Laryngoscope and laryngoscope handle apparatus including an LED and which may include an ergonomic handle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Laryngoscope handle apparatus, comprising:
- an ergonomic handle for containing a DC energy source, wherein said ergonomic handle includes a hollow rigid inner cylinder and a generally cylindrical outer soft layer of material molded around said inner cylinder and having a durometer of about 55 on the Shore A scale, and wherein said layer of soft material includes a generally cylindrical central portion having uniform diametrical cross-section, a first outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A1 and an opposing second outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A2 smaller than said taper angle A1;
an LED light source;
an LED drive circuit;
a lens, wherein said lens is a total internal reflection collector; and
means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit to cause said LED drive circuit to produce and apply constant current to said LED light source which produces and transmits light to and through said lens.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laryngoscope including a laryngoscope blade and laryngoscope handle apparatus including an LED and which may include an ergonomic handle and laryngoscope handle apparatus including an LED and which may include an ergonomic handle.
35 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. Laryngoscope handle apparatus, comprising:
-
an ergonomic handle for containing a DC energy source, wherein said ergonomic handle includes a hollow rigid inner cylinder and a generally cylindrical outer soft layer of material molded around said inner cylinder and having a durometer of about 55 on the Shore A scale, and wherein said layer of soft material includes a generally cylindrical central portion having uniform diametrical cross-section, a first outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A1 and an opposing second outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A2 smaller than said taper angle A1; an LED light source; an LED drive circuit; a lens, wherein said lens is a total internal reflection collector; and means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit to cause said LED drive circuit to produce and apply constant current to said LED light source which produces and transmits light to and through said lens. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. Laryngoscope handle apparatus, comprising:
-
an ergonomic handle for containing a DC energy source wherein said ergonomic handle includes a hollow rigid inner cylinder and a generally cylindrical outer soft layer of material molded around said inner cylinder and having a durometer of about 55 on the Shore A scale, and wherein said layer of soft material includes a generally cylindrical central portion having a uniform diametrical cross-section, a first outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A1 and an opposing second outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A2 smaller than said taper angle A1; a head mounted to one end of said ergonomic handle; an LED light source mounted in said handle apparatus; an LED drive circuit mounted in said handle apparatus and connected to said LED light source; a lens mounted in said head and to said LED light source, wherein said lens is a total internal reflection collector; and means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit to cause said LED drive circuit to produce and apply constant current to said LED light source which produces and transmits light to and through said lens. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. Laryngoscope for providing illuminated tracheal intubation, comprising:
-
laryngoscope handle apparatus including a head for being mounted to a laryngoscope blade and a hollow cylindrical handle for containing a DC energy source and including a hollow rigid inner cylinder and a generally cylindrical outer soft layer of material molded around said inner cylinder and having an ergonomic shape and a durometer of about 55 on the Shore A scale, and a head mounted to one end of said handle; a module including at least one LED and a printed circuit board including a LED drive circuit mounted in said laryngoscope handle apparatus, said LED mounted mechanically and electrically to said printed circuit board, wherein said module further includes a generally annular heat sink providing an upper inner annular shoulder and a lower inner annular shoulder separated from said first inner annular shoulder by a cylindrical opening, wherein said printed circuit board is a first circular printed circuit board having a top surface to which said LED is mounted and a bottom surface including an outer annular portion residing on said first inward annular shoulder, said module further including a second printed circuit board having a top surface including an outer annular portion residing on said second inward annular shoulder, said top surface of said second printed circuit board provided with a first electrical trace and a second electrical trace, said module further including a positive connector mounted generally centrally to and extending downwardly from said second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board further including a positive lead extending downwardly therefrom through said cylindrical opening and connected mechanically to said second printed circuit board and electrically to said first electrical trace which electrically interconnects said positive lead and said positive connector, and said first printed circuit board further including a negative lead extending downwardly therefrom through said cylindrical opening and connected mechanically to said second printed circuit board and electrically to said second trace which electrically interconnects said negative lead and said heat sink; a total internal reflector collector mounted in said laryngoscope handle apparatus and to said LED; a normally open connector circuit mounted in said laryngoscope handle apparatus and connected between said DC energy source and said LED drive circuit; a laryngoscope blade provided with an optical fiber and for being mounted removably and pivotally to said head; and upon said blade being mounted to said head and pivoted away from said handle for tracheal intubation, said blade closing said connector circuit to connect said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit which produces and applies constant current to said LED which emits light which is transmitted to said optical fiber through said total internal reflection collector and which light is transmitted through said optical fiber for illuminated tracheal intubation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. Laryngoscope apparatus, comprising:
-
a laryngoscope blade; an ergonomic handle for containing a DC energy source, wherein said ergonomic handle includes a hollow rigid inner cylinder and a generally cylindrical outer soft layer of material molded around said inner cylinder and having a durometer of about 55 on the Shore A scale, and wherein said layer of soft material includes a generally cylindrical central portion having uniform diametrical cross-section, a first outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A1 and an opposing second outer portion varying in diametrical cross-section and tapering inwardly at a taper angle A2 smaller than said taper angle A1; an LED light source; an LED drive circuit; a lens, wherein said lens is a total internal reflection collector; and means engageable and operable by said blade upon being mounted to said handle for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit to cause said LED drive circuit to produce and apply constant current to said LED light source which produces and transmits light to and through said lens. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. Laryngoscope handle apparatus, comprising:
-
