Laryngeal mask with a bite absorbing connector

• US 9,314,581 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ambu A/S (AMBU)
• Original Assignee: Ambu A/S (AMBU)
• Inventors: Hansen, Jan Guldberg, Qvist, Troels Nicolaj, Hoffmann, Peer, Vilhelmsen, Erik Ollgaard, Petersen, Lasse Kjeld Gjoske
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US14/266,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 12820714-20717, 128/200.24, 128/201.26, 128/206.29, 128/861, 128/862, 128/848, 433 91- 96, 433/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors

Abstract

A laryngeal mask insertable into a patient, an airway tube of the laryngeal mask having a bore extending from a proximal to a distal end of the airway tube, a connector provided at the proximal end of the airway tube, the connector comprising a connector body with a longitudinal bore, at least two wall portions extending longitudinally from a first continuous wall to a second continuous wall, and two parallel and opposite longitudinal wall cut-away portions intermediate the at least two wall portions, the length of the longitudinal wall cut-away portions being greater than the length of the first continuous wall.

Claims

1. A laryngeal mask insertable into a patient, the laryngeal mask comprising:

an airway tube having a bore extending from a proximal to a distal end of the airway tube, the airway tube configured such that in use, patient'"'"'s teeth contact the proximal end at a point of tooth contact,

a mask portion connected to the distal end of the airway tube,

a gastric tube having a proximal end opposite a distal end, the gastric tube positioned external and adjacent the airway tube with the distal end of the gastric tube connected to the mask portion, and

a connector affixed to the proximal end of the airway tube in a fixed predetermined orientation, the connector comprising;

a connector body with a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis,

a flange extending radially from the connector body,

a gastric tube retention feature comprising one of a cut-away and a bore, the gastric tube retention feature configured to retain the proximal end of the gastric tube, and

an insertion section inserted into the bore of the airway tube to support the airway tube in use, the insertion section including

a first continuous wall extending longitudinally from the flange,

at least two wall portions extending longitudinally from the first continuous wall to a second continuous wall, and

two parallel and opposite longitudinal wall cut-away portions intermediate the at least two wall portions, the length of each of the two cut-away portions being greater than the length of the first continuous wall, the two cut-away portions and the at least two wall portions configured to allow local deformation of the at least two wall portions and the airway tube at the point of tooth contact upon application of pressure by the patient'"'"'s teeth, whilst preventing the airway tube from a full collapse.

2. A laryngeal mask according to claim 1, wherein the two cut-away portions are positioned on opposing sides of a ventral-dorsal plane of the laryngeal mask.

3. A laryngeal mask according to claim 2, wherein the two cut-way portions are positioned on a left-right plane of the laryngeal mask.

4. A laryngeal mask according to claim 2, wherein the two cut-away portions are positioned on opposing sides of a left-right plane of the laryngeal mask.

5. A laryngeal mask according to claim 4, wherein the insertion section comprises four cut-away portions, the four cut-away portions including the two cut-away portions, wherein two of the four cut-way portions are positioned on each side of the left-right plane of the laryngeal mask.

6. A laryngeal mask according to claim 1, wherein the two cut-away portions are positioned on opposing sides of a left-right plane of the laryngeal mask.

7. A laryngeal mask according to claim 1, wherein the insertion section comprises four cut-away portions, the four cut-away portions including the two cut-way portions, wherein two of the four cut-away portions are positioned on each side of a left-right plane of the laryngeal mask.

8. A laryngeal mask according to claim 1, wherein an internal surface of the airway tube defines the bore, and wherein the at least two wall portions contact the internal surface of the airway tube.

9. A laryngeal mask according to claim 1, the gastric tube retention feature comprising the cut-away and further comprising a protruding portion connected to the flange and extending from the cut-away.

10. A laryngeal mask according to claim 9, the protruding portion comprising the bore therethrough.

11. A laryngeal mask according to claim 1, the gastric tube retention feature comprising the bore, the bore having an opening located on the flange, and the gastric tube retention feature further comprising a protruding portion connected to the flange and extending from the opening.

12. A connector for an airway tube of an artificial airway device insertable into a patient, the airway tube having a bore extending from a proximal to a distal end of the airway tube, the airway tube configured such that in use, patient'"'"'s teeth contact the proximal end at a point of tooth contact, the connector comprising:

a connector body with a longitudinal bore having a longitudinal axis,

a flange extending radially from the connector body,

a gastric tube retention feature comprising one of a cut-away and a bore, the gastric tube retention feature being adjacent the connector body and adapted to retain a proximal end of a gastric tube positioned external and adjacent the airway tube, and

an insertion section adapted for insertion into the bore of the airway tube at the proximal end thereof to support the airway tube in use, the insertion section including

a first continuous wall extending longitudinally from the flange,

at least two wall portions extending longitudinally from the first continuous wall to a second continuous wall, and

two parallel and opposite longitudinal wall cut-away portions intermediate the at least two wall portions, the two cut-away portions and the at least two wall portions configured to allow local deformation of the at least two wall portions and the airway tube at the point of tooth contact upon application of pressure by the patient'"'"'s teeth, whilst preventing the airway tube from a full collapse.

13. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the two cut-away portions are positioned on opposing sides of a ventral-dorsal plane of the artificial airway device.

14. A connector according to claim 13, wherein the two cut-way portions are positioned on a left-right plane of the artificial airway device.

15. A connector according to claim 13, wherein the two cut-away portions are positioned on opposing sides of a left-right plane of the artificial airway device.

16. A connector according to claim 15, wherein the insertion section comprises four cut-away portions, the four cut-away portions including the two cut-away portions, wherein two of the four cut-way portions are positioned on each side of the left-right plane of the artificial airway device.

17. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the two cut-away portions are positioned on opposing sides of a left-right plane of the artificial airway device.

18. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the insertion section comprises four cut-away portions, the four cut-away portions including the two cut-away portions, wherein two of the four cut-way portions are positioned on each side of a left-right plane of the artificial airway device.

19. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the length of each of the two cut-away portions is greater than the length of the first continuous wall.

20. A connector according to claim 12, wherein the insertion section comprises a cylindrical external surface configured to contact an internal surface of the bore of the airway tube, and the at least two wall portions have a thickness of about 0.8 mm.

21. A connector according to claim 12, the gastric tube retention feature comprising the cut-away and further comprising a protruding portion connected to the flange and extending from the cut-away.

22. A connector according to claim 21, the protruding portion comprising the bore therethrough.

23. A connector according to claim 12, the gastric tube retention feature comprising the bore, the bore having an opening located on the flange, and the gastric tube retention feature further comprising a protruding portion connected to the flange and extending from the opening.