Importance

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Abstract

A laryngoscope handle includes a switch assembly for creating an electrical circuit between a lamp and a battery when a laryngoscope blade attached to the handle is moved into a working position. The switch assembly is formed from: (1) a first sleeve in which the lamp is mounted, said first sleeve providing electrical contact between a side terminal of the lamp and the tubular base portion and leaving a base terminal of the lamp exposed, and said first sleeve being axially slidable within the handle; (2) a spring operative to press the first sleeve towards the head-end of the handle; (3) an electrically insulating barrel mounted within the handle between the first sleeve and the first end of the base portion, said electrically insulating barrel having an axial channel therethrough, said axial channel having a bottom region of greater cross section at a bottom end directed toward the first end of the tubular base portion and a top region of smaller cross section at a top end directed toward the head; (4) an electrically conductive sliding terminal, said sliding terminal being slidably disposed within the bottom region of the channel in the barrel; and (5) an electrically conductive plunger affixed to the sliding terminal and slidably disposed within the top region of the channel in the insulating barrel such that the sliding terminal and the plunger slide as a unit within the channel.

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First Claim