Laryngoscope

A laryngoscope blade suitable for performing endotracheal intubation comprising:

• an elongated blade body having a longitudinal axis, distal end and proximal end;
• said blade body being generally C-shaped in cross-section over its major longitudinal extent and having two spaced longitudinal edges;
• said blade being configured and adapted to be inserted into a patient's oral cavity;
• means at said proximal end for attaching said blade to a laryngoscope handle at substantially a right angle relative to said blade;
• said distal end of said blade body pivotally supporting a tip so as to be movable within an angular range of approximately 90.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of said blade body;
• said tip being adapted to engage and depress the epiglottis of a patient in order to permit viewing of the larynx and permit intubation;
• a push rod mounted on said blade body in a guide tube laterally offset from the axis of said body and disposed at one of said edges for longitudinal movement relative thereto;
• means carried by said blade body for normally biasing said push rod toward its extreme proximal position;
• and means operatively connecting said distal end of said push rod to said tip and which translates longitudinal movement of said push rod into pivotal movement of said tip.

A laryngoscope comprising a handle and a laryngeal blade detachably secured to each other at substantially a right angle;

• said blade being elongated and having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end relative to said handle;
• said blade being configured and adapted to be inserted into a patient's oral cavity;
• means detachably securing said blade at its proximal end to said handle;
• said blade over its major longitudinal extent being generally C-shaped in cross-section and having two spaced longitudinal edges;
• the distal end of said blade being separated from the remainder of said blade and pivotally connected thereto so as to form a tip arranged to be movable within an angular range of approximately 90.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of said blade;
• said tip being adapted to engage and depress the epiglottis of a patient in order to permit viewing of the larynx and permit intubation;
• a push rod mounted on said blade in a guide tube laterally offset from the axis of said blade and disposed at one of said edges for longitudinal movement relative thereto;
• means carried by said blade for normally biasing said push rod toward its extreme proximal position;
• the distal end of said push rod being operatively connected to said tip by linkage means which translates longitudinal movement of said push rod into pivotal movement of said tip;
• a manually operated control lever pivotally secured to said handle;
• a push rod actuating lever pivotally secured to said handle and linked to said control lever to translate selective manual pivoting of said control lever into pivoting of said actuating lever;
• said actuating lever having a push rod actuating end that normally projects beyond said handle when said blade and handle are separated, and which is juxtaposed to the proximal end of said push rod when said blade and said handle are connected;
• said control lever being biased relative to said handle to a position in which it does not actuate said actuating lever, but being selectively manually moved to a position wherein it causes said actuating lever to move said push rod toward the distal end of the blade when said handle and said blade are connected, whereby said tip is selectively manually pivoted by selective manual operation of said control lever.