# US 10,441,735 B1 · Combined laryngeal-bronchial lung separation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,735 B1 - Document ID: US10441735B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/177,957 - Filed: 2018-11-01 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-11 - Applicants: Gary Zhou - Inventors: Gary Zhou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441735B1 ## CPC - A61M 16/0409: {with mean for closing the oesophagus} - A61M 16/0445: {Special cuff forms, e.g. undulated} - A61B 1/2676: {Bronchoscopes} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00) - A61M 16/0404: {with means for selective or partial lung respiration} - A61M 16/0406: {implanted flow modifiers} - A61M 16/0463: {combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections} - A61M 16/0486: {Multi-lumen tracheal tubes} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 16/085: {Gas sampling} - A61M 16/0415: {with access means to the stomach} - A61M 16/0434: {Cuffs} - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - A61M 2205/584: having a color code - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present disclosure describes systems and apparatuses related to a bronchial blocking tube and/or a laryngeal mask or similar device, and methods for using the same. In an exemplary airway device, the device may comprise a mask portion being defined at a distal end of the airway device, and may be configured and dimensioned to be positioned in a hypopharyngeal area of a patient to cover and seal around a glottis of the patient; and a channel portion extending from a proximal end of the airway device to the mask portion. The channel portion may include first and second channels, wherein the second channel may obliquely merge with the first channel proximate to an opening of the first channel. In an exemplary embodiment, a third channel may form a combined pharyngeal-gastric access channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airway device comprising: a mask portion being defined as a distal end of the airway device, and being configured and dimensioned to be positioned in a hypopharyngeal area of a patient to cover and seal around a glottis of the patient; and a channel portion extending from a proximal end of the airway device to the mask portion, the channel portion including a first and second channels, the first channel extending from a first opening formed at the proximal end to a second opening formed at the mask portion, the second channel extending from a first opening of the second channel formed at the proximal end and alongside the first channel, the second channel obliquely merging with the first channel proximate to the second opening of the first channel, wherein the first channel includes a groove formed in a side wall of the first channel proximate to the second opening of the first channel, and a second opening of the second channel obliquely merges with the first channel at the groove, and wherein the groove tapers radially inward with respect to the first channel from the second opening of the second channel to the second opening of the first channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airway device of claim 1, wherein the second channel includes a visual indicator extending along at least a portion of a length of the second channel. ### Claim 3 An airway device comprising: a mask portion being defined as a distal end of the airway device, and being configured and dimensioned to be positioned in a hypopharyngeal area of a patient to cover and seal around a glottis of the patient; and a channel portion extending from a proximal end of the airway device to the mask portion, the channel portion including a first and second channels, the first channel extending from a first opening formed at the proximal end to a second opening formed at the mask portion, the second channel extending from a first opening of the second channel formed at the proximal end and alongside the first channel, the second channel obliquely merging with the first channel proximate to the second opening of the first channel, wherein the mask portion includes an ampulla and at least one sump, the at least one sump being formed in the mask portion and being in fluid communication with the ampulla through a first port of the ampulla. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The airway device of claim 3, wherein the ampulla is embedded in the mask portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The airway device of claim 3, wherein the at least one sump is formed as a recess in the mask portion that extends along a portion of a perimeter of the mask portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The airway device of claim 5, wherein a size of the recess increases from a first end of the recess to a second end of the recess, the second end of the recess being in fluid communication with the first port of the ampulla. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The airway device of claim 3, wherein the mask portion includes a second sump formed in the mask portion, the second sump being in fluid communication with the ampulla through a second port of the ampulla. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The airway device of claim 3, wherein the ampulla includes a third port that opens towards an esophagus of the patient when the mask portion is positioned in the hypopharyngeal area of the patient to cover and seal around the glottis of the patient. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The airway device of claim 8, wherein the channel portion includes a third channel that extends alongside the first channel from a first opening of the third channel formed at the proximal end to the ampulla, the third channel being in fluid communication with the first and third ports of the ampulla. ### Claim 10 An airway device comprising: a mask portion being defined as a distal end of the airway device, and being configured and dimensioned to be positioned in a hypopharyngeal area of a patient to cover and seal around a glottis of the patient; and a channel portion extending from a proximal end of the airway device to the mask portion, the channel portion including a first and second channels, the first channel extending from a first opening formed at the proximal end to a second opening formed at the mask portion, the second channel extending from a first opening of the second channel formed at the proximal end and alongside the first channel, the second channel obliquely merging with the first channel proximate to the second opening of the first channel, wherein the second channel obliquely merges with the first channel at an angle of about three to about ten degrees relative to the first channel. