Laryngoscope having low magnetic susceptibility and method of assembling

• US 6,036,639 A
• Filed: 04/11/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Penlon Limited (BPL Medical Technologies Pvt Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Minrad Incorporated (Piramal Enterprises Limited)
• Inventors: Holdren, Earl R. III, Allred, Jimmie B. III, Pyszczek, Michael F., Mott, Richard W., Wutz, Philip S., Mozeko, Charles L., Mallon, Jeffrey B., Belstadt, Jack A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/837,339
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 600/184, 600/185, 600/199, 600/193
• US Class Current: 600/193
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64

Abstract

A laryngoscope constructed of materials including metal components having very low magnetic susceptibilities is described. The battery powering the laryngoscope lamp is a lithium battery also constructed of materials having low magnetic susceptibilities. The battery further includes a unique terminal configuration that prevents the inadvertent use of other batteries, including non-magnetic batteries, in the laryngoscope. A unique lamp retaining mechanism provides for quick and easy replacement of the lamp.

Claims

1. A laryngoscope, which comprises:

a) a handle;

b) an attachment means provided at an end of the handle, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

c) a lamp means housed inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade; and

d) a battery housed inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means, wherein the battery has a first end facing the lamp means and a second end, and wherein the second end and at least part of the battery side wall between the ends are provided with an insulative material to prevent electrical contact therewith, and wherein the first end of the battery comprises a first, continuous terminal surrounding a second terminal such that with the laryngoscope blade unattached to the attachment means, the lamp means is in an unenergized state and with the blade attached to the attachment means in an operative position, the lamp means is caused to move inside the handle to make electrical contact with the second terminal to thereby complete an electrical path that energizes the lamp directing light towards the blade.

2. The laryngoscope of claim 1 wherein the first, continuous terminal of the battery is in the shape of a ring at the first end of the battery.

3. The laryngoscope of claim 1 wherein the second terminal of the battery is centered along a longitudinal axis of the battery.

4. The laryngoscope of claim 1 wherein the first, continuous terminal of the battery comprises a ring at the first end and the second terminal is disposed in a recessed position towards the second end of the battery with respect to a plane of the ring.

5. The laryngoscope of claim 1 wherein the battery is an alkali metal battery.

6. The laryngoscope of claim 1 wherein the battery is a lithium/thionyl chloride-bromine chloride battery.

7. A laryngoscope, which comprises:

a) a handle;

b) an attachment means provided at an end of the handle, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

c) a lamp means housed inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade; and

d) a battery housed inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means, wherein the lamp means comprises a lamp retainer having a retainer side wall provided with a bore for receiving a lamp therein and wherein the retainer side wall has an opening communicating with the bore and adapted to receive a spring biased detent contacting a side wall of the lamp such that the lamp is held in the bore by the spring biased detent during operation of the laryngoscope and wherein the lamp is released from the retainer by movement of the lamp through the bore against the force of the spring biased detent for replacing the lamp.

8. The laryngoscope of claim 7 wherein the retainer side wall mounts a spring clip that biases the detent towards the bore.

9. The laryngoscope of claim 7 wherein the detent is a ball.

10. A laryngoscope, which comprises:

a) a handle;

b) an attachment means provided at an end of the handle, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

c) a lamp means housed inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade; and

d) a battery housed inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means, wherein the battery has a first end facing the lamp means and a second end and wherein the second end and at least part of the battery side wall between the ends are provided with an insulative material to prevent electrical contact therewith, and wherein the first end of the battery comprises a first, continuous terminal surrounding a second terminal such that with the laryngoscope blade unattached to the attachment means, the lamp means is in an unenergized state and with the blade attached to the attachment means in an operative position, the lamp means is caused to move inside the handle to make electrical contact with the second terminal to thereby complete an electrical path that energize the lamp directing light towards the blade and wherein the lamp means comprises a lamp retainer having a retainer side wall provided with a bore for receiving a lamp therein and wherein the retainer side wall has an opening communicating with the bore and adapted to receive a spring biased detent contacting a side wall of the lamp such that the lamp is held in the bore by the spring biased detent during operation of the laryngoscope and wherein the lamp is released from the retainer by movement of the lamp through the bore against the force of the spring biased detent for replacing the lamp.