a handle containing a DC energy source having a negative terminal and a positive terminal, wherein said DC energy source includes at least one battery; a head mounted to one end of said handle; an LED light source mounted in said handle apparatus; an LED drive circuit mounted in said handle apparatus and connected to said LED light source; a lens mounted in said head and to said LED light source, wherein said lens is a total internal reflection collector; and means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit to cause said LED drive circuit to produce and apply constant current to said LED light source which produces and transmits light to and through said lens; wherein said means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit are normally electrically open means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit and include normally closed negative connector means connecting said negative terminal to said LED drive circuit and normally open positive connector means connected to said LED drive circuit and for being closed by said blade being mounted to said head to connect said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit; wherein said negative connector means include an electrically conductive elongated connector including a first end connected to said negative terminal and a second end including an annular portion surrounding and spaced from said positive terminal and an electrically conductive compression spring mounted intermediate said annular portion and said LED drive circuitry and for normally biasing said positive connector means out of engagement with said positive terminal; and wherein said apparatus further includes a generally cylindrical casing residing in said handle and including a first portion providing a first chamber and a second portion providing a second chamber and including a generally semi-circular inwardly extending seating shoulder intermediate said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber for receiving said battery and said second chamber for receiving said LED drive circuit, said elongated member including a first portion formed inwardly upon itself to provide a spring for mechanically and electrically engaging said negative terminal and for biasing said battery against said seating shoulder in said second chamber, said annular portion of said elongated member extending inwardly between said first chamber and said second chamber and partially extending over and partially residing on said seating shoulder, said casing including an upper portion providing a generally central opening through which said lens extends. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. Laryngoscope for providing illuminated tracheal intubation, comprising:
-
laryngoscope handle apparatus including a head for being mounted to a laryngoscope blade and a hollow cylindrical handle for containing a DC energy source; a module including at least one LED and a printed circuit board including a LED drive circuit mounted in said laryngoscope handle apparatus, said LED mounted mechanically and electrically to said printed circuit board, wherein said module further includes a generally annular heat sink providing an upper inner annular shoulder and a lower inner annular shoulder separated from said first inner annular shoulder by a cylindrical opening, wherein said printed circuit board is a first circular printed circuit board having a top surface to which said LED is mounted and a bottom surface including an outer annular portion residing on said first inward annular shoulder, said module further including a second printed circuit board having a top surface including an outer annular portion residing on said second inward annular shoulder, said top surface of said second printed circuit board provided with a first electrical trace and a second electrical trace, said module further including a positive connector mounted generally centrally to and extending downwardly from said second printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board further including a positive lead extending downwardly therefrom through said cylindrical opening and connected mechanically to said second printed circuit board and electrically to said first electrical trace which electrically interconnects said positive lead and said positive connector, and said first printed circuit board further including a negative lead extending downwardly therefrom through said cylindrical opening and connected mechanically to said second printed circuit board and electrically to said second trace which electrically interconnects said negative lead and said heat sink; a total internal reflector collector mounted in said laryngoscope handle apparatus and to said LED; a normally open connector circuit mounted in said laryngoscope handle apparatus and connected between said DC energy source, when installed, and said LED drive circuit; a laryngoscope blade provided with an optical fiber and for being mounted removably and pivotally to said head; and upon said blade being mounted to said head and pivoted away from said handle for tracheal intubation, said blade closing said connector circuit to connect said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit which produces and applies constant current to said LED which emits light which is transmitted to said optical fiber through said total internal reflection collector and which light is transmitted through said optical fiber for illuminated tracheal intubation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. Laryngoscope handle apparatus, comprising:
-
an ergonomic handle having a DC energy source disposed therein, wherein said DC energy source includes a negative terminal and a positive terminal and wherein said DC energy source includes at least one battery; a head mounted to one end of said ergonomic handle; an LED light source mounted in said handle apparatus; an LED drive circuit mounted in said handle apparatus and connected to said LED light source; a lens mounted in said head and to said LED light source, wherein said lens is a total internal reflection collector; and means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit to cause said LED drive circuit to produce and apply constant current to said LED light source which produces and transmits light to and through said lens; wherein said means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit are normally electrically open means for connecting said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit and include normally closed negative connector means connecting said negative terminal to said LED drive circuit and normally open positive connector means connected to said LED drive circuit and for being closed to connect said DC energy source to said LED drive circuit; wherein said negative connector means include an electrically conductive elongated connector including a first end connected to said negative terminal and a second end including an annular portion surrounding and spaced from said positive terminal and an electrically conductive compression spring mounted intermediate said annular portion and said LED drive circuitry and for normally biasing said positive connector means out of engagement with said positive terminal; and wherein said apparatus further includes a generally cylindrical casing residing in said ergonomic handle and including a first portion providing a first chamber and a second portion providing a second chamber and including a generally C-shaped inwardly extending seating shoulder intermediate said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber for receiving said battery and said second chamber for receiving said LED drive circuit, said first end of said elongated member formed inwardly upon itself to provide a spring for mechanically and electrically engaging said negative terminal and for biasing said battery against said seating shoulder in said second chamber, said annular portion of said elongated member extending inwardly between said first chamber and said second chamber and residing on said seating shoulder, said casing including an upper portion providing a generally central opening through which said lens extends. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
Specification