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a laryngeal mask, the laryngeal mask including: a mask portion formed at a distal end of the laryngeal mask and being configured and dimensioned to be positioned in a hypopharyngeal area of a patient to cover and seal around a glottis of the patient; and a channel portion extending from a proximal end of the laryngeal mask to the mask portion, the channel portion including a plurality of channels to facilitate fluid communication between the proximal and distal ends of the laryngeal mask, the plurality of channels including an airway channel extending from a first opening formed at the proximal end to a second opening formed at the mask portion; and a bronchial blocking tube, the bronchial blocking tube configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the first opening of the airway channel and through the second opening of the airway channel, passed a trachea and into a left or right bronchus of the patient, when the mask portion is positioned in the hypopharyngeal area of the patient, wherein the plurality of channels in the channel portion includes an imaging channel, the imaging channel extends from a first opening of the imaging channel formed at the proximal end of the laryngeal mask, the imaging channel extending alongside the airway channel and obliquely merging with the airway channel proximate to the second opening of the airway channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein an inflatable member is disposed on the bronchial blocking tube proximate to a bronchus distal end, the inflatable member is configured to isolate the left or right bronchus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the bronchus distal end of the bronchial blocking tube includes a Murphy eye and a visual indicator, the visual indicator being disposed on the bronchial blocking tube at a distance of approximately five millimeters disposed proximally from the inflatable member towards an input proximal end of the bronchial blocking tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the bronchus distal end of the bronchial blocking tube has a curve to bias the bronchus distal end towards the left or right bronchus when the bronchus distal end is inserted into the left or right bronchus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the bronchial blocking tube terminates with a Y-shaped structure at an input proximal end of the bronchial blocking tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a multiport adapter configured to mate with the proximal end of the laryngeal mask to facilitate mounting of the bronchial blocking tube to the laryngeal mask and to facilitate ventilating of the patient when the mask portion is positioned in the hypopharyngeal area of the patient to cover and seal around the glottis of the patient. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the imaging channel is dimensioned and configured to receive an imaging device, and the imaging channel merges with the airway channel at an angle that facilitates imaging of the glottis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the imaging channel is dimensioned and configured to receive an imaging device, and the imaging channel merges with the airway channel at an angle that facilitates side-by-side insertion of the bronchial blocking tube and the imaging device to facilitate imaging of the main bronchus to ensure that a bronchus is unobstructed by an inflatable member of the bronchial blocking tube when a bronchus distal end of the bronchial blocking tube is positioned in the left or right bronchus. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the mask portion includes an ampulla, and the plurality of channels of the channel portion includes a combined pharyngeal-gastric access channel that extends from a first opening of the combined pharyngeal-gastric access channel at the proximal end of the laryngeal mask to the ampulla. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the mask portion includes first and second sumps formed along edges of the mask portion, the first sump is in fluid communication with the ampulla via a first port of the ampulla, the second sump is in fluid communication with the ampulla via a second port of the ampulla. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the ampulla includes a third port that opens towards an esophagus of the patient when the mask portion is positioned in the hypopharyngeal area of the patient to cover and seal around the glottis of the patient. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the combined pharyngeal-gastric access channel is in fluid communication with the first, second, and third ports of the ampulla. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein a gastric suction tube is configured to be inserted into at least one of (i) a stomach of the patient via the combined pharyngeal-gastric access channel, the ampulla, and the third port of the ampulla to remove gastric fluids from the stomach or (ii) the ampulla via the combined pharyngeal-gastric access channel to remove pharyngeal fluid from the first and second sumps. ### Claim 24 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the airway channel includes a groove formed in a side wall of the airway channel proximate to the second opening, and the imaging channel obliquely merges with the first channel at the groove. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the groove tapers radially inward with respect to the airway channel as the imaging channel merges with the airway channel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, further comprising: an inner tube configured and dimensioned to house an imaging device or a bronchoscope and to be inserted into the imaging channel, the inner tube having a closed and transparent distal end.