11. The laryngoscope of claim 10 wherein the first, continuous terminal of the battery comprises a ring at the first end and the second terminal is disposed in a recessed position towards the second end of the battery with respect to a plane of the ring.

12. The laryngoscope of claim 10 wherein the retainer side wall mounts a spring clip that biases the detent towards the bore.

13. A laryngoscope, which comprises:

a) a handle;

b) an attachment means provided at an end of the handle, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

c) a lamp means housed inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade; and

d) a battery provided inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means, wherein the battery is an alkali metal battery housed inside of an austenitic stainless steel casing having a magnetic susceptibility of about 6,700×

10⁶ or less and wherein the internal electrical battery components, the handle, the attachment means and the lamp means have magnetic susceptibilities at least as low as that of austenitic stainless steel.

14. The laryngoscope of claim 13 wherein the handle is of chrome plated brass.

15. The laryngoscope of claim 13 wherein the attachment means is of chrome plated brass and stainless steel.

16. The laryngoscope of claim 13 wherein lamp means is of stainless steel and beryllium copper.

17. A method of assembling a laryngoscope, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle having an attachment means at an end thereof, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

b) housing a lamp means inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade;

c) providing a battery inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means, wherein the battery has a first end facing the lamp means and a second end and wherein the second end and at least part of the battery side wall between the ends are provided with an insulative material to prevent electrical contact therewith, and wherein the first end of the battery comprises a first, continuous terminal surrounding a second terminal; and

d) attaching the laryngoscope blade to the attachment means in an operative position causing the lamp means to move inside the handle to make electrical contact with the second terminal to thereby complete an electrical path that energize the lamp directing light towards the blade, and wherein when the laryngoscope blade is detached from the attachment means, the lamp means moves to out of contact with the battery.

18. The method of claim 17 including providing the first, continuous terminal of the battery in the shape of a ring at the first end of the battery.

19. The method of claim 17 including providing the second terminal of the battery centered along a longitudinal axis of the battery.

20. The method of claim 17 including providing the first, continuous terminal of the battery comprising a ring at the first end and the second terminal disposed in a recessed position towards the second end of the battery with respect to a plane of the ring.

21. The method of claim 17 including providing the battery as an alkali metal battery.

22. A method of assembling a laryngoscope, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle having an attachment means at an end thereof, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

b) housing a lamp means inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade, wherein the lamp means comprises a lamp retainer having a retainer side wall provided with a bore for receiving a lamp therein and wherein the retainer side wall has an opening communicating with the bore and adapted to receive a spring biased detent contacting a side wall of the lamp such that the lamp is held in the bore by the spring biased detent during operation of the laryngoscope;

c) providing a battery inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means and;

d) releasing the lamp from the retainer by movement of the lamp through the bore against the force of the spring biased detent at such time as the lamp requires replacing.

23. The method of claim 22 including providing the retainer side wall mounting a spring clip that biases the detent towards the bore.

24. The method of claim 22 including providing the detent as a ball.

25. A method of assembling a laryngoscope, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a handle having an attachment means at an end thereof, wherein the attachment means provides for detachably mounting a laryngoscope blade thereon;

b) housing a lamp means inside the handle as a light source for directing light towards the blade; and

c) providing a battery housed inside the handle to electrically energize the lamp means including providing the battery as an alkali metal battery housed inside of an austenitic stainless steel casing having a magnetic susceptibility of about 6,700×

10⁶ or less and further providing the internal electrical battery components, the handle, the attachment means and the lamp means having magnetic susceptibilities at least as low as that of austenitic stainless steel.

26. The method of claim 25 including the handle of chrome plated brass.

27. The method of claim 25 including providing the attachment means of chrome plated brass and stainless steel.

28. The method of claim 25 including providing the lamp means of stainless steel and beryllium copper.