The present disclosure provides a slip-resistant patch for a tongue bulb that includes a perimeter portion and a planar body. The perimeter portion defines a shape and size of the slip-resistant patch while the planar body is defined by the perimeter portion of the slip-resistant patch. The planar body is configured to contour to a surface of a tongue bulb. The planar body includes a first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first major surface includes a textured material while the second major surface includes an adhesive material. The textured material is configured to be positioned on a surface of an oral cavity and maintain position on the surface of the oral cavity throughout lingual movement within the oral cavity. The adhesive material is of a pressure sensitive material and is configured to adhere to the surface of the tongue bulb.

Cheek retraction devices including an upper frame element configured to bear against and retract soft oral tissue from one or more teeth of an upper dental arch, a lower frame element configured to bear against and retract soft oral tissue from one or more teeth of a lower dental arch. The upper and lower frame elements may each include left and right frame portions wherein the upper and lower left frame portions are joined to one another to form a v-shaped hinge on one side of the frame, while upper and lower right frame portions are joined to one another to form a v-shaped hinge on another side of the frame. The v-shaped hinges on opposed sides permit the upper and lower frame elements to be at least partially folded toward each other. A posterior frame element may be provided extending between the v-shaped hinges.

Cheek retraction devices including an upper frame element configured to bear against and retract soft oral tissue from one or more teeth of an upper dental arch, a lower frame element configured to bear against and retract soft oral tissue from one or more teeth of a lower dental arch. The upper and lower frame elements may each include left and right frame portions wherein the upper and lower left frame portions are joined to one another to form a v-shaped hinge on one side of the frame, while upper and lower right frame portions are joined to one another to form a v-shaped hinge on another side of the frame. The v-shaped hinges on opposed sides permit the upper and lower frame elements to be at least partially folded toward each other. A posterior frame element may be provided extending between the v-shaped hinges.

A multi-use tongue depressor fabricated using the same materials and dimensions as commercially available ones. The tongue depressor depresses, retracts, move, shifts or sweeps a patient's tongue during a healthcare provider's examination of the patient's oral cavity in such a way as to maximize visibility of a target pathology inside the patient's oral cavity, the tongue depressor is adapted to conduct distance, depth and position measurements in the patient's oral cavity so as to assist health care providers in the identification and treatment of oral pathologies.

A multi-use tongue depressor fabricated using the same materials and dimensions as commercially available ones. The tongue depressor depresses, retracts, move, shifts or sweeps a patient's tongue during a healthcare provider's examination of the patient's oral cavity in such a way as to maximize visibility of a target pathology inside the patient's oral cavity, the tongue depressor is adapted to conduct distance, depth and position measurements in the patient's oral cavity so as to assist health care providers in the identification and treatment of oral pathologies.

A tongue maneuvering apparatus has a body, a first attachment site, and a second attachment site. The body includes a bulb, a tongue receiving portion, a tongue aperture, and a slot. The body may be a thin, pliable plastic, such as silicone, so as to create proper suction with the tongue when inserted into the tongue receiving portion. A healthcare provider is able to extend and manipulate a patient's tongue so as to clearly view the mouth and throat without activating the gag reflex and maintaining control of the tongue by the provider.

A tongue maneuvering apparatus has a body, a first attachment site, and a second attachment site. The body includes a bulb, a tongue receiving portion, a tongue aperture, and a slot. The body may be a thin, pliable plastic, such as silicone, so as to create proper suction with the tongue when inserted into the tongue receiving portion. A healthcare provider is able to extend and manipulate a patient's tongue so as to clearly view the mouth and throat without activating the gag reflex and maintaining control of the tongue by the provider.

An optical fiber coupling system may include a first coupler half fixed to a first fiber optic element. The first coupler half may include a first magnetically energetic material. The first magnetically energetic material may include a first aperture extending through the first magnetically energetic material. The first fiber optic element may extend within the first aperture. The optical fiber coupling system may include a second coupler half fixed to a second fiber optic element. The second coupler half may include a second magnetically energetic material. The second magnetically energetic material may include a second aperture extending through the second magnetically energetic material. The second fiber optic element may extend within the second aperture. When the first magnetically energetic material is proximate the second magnetically energetic material, the first fiber optic element may be longitudinally aligned with the second fiber optic element. An optical fiber coupler may include a coupler half fixed to a fiber optic element. The coupler half may include a magnetically energetic material. The magnetically energetic material includes an aperture extending through the magnetically energetic material. The fiber optic element may extend within the aperture. The optical fiber coupler may include a circumferentially extending material, at least partially around a perimeter of the magnetically energetic material. The circumferentially extending material may define a receptacle.

An optical fiber coupling system may include a first coupler half fixed to a first fiber optic element. The first coupler half may include a first magnetically energetic material. The first magnetically energetic material may include a first aperture extending through the first magnetically energetic material. The first fiber optic element may extend within the first aperture. The optical fiber coupling system may include a second coupler half fixed to a second fiber optic element. The second coupler half may include a second magnetically energetic material. The second magnetically energetic material may include a second aperture extending through the second magnetically energetic material. The second fiber optic element may extend within the second aperture. When the first magnetically energetic material is proximate the second magnetically energetic material, the first fiber optic element may be longitudinally aligned with the second fiber optic element. An optical fiber coupler may include a coupler half fixed to a fiber optic element. The coupler half may include a magnetically energetic material. The magnetically energetic material includes an aperture extending through the magnetically energetic material. The fiber optic element may extend within the aperture. The optical fiber coupler may include a circumferentially extending material, at least partially around a perimeter of the magnetically energetic material. The circumferentially extending material may define a receptacle.

A laryngopharyngoscope retractor system including: a plurality of components including: a base frame with a coupling region and a spatula holder that is adjustable in terms of position and orientation by way of adjusting screws; a spatula that is releasably fastenable in the spatula holder; two cheek holder adapters that are releasably fastenable to the base frame; and two cheek holders, each of which is releasably fastenable to a respective cheek holder adapter, wherein one or more of the base frame, the spatula holder, the spatula, the cheek holder adapter and the cheek holder, in the respective regions provided for the releasable connection to another one of the plurality of components have a visible unique code that corresponds to the corresponding regions on the other of the plurality of components.