What types of light source can be used with laryngoscopes? What are their features?

Standard Light Source
(Colour Coded Black)
  • Contains a small bulb near the distal end of each blade
  • Handle contains the batteries only
  • Bulbs can be standard filament or LED
  • Filament bulbs can cast small central shadow
  • Bulbs generate heat and risk of thermal transmission to patient with standard bulbs (not with LEDs
Fibreoptic Light Source
(Colour Coded Green)
  • Contains the bulb and batteries in the handle
  • Transmitted to the blade through a fibreoptic column
  • Avoids the risk of heat transmission
  • Can allow for brighter bulbs to be used
  • Disposable blades more economical