Patent ID: 8684577

Claim:
A cavity illumination system comprising: a laryngoscope having a handle and a blade, said blade having an upper surface, a lower surface, a distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the blade is adapted to engage tissue and prevent the tissue from obstructing the cavity; an illumination waveguide sized and dimensioned to engage and conform to the blade, the waveguide having an upper portion, a lower portion, a distal end for emitting light, and a proximal end for receiving light, wherein the blade is adapted to be disposed between the tissue and the illumination waveguide, and wherein thickness of the illumination waveguide changes between the proximal and distal ends thereof; a plurality of light directing facets formed in the lower portion of the waveguide for directing light laterally out through the upper portion of the waveguide towards a particular anatomical area, the plurality of light directing facets directing the light through refraction; a plurality of output optical structures formed in the upper portion of the waveguide for directing light from the upper portion of the waveguide laterally to the particular anatomical area, the plurality of output optical structures directing the light through refraction; and an illumination source in optical communication with the proximal end of the waveguide.