Abstract:
The present invention contemplates a new device for adjustably attaching a tongue blade to an endoscope. In general, the device secures a tongue blade holder to the body of an endoscope and permits adjustment of the angle of the tongue blade with respect to the light source of the endoscope. Typically, the device has a clamp for receiving an endoscope body near the juncture of the handle and the light source of the endoscope. The clamp has a fastener for securing the clamp to the outer surface of the endoscope body and may be adapted for use with endoscopes somewhat larger or smaller in cross section than the clamp opening. The clamp has an attached tongue blade holder pivotably attached to the clamp and securable at an angle relative to the endoscope light source. The device also has several surfaces for the display of graphics.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a new device for securing a tongue blade to an endoscope. The device allows adjustment of the tongue blade to a desired angle relative to the light source of the endoscope. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An endoscope is commonly used for medical examinations, particularly of the ears, nose and throat. In examining the throat, medical practitioners often also employ a tongue blade for pressing on the tongue or adjusting the angle of the jaw of the patient. Despite the simplicity and effectiveness of these two tools, the examination is often hampered by the disadvantageous fact that the medical practitioner is typically limited by having one of the tools in each hand. This can be a serious problem in situations where it would be advantageous for the medical practitioner to grasp or manipulate an additional object. It is also a serious problem for the medical practitioner to have both hands occupied when attempting to examine the throat of a patient who is unable or unwilling to hold still, as is often the case with children, for example. A few attempts have been made to address these problems, but the they have not been entirely satisfactory. 
     A lighted diagnostic instrument with a carrier for securing a tongue depressor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,990,972 to Arneson. However, this apparatus has the problem of eliminating the possibility of varying the angle between the instrument eyepiece and the tongue depressor, as can be done with the two-handed examination method. Thus, the tool does not provide an advantageous viewing angle for examining patients of proportions that do not correspond to those of the tool. Obviously, this is a serious limitation on the usefulness of the apparatus. Additionally, there is no surface suitable for affixing graphics, which is a commercial disadvantage. Also, the apparatus of this design is constructed as a combined unit consisting of a particular endoscope with a carrier, not as a device for possible use with various endoscopes. 
     The apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 1,510,304 to Cameron, discloses another attempt to provide useful illumination to a tongue depressor. As with the previously cited design, this apparatus provides only one viewing angle parallel with the light source. Again, this apparatus is also a combined unit of a particular endoscope with an attached receiving member. Also, this device has no surface adapted for the display of graphics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,023,945 to Allyn discloses another combination light holder and spatula holder unit. This apparatus has the same disadvantages in common with the above-cited patents. The light source and spatula of this apparatus are pivotable as a unit, but the angle of the spatula relative to the light source is not adjustable. This device does not have any surfaces particularly adapted for displaying graphics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contemplates a new device for adjustably attaching a tongue blade to an endoscope. In general, the device secures a tongue blade holder to the body of an endoscope in a way that permits adjustment of the angle of the tongue blade with respect to the light source of the endoscope. 
     The device for securing a tongue blade to an endoscope has a clamp attachable to an endoscope body. The clamp is affixed to a tongue blade holder via a joint fastenable at selectable angles relative to the endoscope light source. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the fastenable joint incorporates corresponding ridge-and-groove surfaces providing a plurality of tongue blade holder angle adjustments. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the fastenable joint is tightened with a thumb screw. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the device provides surfaces adapted for the display of graphics. 
     According to still another aspect of the invention, the device includes one or more flexible sleeve sized to fit around the endoscope body and within the inner surface of the clamp for securing the clamp to an endoscope body of external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the clamp. 
     According to yet an additional aspect of the invention the clamp for securing the device to the endoscope body is a split ring. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate several examples of the present invention. These drawings together with the description serve to explain the principals of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative examples of how the invention can be made and used and are not to be construed as limiting the inventions to only the illustrated and described examples. The various advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the tongue blade holding device with an endoscope (not part of the invention); 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the tongue blade holding device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the tongue blade holding device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded top perspective view of the tongue blade holding device of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present inventions will be described by referring to drawings of the device and examples of how the inventions can be made and used. In these drawings reference characters are used throughout the several views to indicate like or corresponding parts. 
     In the description of the invention, certain terms are employed to refer to the parts and structures of the device. The term “endoscope” means an instrument for visually examining the inside of a body cavity accessible through a natural orifice. The term “tongue blade” is used to mean a wooden or plastic tongue depressor of the type well known in the art. The term “graphics” means visible markings and is intended to encompass all manner of printing, engraving, letters, characters, insignia, drawings, symbols, logos, trademarks, and the like. 
     FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a new device shown securing a tongue blade to a light source, for example, an endoscope. Referring primarily to FIG. 1, in general, the device  10  has a clamp portion  12  and a blade holder portion  14 . The clamp portion  12  secures the device to an instrument such as, for a more specific example, an otoscope O. The tongue blade holder portion  14  holds a tongue blade B. Neither the otoscope O, nor the tongue blade B, are part of the invention. In the description of the invention, certain terms are employed to refer to the positional relationship of certain structures relative to other structures. In all figures, the term “longitudinal” means the direction defined by the axis of body of the otoscope O. Correspondingly, the term “transverse” means the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The terms “upper” or “top” and “lower” or “bottom,” “front” and “rear,” “vertical” and “horizontal.” are used for convenience in reference to the orientations shown in the drawings and are not intended to be assignatory in the context of making and using the invention. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the device  10  for securing a tongue blade B to an endoscope is more fully described. The device is preferably made from rigid plastic but may also be made from metal or other rigid material. The clamp portion  12  of the device  10  has a split ring  16  for receiving the body of an instrument, and an integral transverse arm  18  extending radially. In this description, the instrument is an otoscope O with a substantially cylindrical body as is common in the art. Of course the invention may be practiced with otoscopes, as shown, or other instruments known in the arts. The split ring shown in this example could be a clamp made in any shape to substantially correspond to an existing endoscope body. 
