US Patent 8394016 Illuminated airway article

An illuminated airway article adapted for use in opening an airway passage, said article comprising an elongated body having a distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted for contacting tissue of said airway passage, and a proximal end, at least two light sources affixed to said article 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 and at least one of said light sources is a conventional light-emitting diode, at least one voltage source electrically coupled to the light sources, and at least one means for activating the light sources.