components is connected in an articulated manner to one of the plurality of chain links of the second chain. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive blade has a plurality of spacer components, the first end of each spacer component of the plurality of spacer components is connected in an articulated manner to two adjacent chain links of the plurality of chain links of the first chain, the second end of each spacer component of the plurality of spacer components is connected in an articulated manner to two adjacent chain links of the plurality of chain links of the second chain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adaptive blade according to claim 3, in which the length of the spacer components measured in each case between the first end and the second end decreases from the proximal end of the blade to the distal end of the blade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, in which an articulated connection between two adjacent chain links of the first chain comprises a form-fit hinge, an articulated connection between two adjacent chain links of the second chain comprises a form-fit hinge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, in which several articulated connections between in each case two adjacent chain links of the first chain each comprise a form-fit hinge, several articulated connections between in each case two adjacent chain links of the second chain each comprise a form-fit hinge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adaptive blade according to claim 6, in which several articulated connections between spacer components and chain links of the first chain each comprise a form-fit hinge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, in which a first chain link engages in a recess in a second chain link, the form-fit hinge comprises a shaft inserted into a bore in the second chain link, the shaft engages through the recess in the second chain link and inside the recess through the first chain link, the shaft is at least either held with force-fit engagement in the bore in the second chain link by an interference fit or is connected to the second chain link by a weld seam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, in which chain links of the first chain are substantially plate-shaped with a rectangular or trapezoidal contour. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, in which at least one of a chain link of the first chain or a chain link of the second chain or the spacer component has metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, further comprising: a multi-hinge mechanism which integrates an articulated connection between two chain links of the first chain and an articulated connection between a chain link of the first chain and the spacer component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The adaptive blade according to claim 11, in which the multi-hinge mechanism comprises a shaft or an axle journal or a pin with a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and wherein the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface are constituent parts of articulated connections of the spacer component to two chain links of the first chain. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The adaptive blade according to claim 11, in which bearing surfaces at two different chain links and a bearing surface at the spacer component are arranged coaxially. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The adaptive blade according to claim 1, further comprising: corresponding abutment surfaces at two chain links connected to each other in an articulated manner; wherein the corresponding abutment surfaces are arranged such that a mechanical contact of the corresponding abutment surfaces limits a pivoting movement of the two adjacent chain links relative to each other. ### Claim 15 An adaptive laryngoscope or adaptive intubation device, comprising: an adaptive blade including: a proximal end; a distal end; a first chain arranged between the proximal end and the distal end of the adaptive blade and composed of a plurality of chain links which are each connected in pairs in an articulated manner; a second chain arranged between the proximal end and the distal end of the adaptive blade and composed of a plurality of chain links which are each connected in pairs in an articulate manner; a spacer component, wherein a first end of the spacer component is connected in an articulated manner to one of the chain links of the first chain, and wherein a second end of the spacer component is connected in an articulated manner to one of the chain links of the second chain, wherein one or more or all of the articulate connections between the chain links of the first chain, the chain links of the second chain and the spacer component comprise a form-fit hinge; and a handle, which is mechanically connectable or connected to the proximal end of the adaptive blade. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The adaptive blade according to claim 11, wherein the first bearing surface is a constituent part of the articulated connection between two chain links of the first chain and the second bearing surface is a constituent part of the articulated connection between a chain link of the first chain and the spacer component.