Laryngeal-mask airway with guide element, stiffener, and fiberoptic access
First Claim
1. A laryngeal mask airway device to facilitate lung ventilation in a patient, comprising an airway tube extending between a proximal end that is adapted for external ventilation and a distal end that is adapted for exclusive communication with the trachea, said distal end comprising a mask having an airway opening to said tube and having a surrounding annular peripheral formation of roughly elliptical shape, said peripheral formation being capable of readily fitting within the pharynx behind the larynx so as to enable the annular peripheral formation to form a seal around the laryngeal inlet without penetration of the device into the trachea, the airway tube being relatively flexible and curved to follow the airway of the patient, the device further comprising an elongate guide along the airway tube, and an elongate relatively stiff reinforcing member removably fitted to said guide, said reinforcing member being in curved conformance to the curve of the airway tube and extending distally to said mask and extending proximally beyond said guide for external manipulation of said device in the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intubating laryngeal-mask airway device compresses a flexible airway tube with conventional distal-end mask structure, wherein one or more relatively stiff and suitably curved reinforcement elements determine the curvilinear course of the airway tube and are removably embodied in the flexible airway tube. An external handle connected to the proximal end of the one or more reinforcement elements facilitates rapid installation of the mask, and removal of the one or more reinforcement elements exposes guide passages well suited to subsequent introduction of fiber-optic devices for visual inspection of the entrance to the trachea, whereby to assure properly directed passage of an endotracheal tube or other instrumentation into the trachea. Optional provision is made for use of a reinforcement-guide system to serve another fiber-optic device having viewing exposure directed toward the oesophagus, thereby providing a visible clue of a misdirected endotracheal tube before it can do any damage in a region which must be avoided.
239 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A laryngeal mask airway device to facilitate lung ventilation in a patient, comprising an airway tube extending between a proximal end that is adapted for external ventilation and a distal end that is adapted for exclusive communication with the trachea, said distal end comprising a mask having an airway opening to said tube and having a surrounding annular peripheral formation of roughly elliptical shape, said peripheral formation being capable of readily fitting within the pharynx behind the larynx so as to enable the annular peripheral formation to form a seal around the laryngeal inlet without penetration of the device into the trachea, the airway tube being relatively flexible and curved to follow the airway of the patient, the device further comprising an elongate guide along the airway tube, and an elongate relatively stiff reinforcing member removably fitted to said guide, said reinforcing member being in curved conformance to the curve of the airway tube and extending distally to said mask and extending proximally beyond said guide for external manipulation of said device in the patient.
- 16. A laryngeal mask airway device to facilitate lung ventilation in a patient, comprising an airway tube extending between a proximal end that is adapted for external ventilation and a distal end that is adapted for exclusive communication with the trachea, said distal end comprising a mask having at least two spaced airway openings to said tube and having a surrounding annular peripheral formation of roughly elliptical shape and being capable of readily fitting within the pharynx and behind the larynx so as to enable the annular peripheral formation to form a seal around the laryngeal inlet without penetration of the device into the trachea, the airway tube being relatively flexible and curved to follow the airway of the patient, the device further comprising two separate continuous guide passages along said airway tube and in peripherally spaced relation, said guide passages being proximally open at the proximal end of said tube and being distally open at said mask and being respectively adapted for spaced directional alignment with a different one of the two spaced airway openings of said mask, and separate relatively stiff reinforcing members removably fitted to the respective guide passages, each reinforcing member extending distally to said mask and extending proximally beyond its guide for external manipulation of the device in a patient.
Specification