Laryngoscope blade

Abstract

An improved laryngoscope blade for use with a conventional laryngoscope handle and conventional means for illumination. The improvements to the blade include a small reverse curve at the tip of the blade to better visualize the depth of insertion of the blade, include a greater width of the portion of the blade proximal to the handle to provide improved means for controlling the tongue, and include a more gradual curvature of the blade to better conform to the shape of the airway opening when the patient is properly positioned for laryngoscopy. The blade may also include a vertical wall which may be thickened to serve as a bite block, and raised areas to define grooves on the surface of the blade for insertion of an endotracheal tube and/or a suction catheter.

I claim:  
     
       1. An improved blade for a laryngoscope having a handle, comprising: 
       a) an arcuate body having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, the body being substantially flat, having a convex top surface and a concave bottom surface,  
       said proximal portion being configured and dimensioned to the width of a patient's mouth in order to depress and control the tongue of a patient during insertion of an endotracheal tube,  
       said distal portion tapering in width from the proximal portion to the distal end, the distal portion being configured and dimensioned to enter a throat of the patient in order to raise the epiglottis for insertion of the endotracheal tube,  
       wherein a median axis extending longitudinally through the proximal portion of the bottom surface of said arcuate body and a median axis extending longitudinally through the distal portion of the bottom surface of said arcuate body intersect to define an angle between and inclusive of 5 and 25 degrees;  
       b) means for connection to the laryngoscope handle connected to the proximal end of said arcuate body;  
       c) a tip at the distal end of said arcuate body, the tip having a point of inflection and a short tip extension from said point, the extension being substantially concave upwards; and  
       d) means for illuminating the distal end of said arcuate blade.  
     
     
       2. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of said arcuate body have a proximal portion having a width greater than 2 cm, the proximal portion having a substantially oblong shape, and a distal portion which tapers in width from the proximal portion to a width of not greater than 2 cm at the distal end of said arcuate body. 
     
     
       3. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of said arcuate body have a proximal portion having a width of between 2 cm and 6 cm, the proximal portion having a substantially oblong shape, and a distal portion which tapers in width from the proximal portion to a width not greater than 2 cm at the distal end of said arcuate body, wherein the proximal portion of said arcuate body is configured and dimensioned to the width of a patient's mouth and the distal portion is configured and dimensioned to enter the patient's throat. 
     
     
       4. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one raised area on the convex top surface of said arcuate body defining a plurality of grooves whereby the larynx may be visualized and whereby and endotracheal tube or suction catheter may be passed over the blade and inserted into the trachea. 
     
     
       5. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 4 , further comprising a vertical wall having its bottom edge attached to an edge of the proximal portion of said arcuate body. 
     
     
       6. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 5 , wherein said vertical wall is dimensioned and configured in thickness to serve as a bite block whereby the patient is prevented from damaging his teeth by biting said blade and from preventing intubation by biting the tube. 
     
     
       7. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for connection to the laryngoscope handle is attached to the bottom surface of said arcuate body and pivotally mounts the blade to the laryngoscope handle so that the blade is substantially parallel to the handle when not in use and substantially perpendicular to the handle to form an L-shape in use. 
     
     
       8. An improved blade for a laryngoscope having a handle, comprising: 
         a )  an arcuate body having a proximal portion including a proximal end and a distal portion including a distal end, the body being substantially flat, having a convex top surface and a concave bottom surface,    
       
         said proximal portion being configured and dimensioned to the width of a patient's mouth in order to depress and control the tongue of a patient during insertion of an endotracheal tube,  
       
       
         said distal portion tapering in width from the proximal portion to the distal end, the distal portion being configured and dimensioned to enter the throat of a patient in order to raise the epiglottis for insertion of the endotracheal tube,  
       
       
         wherein a median axis extending longitudinally through the proximal portion of the bottom surface of said arcuate body and a median axis extending longitudinally through the distal portion of the bottom surface of said arcuate body intersect to define an angle between and inclusive of  5  and  25  degrees;  
       
         b )  means for connection to the laryngoscope handle connected to the proximal end of said arcuate body; and    
         c )  means for illuminating the distal end of said arcuate blade.   
     
     
       9. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 8 , wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of said arcuate body have a proximal portion having a width greater than  2  cm, the proximal portion having a substantially oblong shape, and a distal portion which tapers in width from the proximal portion to a width of not greater than  2  cm at the distal end of said arcuate body. 
     
     
       10. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 8 , wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of said arcuate body have a proximal portion having a width of between  2  cm and  6  cm, the proximal portion having a substantially oblong shape, and a distal portion which tapers in width from the proximal portion to a width not greater than  2  cm at the distal end of said arcuate body, wherein the proximal portion of said arcuate body is configured and dimensioned to the width of a patient's mouth and the distal portion is configured and dimensioned to enter the patient's throat. 
     
     
       11. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one raised area on the convex top surface of said arcuate body defining a plurality of grooves whereby the larynx may be visualized and whereby an endotracheal tube or suction catheter may be passed over the blade and inserted into the trachea. 
     
     
       12. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 11 , further comprising a vertical wall having its bottom edge attached to an edge of the proximal portion of said arcuate body. 
     
     
       13. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 12 , wherein said vertical wall is dimensioned and configured in thickness to serve as a bite block whereby the patient is prevented from damaging his teeth by biting said blade and from preventing intubation by biting the tube. 
     
     
       14. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 8 , wherein said means for connection to the laryngoscope handle is attached to the bottom surface of said arcuate body and pivotally mounts the blade to the laryngoscope handle so that the blade is substantially parallel to the handle when not in use and substantially perpendicular to the handle to form an L- shape in use.   
     
     
       15. The improved blade for a laryngoscope according to  claim 8 , wherein the distal end of said arcuate body includes a tip having a point of inflection and a short tip extension from said point.