Breathing airway

• US 4,363,320 A
• Filed: 09/17/1980
• Issued: 12/14/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Kossove
• Original Assignee: Michael Kossove
• Inventors: Kossove, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/187,970
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/202.28, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/DIG. 9, 128/10, 128/11, 128/207.17
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0495 with tongue depressors

Abstract

An improved breathing airway comprising at least two telescopingly engaged flexible elements enabling the airway to be adjusted to the proper length to fit the mouth and pharynx of a patient. To positively secure the adjusted length of the airway, a flap with protruberances extends from the outer element and is engageable with holes in the inner element. Thus, the outer and inner engaged elements can be positively secured at the correct measured mouth to pharynx length.

The untelescoped radius of curvature of each element differs from the other causing the radius of curvature of the airway to change as the elements are telescoped together. The radius of airway curvature is therefore automatically adjusted for curvature when the airway is set to desired length. Thus, one size airway of the present invention can substitute for several sizes of the prior art airways, the adjustment for the selected length automatically achieving the correct shape.

Claims

1. An improved breathing array for insertion into the mouth and pharynx comprising a substantially tubular and substantially arcuate first element, a second element having an arcuate portion telescopingly inserted into said first element for sliding engagement to provide a selectable length for said airway, said second element including means for providing fluid flow into said first element, the length of said first and second elements together being such that said airway is adjustable, when in use, to extend from the mouth of a patient and terminate in the region of the throat defined by the pharynx, the curvature of said arcuate elements being approximately that of the mouth and pharynx, and separate mutually engageable securing means on said first and second elements adapted to fixedly secure the first and second elements together at one of a plurality of selectable lengths.

2. The airway of claim 1 wherein said telescoping elements have differeing radii of curvature.

3. The airway of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes at least one protuberance on one element, and at least one hole in the other element, said protuberance engageable with said hole.

4. The airway of claims 1 or 3 wherein at least one of said elements includes a central web and said securing means are asymmetrically positioned relative to said central web.

5. The airway of claim 4 wherein said protuberances are located on a flap extending integrally from one element.

6. The airway of claims 1 or 3 wherein a portion of said securing means are located on a flap extending integrally from one element.

7. The airway of claim 1 wherein said second element includes a clamping portion adapted for engagement with a patient'"'"'s jaws, said clamping portion including reinforcing means to resist the jaw clamping force.

8. An improved breathing airway for insertion into the mouth and pharynx comprising a flexible substantially tubular and substantially arcuate outer element and a flexible substantially arcuate inner element telescopingly inserted into said outer element, said second element including means for providing fluid flow into said first element, the length of said first and second elements together being such that said airway is adjustable, when in use, to extend from the mouth of a patient and terminate in the region of the throat defined by the pharynx, the curvature of said arcuate elements being approximately that of the mouth and pharynx, the radius of curvature of said inner element being less than the radius of curvature of said outer element thereby to cause the radius of curvature of the airway to decrease as the elements are telescoped together to decrease the length of the airway.

9. The airway of claim 8 including mutually engageable securing means on said outer and inner elements adapted to fixedly secure the outer and inner elements together at a selected length.

10. The airway of claim 9 wherein at least one of said elements includes a central web and said securing means are asymmetrically positioned relative to said central web.

11. The airway of claims 9 or 10 wherein said securing means includes at least one protuberance on one element, and at least one hole in the other element, said protuberance engageable with said hole.

12. The airway of claim 11 wherein said protuberances are located on a flap extending integrally from one element.

13. The airway of claims 9 or 10 wherein a portion of said securing means are located on a flap extending integrally from one element.

14. The airway of claim 8 wherein one of said elements includes a clamping portion adapted for engagement with a patient'"'"'s jaws, said clamping portion including reinforcing means to resist the jaw clamping force.