Airway assembly and methods of using an airway assembly
First Claim
1. An airway assembly insertable into an airway, the airway assembly comprising:
- (a) an outer tube having walls and a central lumen;
(b) an inner tube having walls and a central lumen and being coaxially disposed within the central lumen of the outer tube; and
(c) a diametrically expansive seal positioned at a distal end of the inner tube and the diametrically expansive seal including at least one reinforcing member extending along the longitudinal length of the diametrically expansive seal, the diametrically expansive seal being movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, whereby the at least one reinforcing member facilitates diametrically expansive movement of the diametrically expansive seal between the collapsed position and the expanded position, and where the diametrically expansive seal is adapted to sealingly seat against an anatomical airway passage;
wherein the inner tube and the outer tube have proximal portions and distal portions, and wherein outer diameters of the distal portions are smaller than outer diameters of the proximal portions.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Many embodiments of an airway assembly and methods of using an airway assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, an airway assembly includes an outer tube, an inner tube disposed coaxially with the outer tube, and a seal disposed on the inner tube. The seal is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position where the seal engages an airway. Another embodiment is an airway assembly that includes an outer tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an inner tube disposed coaxially with the outer tube. The inner tube has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion of the outer tube has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the distal portion of the outer tube.
238 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An airway assembly insertable into an airway, the airway assembly comprising:
-
(a) an outer tube having walls and a central lumen; (b) an inner tube having walls and a central lumen and being coaxially disposed within the central lumen of the outer tube; and (c) a diametrically expansive seal positioned at a distal end of the inner tube and the diametrically expansive seal including at least one reinforcing member extending along the longitudinal length of the diametrically expansive seal, the diametrically expansive seal being movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, whereby the at least one reinforcing member facilitates diametrically expansive movement of the diametrically expansive seal between the collapsed position and the expanded position, and where the diametrically expansive seal is adapted to sealingly seat against an anatomical airway passage; wherein the inner tube and the outer tube have proximal portions and distal portions, and wherein outer diameters of the distal portions are smaller than outer diameters of the proximal portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An airway assembly insertable into an airway, the airway assembly comprising:
-
a) an outer tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion; b) an inner tube disposed coaxially with the outer tube, the inner tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
wherein the distal portion of the outer tube has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal portion of the outer tube, and the distal portion of the inner tube has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the proximal portion of the inner tube; andc) a generally tubular diametrically expansive seal coupled at its proximal end to the inner tube, the generally tubular diametrically expansive seal including at least one reinforcing member extending along the longitudinal length of the generally tubular diametrically expansive seal, at least one reinforcing member to facilitate diametrically expansive movement of the generally tubular diametrically expansive seal to an expanded outer diameter sufficient for sealingly engaging the airway and an open distal end in fluid flow communication with the airway. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification