The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1999
Arthur Lawrence Gruen, Rancho Santa Fe, CA (US);
Erwin Caldwell Handley, Jr., Del Mar, CA (US);
Paul Philip Brown, San Diego, CA (US);
Jens Ole Sorensen, Cayman Kai, KY;
Gruhan Technologies, Inc., Del Mar, CA (US);
Abstract
In a laryngoscope, a blade for displacing a person's tongue in order to facilitate insertion of an endotracheal tube into the person's trachea includes a distal portion for insertion through the person's mouth and into the person's oropharynx and an elongated portion extending from the distal portion; the elongated portion is substantially wider than the distal portion and includes an inner side that is disposed for contacting and displacing the person's tongue when the distal portion is inserted into the person's oropharynx; and the inner side of the elongated portion is laterally contoured for restraining the person's tongue in a relatively centered position while the tongue is being displaced. The blade and the handle of the laryngoscope are injection molded in the same mold and may be of the same plastic material. Preferably the blade is transparent for transmitting light from a light source in the handle. The transmitted light is emitted from the blade to illuminate the person's oropharynx when the distal portion is inserted into the person's oropharynx. The handle includes a portion that extends directly from the blade and is curved longitudinally so that the handle can be gripped at different angles with respect to the blade. Preferably, the blade also is curved longitudinally.