     The split ring  16  defines a longitudinal hollow cylinder open at its top end  20  and bottom end  22 . The split ring  16  has an inner surface  24  and an outer surface  26 . The arm  18  is composed of two shanks: a short shank  28  and a long shank  30 . The short shank  28  has an inner surface  32 , and an outer surface  34 . The long shank  30  also has an inner surface  36 , and an outer surface  38 . respectively. The shanks  28 ,  30 , are adjacent at their respective inner surfaces  32 ,  36 , and parallel to one another. The short shank has a terminal end  40 , and the long shank has a terminal end  42 . The arm  18  has a cylindrical fastener hole  44  extending through both shanks  28 ,  30 , perpendicular to the transverse and longitudinal axes. Fastener hole  44  is threaded to accept a screw  45 . The arm  18  also has a cylindrical attachment hole  46  through the long shank  30  perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse axes. Attachment hole  46  is threaded to accept a threaded fastener. A plurality of ridges  48  on the inner surface  36  radiate around the attachment hole  46 . It will be clear to those skilled in the arts that different types of fasteners may be used such as a bolt or a removable pin or rivet. 
     The tongue blade holder  14  preferably has a rectangular box-like outer shape with an upper surface  50  parallel to a lower surface  52 , two opposing sides  54 ,  56 , and a front  58  and a rear  60 . The front  58  of the tongue blade holder  14  has a slot  62  of a size to receive a tongue blade B end lengthwise in a horizontal orientation. The slot  62  preferably has parallel opposing sides  61 ,  63 , and a top  65  and bottom  67  slightly angled toward one another at the rear. The tongue blade holder  14  has an integral pivot arm  64  approximately perpendicular and centered at the rear  60 . The pivot arm  64  has an outer surface  66  and an inner surface  68 . The pivot arm  69  is rounded or shortened to permit the pivoting described below. The pivot arm  64  has a cylindrical pivot hole  70  corresponding to the size and orientation of the attachment hole  46  of the clamp  12 . Grooves  72  on the inner surface  68  radiate from around the circumference of the pivot hole  70 . The grooves  72  are sized to receive the ridges  48  of the inner surface  36  of the long shank  30  of the clamp  12 . The grooves  72  and ridges  48  are designed to lock together in an interdigital manner forming a ridge-and-groove joint  73 . A fastener, preferably a thumbscrew  74 , is provided for passing through the pivot hole  70  and fastening with the threads of attachment hole  46 . It should be understood that other types of adjustable joints and fasteners may be used to provide an adjustable yet securable joint. 
     The use of the device  10  for securing a tongue blade to a light source L of the otoscope O is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The split ring  16  of the clamp  12  is placed so that it encircles the body of an endoscope or other light source. In this case an otoscope O familiar in the art is shown. The screw  45  is tightened sufficiently to secure the split ring  16  to the otoscope O body without slipping. The pivot arm  64  is fastened to the arm  18  of the clamp  12  by a thumbscrew  74  inserted through pivot arm hole  70  and tightened into the threads in the attachment hole  46 . When thumbscrew  74  is fully tightened, the pivot arm inner surface  68  contacts the inner surface  36  of long shank  30 . The grooves  72  receive ridges  48 , providing an interlocking ridge-and-groove joint  73  firmly securing the blade holder  14  to the clamp  12  at a desired angle A with respect to the light source L. Subsequent adjustments may be made by loosening the thumbscrew  74 , pivoting the holder about the thumbscrew to a desired angle, and re-tightening the thumbscrew  74 . A tongue blade B may be removed and replaced from the slot  62  as desired. A tongue blade is preferably held in place by pressure from the top  65  and bottom  67  of the slot, although other methods such as a leaf spring arrangement or set screw may also be used. 
     If an endoscope larger than the diameter of the split ring  16  is encountered, the split ring may nevertheless be fastened to the body of the endoscope as above. This will result in the inner surfaces  28 ,  36  of the shanks  28 ,  30  being held substantially parallel, but not touching, by threaded fastener  45 , in this case, a screw. This aspect of the invention is best seen in FIG.  2 . If an endoscope smaller in diameter than the diameter of the split ring  16  is to be used with the invention, one or more sleeves, preferably of flexible material such as flexible plastic or expanded plastic foam, may be inserted between the inner surface  24  of the split ring  16  and the endoscope body. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 4, tightening screw  45 , then secures the split ring  16  and sleeve around the otoscope body O. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the invention includes several surfaces capable of displaying graphics  80 . Namely, the external peripheral surface of the split ring  26 , and the upper surface  50  and lower surface  52  of the holder  14 . For example, these surfaces are advantageous for the display of logos, initials, trademarks, trade names, a particular physician&#39;s name, decorative design, or other graphic content. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only exemplary. Many details are often found in the art such as variations in the size and shape of endoscopes or other light sources. Therefore many such details are neither shown nor described. It is not claimed that all of the details, parts, elements, or steps described and shown were invented herein. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present inventions have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the inventions, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the inventions to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the attached claims. For example, the placement of the interlocking grooves and ridges of the clamp/holder portions of the invention could be rearranged. Similarly, different materials could be used, or different types of fasteners or thumbscrews, all within the concept of the invention. 
     The restrictive description and drawings of the specific examples above do not point out what an infringement of this of this patent would be, but are to provide at least one explanation of how to make and use the inventions. The limits of the inventions and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.