There are a wide variety of laryngoscopes with different designs and shapes. Laryngoscopes have a spatulate, which is an axially curved shape formed to cooperate with the conventional shape of oral cavity  structure.  The  curved  spatula  portion  of  the  blade  is   used   for   retracting  soft  tissue  and opening the patient’s jaw and  mouth  to  form  a clear,  open  path  through  which a  tube  or instrument  may  be   inserted.  The  wide  variety  of   laryngoscopes  differ  mainly  in  design  and accessories.

In those cases where the patient is  unconscious,  there  is  no  patient  gag  reflex  over  which  the medical practitioner must surmount to install a tube, or to insert some other medical device. Consequently, difficulty of an intubation procedure  is  greatly  reduced,  although  not  eliminated. However, there exist instances where the patient is awake, at least partially alert,  desirably  remains in such condition for a further period, and prompt intubation must be performed  in  spite  of  such facts. In such cases, the patient’s own gag reflex can constitute a significant obstacle to intubation.