Patent ID: 8394016

Claim:
An illuminated airway article adapted for use in opening an airway passage, said article comprising: an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end; at least two light sources affixed to said article; at least one voltage source electrically coupled to said at least two light sources; and at least one means for activating said at least two light sources; wherein said distal end is adapted for contacting tissue of said airway passage; and wherein at least one of said light sources is an infrared light-emitting diode transmitting infrared light in the range of about 750 nm to about 3000 nm; wherein at least one of said light sources is a conventional light-emitting diode; and wherein said means for activating said light sources is configured to activate said infrared light-emitting diode prior to the activation of said conventional light-emitting diode.