Abstract:
A laryngoscope includes an elongated blade body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the blade body includes a plurality of arcuate slots therein. A movable tip extension is movably supported by the plurality of arcuate slots and movable in a forward and sideward direction beyond the distal end of the blade body. A guide member is attached to the movable tip extension for selectively moving the movable tip extension along the arcuate slots.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/553,625, filed on Oct. 31, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a laryngoscope blade, and more particularly to a laryngoscope blade having a mechanism for moving an epiglottis of a patient to a side of the device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     A laryngoscope is a medical device that is used to position an endotracheal tube into a patient&#39;s trachea. In particular, a laryngoscope is used to expose a patient&#39;s larynx thereby allowing the insertion of an endotracheal tube past the patient&#39;s vocal cords and into the patient&#39;s trachea. The insertion of an endotracheal tube provides an airway for ventilation and prevents foreign substances from entering the patient&#39;s trachea and lungs. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     A laryngoscope includes an elongated blade body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the blade body includes a plurality of arcuate slots therein. A movable tip extension is movably supported by the plurality of arcuate slots and movable in a forward and sideward direction beyond the distal end of the blade body. A guide member is attached to the movable tip extension for selectively moving the movable tip extension along the arcuate slots. The laryngoscope is free from any pinch points. The location of the guide member and the movable tip are strategically designed to provide a pinch-free design to avoid contact with the patient&#39;s soft tissue of the pharynx. 
     According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a laryngoscope includes an elongated blade body having a proximal end and a distal end. A movable tip extension is movably supported at the distal end of the blade body. Means are provided for guiding movement of the movable tip extension beyond the distal end of the blade body. A guide member is attached to the movable tip extension for moving the movable tip extension relative to the blade body. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a laryngoscope blade according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up perspective view of the laryngoscope blade according to the principles of the present disclosure with the lever arm removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a side plan view of the laryngoscope blade shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the laryngoscope blade shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan view of the laryngoscope blade shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the movable tip extension shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of a second alternative laryngoscope blade; and 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a third alternative laryngoscope blade. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5  a laryngoscope blade  10  according to the principles of the present disclosure will now be described. The laryngoscope blade  10  includes a blade body  12 . The blade body  12  can have a generally straight shape with a tip portion  14  having a curved shape, as best illustrated in the side view of  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, it should be understood that the blade body  12  could be curved and the tip portion  14  can be generally straight. The side of blade body  12  can be contoured to have a recessed side surface  15  to facilitate insertion in the patient&#39;s oral cavity and to provide greater clearance of the patient&#39;s right lower molars. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the tip portion  14  of the blade  10  includes a movable tip extension  16  that is engaged by a flexible cable  18 . The flexible cable  18  is moved by a lever  20  pivotally attached to a proximal end of the blade body  12 . The movable tip extension  16  can be supported by a plurality of arcuate guide tracks  22  (best shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 ) via guide pins  24  or another similar guide structure. 
     The lever  20  serves as an actuating device for moving the flexible cable  18  and thereby driving the movable tip extension  16  simultaneously in both a forward and sideward direction along the arcuate guide tracks  22  during insertion in the patient&#39;s throat. The tip portion  14  of the blade  10  can be brought adjacent to the patient&#39;s epiglottis, and operation of the lever  20  causes the cable  18  to push the movable tip extension  16  in an arcuate path along the arcuate guide tracks  22  so that a finger portion  26  of the movable tip extension  16  gently engages the epiglottis and moves it to one side of the patient&#39;s throat so as not to obstruct further insertion of the blade  10  and to allow unobstructed view of the trachea and insertion of an endotracheal tube. The finger portion  26  has a smooth arcuate side surface  28  that engages the epiglottis and gently pushes the epiglottis to one side as the movable tip extension is moved forward along the arcuate guide tracks  22 . The arcuate guide tracks  22  can have a T-shaped cross-section (best shown in  FIG. 5 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the guide pins  24  of the movable tip extension  16  can have a shank portion  24   a  and an enlarged head portion  24   b . The tip extension  16  has an attachment portion  29  for attachment to the cable  18 . The cable  18  is preferably flexible, yet rigid enough to allow the cable to push the tip extension  16 . The cable  18  can be made from plastic or metal or other materials, and can be received in guide members or channels  30  provided on the blade body  12 . 
     The location of the flexible cable  18 , the lever  20 , and the connection of the flexible cable  18  with the tip extension  16  are all strategically placed to avoid contact with the patient&#39;s soft tissue of the pharynx to provide a pinch-free design. In particular, the cable  18  and attachment of the cable  18  to the tip extension  16  are placed along an L-shaped channel between the blade body  12  and a reinforcing structure  31  on a back side of the blade body  12 . 
     Further, it should be understood that the guide tracks  22  can have a straight shape that is parallel to or angled relative to the axial length of the blade body  12  and that the side surface  28  of the movable tip extension can have various shapes to effect a sideward movement of the epiglottis when the movable tip extension is moved axially along the guide tracks. Further, it should be understood that the guide tracks can be placed on the tip extension and the guide pins or other similar structure can be placed on the blade body. Further alternative mechanisms such as linkages can be used for guiding the movable tip extension along a desired path for moving the epiglottis in a sideward direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a laryngoscope blade  110  can include a blade body  112  and a pivoting tip extension  116  attached to the blade body  112  by a pivot pin  118 . A pull cable  120  is attached to the tip extension  116  to cause pivoting movement of the tip extension  116  in the direction of arrow A. The pull cable  120  can be received in a guide channel  122  or guide loops. The pivoting movement of the tip extension  116  is in a laterally sideward direction relative to the generally planar tip  124  of the blade body. The tip extension  116  can include a protruding finger  126  that can engage the epiglottis and move it to a side when the tip extension  116  is pivoted. 
     According to an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a laryngoscope  210  includes a blade body  212  having a tip portion  214 . A push/pull rod  216  is received in a retainer tube or guide loops  218  and can include a hinge point  220  and an extension portion  222 . The extension portion  222  is engaged by a guide loop  224  that is slidably engaged with a guide track  226 . Accordingly, as the rod  216  is pushed, the extension portion  222  pivots about the hinge point  220  and moves in a sweeping sideward motion as the guide loop  224  moves along the guide track  226  in a forward diagonal direction. A stopper pin  228  can be attached to the rod  216  and when it engages the guide loop  224  initiates the guide loop  224  sliding along the guide track  226  to initiate the sideward motion. 
     The use of an alternative driving mechanism other than the lever  20 , such as a push button or other actuating device such as a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electro-mechanical actuator, can also be utilized. 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.