Laryngoscope with spreadable blades

1. A spreadable laryngoscope ( 100 ) for improving visualization of a larynx or back of a throat, said laryngoscope ( 100 ) comprising:

a. a handle ( 105 ) having a handle compartment ( 110 ) disposed therein, a handle wall ( 114 ), an aperture ( 116 ) disposed through the handle wall, and a first pivot rod ( 118 ) horizontally disposed in the aperture ( 116 ) and connected to the handle wall ( 114 );

b. a fixed blade ( 120 ) extending from the handle ( 105 ), wherein a proximal end ( 122 ) of the fixed blade is fixedly attached to a proximal end ( 111 ) of the handle;

c. a pivotable blade ( 130 ) extending from the handle ( 105 ) and pivotably connected to the fixed blade ( 120 ) via a second pivot rod ( 128 ), wherein the pivotable blade ( 130 ) normally lies parallel to and beside the fixed blade ( 120 ) such that the fixed blade and the pivotable blade are side to side, wherein a blade bracket ( 135 ) extends from a proximal end ( 132 ) of the pivotable blade ( 130 ) and is disposed inside the handle compartment ( 110 ); and

d. a spreading mechanism ( 140 ) comprising:

i. a lever arm ( 141 ) extending from the handle ( 105 );

ii. a pivoting arm ( 145 ) disposed inside the handle compartment ( 110 ), wherein the pivoting arm ( 145 ) is operatively coupled to the lever arm ( 141 ) via a connecting arm ( 144 ) and operatively coupled to the pivotable blade ( 130 ), wherein the connecting arm ( 144 ) is disposed through the aperture ( 116 ) of the handle wall and pivotably connected to the first pivot rod ( 118 ), wherein a proximal end ( 146 ) of the pivoting arm is pivotably connected to the blade bracket ( 135 ) of the pivotable blade via a third pivot rod ( 148 ); and

iii. a resistance spring ( 149 ) operatively couple to the pivotable blade;

wherein the resistance spring ( 149 ) maintains a normal position of the blades ( 120 , 130 ) such that the pivotable blade ( 130 ) lies parallel to and beside the fixed blade ( 120 ),

wherein when the lever arm ( 141 ) is depressed, the connecting arm ( 144 ) pivots about the first pivot rod ( 118 ), the pivoting arm ( 145 ) is moved, the blade bracket ( 135 ) is moved within the handle compartment ( 110 ) and pivots about the third pivot rod ( 148 ), and the pivotable blade ( 130 ) pivots about the second pivot rod ( 128 ) and away from the fixed blade ( 120 ) such that a distal end ( 134 ) of the pivotable blade ( 130 ) moves away from a distal end ( 124 ) of the fixed blade, thereby placing the blades ( 120 , 130 ) in a spreaded position.

2. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 1 , wherein the resistance spring ( 149 ) is juxtaposed between the fixed blade ( 120 ) and the pivotable blade ( 130 ).

3. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 2 , wherein a spring rod ( 151 ) projects from the pivotable blade ( 130 ) near its proximal end ( 132 ) and is disposed through the resistance spring ( 149 ).

4. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 3 , wherein an end ( 150 ) of the resistance spring rests against a resistance rod ( 152 ) that projects from the proximal end ( 122 ) of the fixed blade ( 120 ) towards the pivotable blade ( 130 ).

5. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 4 , wherein the resistance rod ( 152 ) provides resistance against the resistance spring ( 149 ) when the blades ( 120 , 130 ) are in the normal position and when tension is applied to the resistance spring when the blades ( 120 , 130 ) are in the spreaded position.

6. A spreadable laryngoscope ( 100 ) for improving visualization of a larynx or back of a throat, said laryngoscope ( 100 ) comprising:

a. a handle ( 105 ) having a handle compartment ( 110 ) disposed therein, a handle wall ( 114 ), an aperture ( 116 ) disposed through the handle wall, and a first pivot rod ( 118 ) horizontally disposed in the aperture ( 116 ) and connected to the handle wall ( 114 );

b. a fixed blade ( 120 ) extending from the handle ( 105 ), wherein a proximal end ( 122 ) of the fixed blade is fixedly attached to a proximal end ( 111 ) of the handle;

