Laryngoscope insertion section structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11510563-B2
Application number	US-202016990767-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2020
Priority date	May 13, 2010
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed is a laryngoscope insertion section having a curved superior surface, a curved inferior surface, and a channel extending from the proximal end the channel having an inferior surface with a greater curvature than the curvature of the inferior surface. The insertion section is compatible with laryngoscope hardware optimized for indirect viewing, yet enables direct viewing. The distance between the inferior and superior surfaces is at a maximum within the intermediate portion, and enables the dimensions of the proximal and distal portions to be minimized. Thus, the intermediate portion, located in the patient's oral cavity in use, is provided with greatest depth and strength where the greatest forces are received, whereas the distal and proximal portions are of reduced dimensions to minimize trauma to the patient's airway and mouth areas, respectively. Structural features providing the insertion section with improved strength, with a minimum of material and size, are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laryngoscope blade, comprising:
a curved superior surface along a first side of the blade;
a curved inferior surface along an opposite second side of the blade, the curved inferior surface configured to face a patient's tongue when the laryngoscope blade is fully inserted in a patient for use, wherein, in an intermediate portion of the laryngoscope blade, the curved superior surface and the curved inferior surface each curve along a respective radius of curvature, wherein a radius of curvature of the superior surface is less than a radius of curvature of the inferior surface;
a channel extending partially through a length of the laryngoscope blade;
an aperture positioned between the curved inferior surface and the channel;
a buttressed region disposed on a proximal end of the laryngoscope blade and extending laterally away from the inferior surface, wherein the aperture extends completely through the buttressed region; and
wherein a distance between the inferior surface and superior surface is maximum in the intermediate portion of the laryngoscope blade, and the distance between the inferior surface and superior surface narrows in the proximal portion of the blade.

2. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein the curved superior surface has a same radius of curvature extending to a proximal portion of the laryngoscope blade, such that the curved superior surface of the proximal and intermediate portions form an arc of a circle.

3. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein the radius of curvature of the curved inferior surface is between 40 mm and 220 mm at the intermediate portion.

4. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein a center of curvature of the curved inferior surface is closer to a center line of the laryngoscope blade than a center of curvature of the curved superior surface.

5. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the laryngoscope blade and a center of curvature of the curved inferior surface is greater than a distance between the laryngoscope blade and a center of curvature of the curved superior surface.

6. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein a center of curvature of the curved superior surface and a center of curvature of the curved inferior surface are at least 15 mm apart.

7. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein the aperture defines an opening which extends completely through a wall in the intermediate portion of the laryngoscope blade.

8. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes four walls and is curved to follow the curved superior surface.

9. The laryngoscope blade of claim 1 , comprising a strengthening element member that is integral to the intermediate portion.

10. A laryngoscope blade, comprising:
a superior surface along a first side of the blade;
an inferior surface along an opposite second side of the blade, the inferior surface configured to face a patient's tongue when the laryngoscope blade is fully inserted in a patient for use;
a channel positioned directly between the superior surface and the inferior surface, the channel terminating in a closed end face, wherein, in an intermediate portion of the laryngoscope blade, the superior surface and the inferior surface each curve along a respective radius of curvature that is different from one another, wherein the intermediate portion comprises an aperture, which defines an opening;
a buttressed region disposed on a proximal end of the laryngoscope blade and extending laterally away from the inferior surface, wherein the opening of the aperture extends completely through the buttressed region; and
wherein the distance between the inferior surface and superior surface of the insertion section is maximum in the intermediate portion of the laryngoscope blade, and the distance between the inferior and superior surfaces narrows in the proximal portion of the blade.

11. The laryngoscope blade of claim 10 , wherein the channel comprises an inferior internal surface, and wherein a distance between the inferior internal surface of the channel and the inferior surface is more than 2 mm in at least one location positioned directly inferior to the channel.

12. The laryngoscope blade of claim 10 , wherein an angle between a plane perpendicular to the inferior surface and the buttress is between 90 degrees and 115 degrees.

13. The laryngoscope blade of claim 12 , wherein a wall thickness of the buttressed region is greater than a wall thickness of the channel along the superior surface.

14. The laryngoscope blade of claim 10 , wherein a cross-section of the channel has a square shape.

15. A laryngoscope blade, comprising:
a superior surface along a first side of the blade;
an inferior surface along an opposite second side of the blade, the inferior surface configured to face a patient's tongue when in the laryngoscope blade is fully inserted in a patient for use;
a channel positioned directly between the superior surface and the inferior surface, wherein the channel extends from the proximal portion of the laryngoscope blade through at least the intermediate portion of the blade, the channel terminating in a closed end face, wherein the superior surface and the inferior surface each curve along a respective radius of curvature that is different from one another, wherein the intermediate portion comprises an aperture;
a buttressed region disposed on a proximal end of the laryngoscope blade and extending laterally away from the inferior surface, wherein the aperture extends completely through the buttressed region; and
wherein a distance between the inferior surface and superior surface of the insertion section is maximum in the intermediate portion of the laryngoscope blade, and the distance between the inferior surface and superior surface narrows in the proximal portion of the blade.

16. The laryngoscope blade of claim 15 , wherein the laryngoscope blade comprises a strengthening member.

17. The laryngoscope blade of claim 15 , wherein the channel has a constant cross-section along its length.

18. The laryngoscope blade of claim 15 , wherein a thickness of a buttress in the buttressed region is between 2 mm and 8 mm.

Assignees

• Aircraft Medical Ltd
• Covidien Ag

Inventors

• Mcgrath Matthew John Ross
• Inglis Peter Douglas Colin

Classifications

• A61B1/267 Primary

  for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes · CPC title