Patent ID: 7338440

Claim:
A laryngoscope system comprising: a blade having a distal end and a proximal end with an intermediate extent there between, the blade having a generally C-shaped recess adjacent to the proximal end; a handle having a lower end and an upper end and a central extent there between, the lower end including two parallel shoulders with a space there between to receive the blade and a pin spanning the space to rotatably support the recess of the blade; an optical subassembly extending between the blade and the handle; the blade and handle movable between an operative position wherein the blade is at a right angle with respect to the handle and an inoperative position wherein the blade is parallel to the handle; a suction subassembly extending between the blade and the handle including a tubular passageway in the blade extending from a first end at the distal end of the blade to a second end at a location adjacent to the proximal end of the blade with an elbow having a lower end coupled to the second end and a free upper end, the elbow being secured laterally to one side of the blade, the suction subassembly also including a vertical tube with a recess along the length of the handle with retainers to removably secure the tube in the recess, the vertical tube having an upper end adapted to be coupled to a source of negative pressure and a lower end, the lower end adapted to receive the free end of the elbow when the blade is in the operative position and to separate the free end from the tube when the blade is in the inoperative position.