c. a pivotable blade ( 130 ) extending from the handle ( 105 ) and pivotably connected to the fixed blade ( 120 ) via a second pivot rod ( 128 ), wherein when in a normal position, the pivotable blade ( 130 ) lies parallel to and beside the fixed blade ( 120 ) such that the fixed blade and the pivotable blade are side to side, wherein a blade bracket ( 135 ) extends from a proximal end ( 132 ) of the pivotable blade ( 130 ) and is disposed inside the handle compartment ( 110 ); and

d. a spreading mechanism ( 140 ) comprising:

i. a lever arm ( 141 ) extending from the handle ( 105 ); and

ii. a pivoting arm ( 145 ) operatively coupled to the lever arm ( 141 ) and operatively coupled to the pivotable blade ( 130 ), wherein a distal end ( 147 ) of the pivoting arm is disposed through the aperture ( 116 ) of the handle wall and pivotably connected to the first pivot rod ( 118 ), wherein a proximal end ( 142 ) of the lever arm ( 141 ) is connected to the distal end ( 147 ) of the pivoting arm, wherein a proximal end ( 146 ) of the pivoting arm is pivotably connected to the blade bracket ( 135 ) of the pivotable blade via a third pivot rod ( 148 ) disposed inside the handle compartment ( 110 ), wherein a portion of the pivoting arm from the first pivot rod ( 118 ) to the proximal end ( 146 ) is disposed inside the handle compartment ( 110 );

wherein when the lever arm ( 141 ) is depressed, the distal end ( 147 ) of the pivoting arm pivots about the first pivot rod ( 118 ), the pivoting arm ( 145 ) is moved, the blade bracket ( 135 ) is moved and pivots about the third pivot rod ( 148 ), and the pivotable blade ( 130 ) pivots about the second pivot rod ( 128 ) and away from the fixed blade ( 120 ) such that a distal end ( 134 ) of the pivotable blade ( 130 ) moves away from a distal end ( 124 ) of the fixed blade, thereby displacing the blades ( 120 , 130 ) from the normal position into a spreaded position.

7. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the spreading mechanism ( 140 ) further comprises a resistance spring ( 149 ) operatively couple to the pivotable blade, wherein the resistance spring ( 149 ) maintains the normal position of the blades ( 120 , 130 ) such that the pivotable blade ( 130 ) lies parallel to and beside the fixed blade ( 120 ).

8. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 7 , wherein the resistance spring ( 149 ) is juxtaposed between the fixed blade ( 120 ) and the pivotable blade ( 130 ).

9. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 8 , wherein a spring rod ( 151 ) projects from the pivotable blade ( 130 ) near its proximal end ( 132 ) and is disposed through the resistance spring ( 149 ).

10. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 9 , wherein an end ( 150 ) of the resistance spring rests against a resistance rod ( 152 ) that projects from the proximal end ( 122 ) of the fixed blade ( 120 ) towards the pivotable blade ( 130 ).

11. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein the resistance rod ( 152 ) provides resistance to the resistance spring ( 149 ) when the blades ( 120 , 130 ) are in the normal position and when tension is applied to the resistance spring when the blades ( 120 , 130 ) are in the spreaded position.

12. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the second pivot rod ( 128 ) is fixedly attached to the fixed blade ( 120 ) near its proximal end ( 122 ) and disposed through the pivotable blade ( 130 ) near its proximal end ( 132 ).

13. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the blade bracket ( 135 ) comprises two parallel bars, wherein the proximal end ( 146 ) of the pivoting arm is juxtaposed between the two bars of the blade bracket and the third pivot rod ( 148 ) is disposed therethrough.

14. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein a distal end ( 143 ) of the lever arm is biased towards the proximal end ( 111 ) of the handle.

15. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein a distal end ( 143 ) of the lever arm is biased towards a distal end ( 112 ) of the handle.

16. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the blades ( 120 , 130 ) and the lever arm ( 141 ) extend from the handle ( 105 ) in opposing directions.

17. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the laryngoscope ( 100 ) is constructed from a medical-grade metal.

18. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 17 , wherein the medical-grade metal is stainless steel.

19. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the laryngoscope ( 100 ) is constructed from a medical-grade, rigid plastic.

20. The laryngoscope ( 100 ) of claim 6 , wherein the blades ( 120 , 130 ) are straight.