Patent ID: 8388524

Claim:
A medical instrument having an adapter for coupling a video imaging device thereto comprising: a rigid elongated blade having a distal end and a proximal end and having a width greater than its thickness; said proximal end of said elongated blade being connected to a handle, an illuminating channel extending along the length of said blade for transmitting light into an area beyond said distal end of said blade, and an image channel extending along the length of said blade for transmitting visual images from said area to a position adjacent said proximal end of said blade, a hollow tube having one end attached to the end of said handle opposite said elongated blade and the other end attached to an adapter body, said image channel passing through said flexible hollow tube, said adapter body having an interior that is open to accommodate a quick release locking mechanism, and a video imaging device engaging means capable of being connected to said quick release locking mechanism.