Laryngeal mask and a method manufacturing same

• US 7,694,682 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ambu A/S (AMBU)
• Original Assignee: Ambu A/S (AMBU)
• Inventors: Hoffmann, Peer, Petersen, Lasse
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US10/552,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,197 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/200.24, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.16
• US Class Current: 128/207.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0409 with mean for closing the oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0415 with access means to the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0445 Special cuff forms, e.g. undulated

Abstract

The invention relates to a laryngeal mask (1) comprising at least one airway tube (2) and a mask portion (3), which mask portion (3) comprises a top face (4) and a bottom face (5), said bottom face (5) comprising a lumen (6) that communicates with the tube (2) interior (7), and said top face (4) comprising a closed transition face (8), and said mask portion (3) being at least on the bottom face in the periphery delimited by an inflatable cuff (9), and said mask portion (3) comprising a joint throughout the entire internal circumference of the cuff (9), facing towards the lumen (6) and for providing a closed cuff. Hereby a product is provided which is formed integrally with regard to mask portion and airway tube portion thereby eliminating the risk that the two parts are separated in use.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a laryngeal mask comprising an airway tube having a lumen and a mask portion, said mask portion comprising an inflatable cuff and an intermediary portion forming a transition from said airway tube to said inflatable cuff, said process comprising

injection moulding of the airway tube, the intermediary portion and a cuff having an annularly extending opening between a second peripheral edge of said cuff and said intermediary portion integrally in a closed mould part in a first step, the material thickness of the airway tube, the intermediary portion and the cuff being regulated by the closed mould part,

ejecting the airway tube, the intermediary portion and the cuff having the annularly extending opening from the mould in a second step, and

providing a closed inflatable cuff by closing of the annularly extending opening of the cuff by assembling the second peripheral edge of the cuff with said intermediary portion by a joint.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the second peripheral edge and the intermediary portion at the annularly extending opening is 1-8 mm.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

liquid polymer material is injected into a closed mould at a first pressure and a first temperature, wherein the mould comprises at least one core for providing the inner cavity in tube and mask portions, wherein the mould also comprises two first mould parts, an upper first mould part and a lower first mould part, whose interfaces comprise a first interface that is situated in the area corresponding to a lower face of the mask and movable perpendicular to each other'"'"'s interface;

and wherein the mould also comprises two further second mould parts, whose second movement pattern is perpendicular to the movement line of the first mould part;

the lower first mould part is moved away from the upper mould part;

the two second mould parts are moved away from each other by use of second movement pattern;

the core is subsequently moved in the same direction as the lower first mould part; and

the laryngeal mask is finished by ejection from the mould and closing of the annularly extending opening.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein portions of the surface of the core is/are rough.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a periphery of the mask portion is formed by an upper and a lower periphery configured by a tongue/groove arrangement, also known as a male/female arrangement, that is subsequently assembled against each other for providing an essentially closed peripheral cuff.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a rigid tubing is arranged in extension of the airway tubing to the effect that an outer jacket configured as an integral part of the airway at least partially encloses the outer faces of the rigid tubing.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the airway tube and the mask portion are moulded around the rigid tubing.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the airway tube, the mask portion and the rigid tubing are manufactured from the same polymer material.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a tube is subsequently mounted on the peripheral cuff of the laryngeal mask, which tube is at the other end provided with a valve and pilot balloon.

10. A laryngeal mask comprising at least one airway tube and a mask portion, which mask portion comprises a top face and a bottom face, said bottom face comprising a lumen that communicates with the tube interior, and said top face comprising a closed transition face, said mask portion being at least on the bottom face in the periphery delimited by an inflatable cuff, wherein the cuff of the mask portion comprises at least two inflatable bellows that are arranged on a top face of the inflatable cuff and are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the cuff, said at least two inflatable bellows being provided for abutment against a wall of a pharynx opposite a laryngeal opening for providing a tight connection of the mask portion and the laryngeal opening;

and respective gully formed between each of said at least two inflatable bellows and the top face of the mask portion.