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US 2001/0032646 A1Published application
laryngeal mask airway
AssigneeEvergreen Medical Incorporated
InventorKent L. Christopher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laryngeal mask airway has a curved tubular guide for insertion through the patient's mouth and oropharynx. After insertion of the guide, the beveled distal opening of the guide abuts the laryngeal inlet, while the guide's proximal opening remains outside the patient's mouth. A laryngeal mask surrounds the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide. A ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide supplies air/oxygen through the guide into the patient's lungs. An endotracheal tube can then be advanced along the length of guide and through the patient's larynx without interrupting ventilation.
Claims26
A laryngeal mask airway comprising:
- a curved tubular guide for insertion through a patient's mouth and into the patient's airway, said guide having a distal opening to abut the patient's laryngeal inlet and a proximal opening remaining outside the patient's mouth after insertion of the guide, said guide allowing insertion of an endotracheal tube along the guide to a position past the patient's larynx;
- a laryngeal mask surrounding the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide;
- and
- a ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide to supply a flow of air/oxygen through the guide and the patient's larynx into the patient's lungs during insertion of an endotracheal tube along the guide.
1 more element
A laryngeal mask airway comprising:
- a curved tubular guide for insertion through a patient's mouth and into the patient's airway, said guide having a distal opening to abut the patient's laryngeal inlet and a proximal opening remaining outside the patient's mouth after insertion of the guide, said guide allowing insertion of an endotracheal tube along the guide to a position past the patient's larynx;
- and
- a laryngeal mask surrounding the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet in fluid communication with the distal opening of the guide, said laryngeal mask having:
- (a) a lower portion shaped to substantially block the patient's esophagus below the patient's laryngeal inlet and align the distal opening of the guide with the patient's laryngeal inlet;
- and
- (b) an upper portion surrounding the distal opening of the guide and substantially filling the patient's laryngopharynx adjacent to the laryngeal inlet, so that the distal opening of the guide is axially aligned with and abuts the patient's laryngeal inlet on end as the guide is inserted along the patient's airway and is sealed in fluid communication with the patient's laryngeal inlet by the laryngeal mask.
3 more elements
A laryngeal mask airway comprising:
- a curved tubular guide for insertion through a patient's mouth and into the patient's airway to allow insertion of an endotracheal tube along the guide and through the patient's larynx, said guide having a distal opening to abut the patient's laryngeal inlet and a proximal opening remaining outside the patient's mouth after insertion of the guide;
- and
- a laryngeal mask surrounding the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide, said laryngeal mask having:
- (a) a support member extending from the distal end the guide and having a tip extending into the patient's esophagus;
- (b) a protrusion to push against the patient's vallecula and thereby lift the epiglottis from the laryngeal inlet as the guide is inserted into the patient's laryngopharynx;
- (c) a lower portion extending from the support member that is shaped to substantially block the patient's esophagus below the patient's laryngeal inlet and align the distal opening of the guide with the patient's laryngeal inlet as the guide is advanced along the patient's airway;
- and
- (d) an upper portion extending from the support member and surrounding the distal opening of the guide to substantially fill the patient's laryngopharynx adjacent to the laryngeal inlet, said upper portion having opposing side portions to pinch the patient's epiglottis and thereby lift the epiglottis from the laryngeal inlet, so that the distal opening of the guide abuts the patient's laryngeal inlet as the guide is advanced along the patient's airway and is sealed in fluid communication with the patient's laryngeal inlet;
- and
- a ventilation port adjacent to the proximal opening of the guide to supply a flow of air/oxygen through the guide and the patient's larynx into the patient's lungs during insertion of an endotracheal tube along the guide.
7 more elements
A method for resuscitating a patient and guiding insertion of an endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea comprising:
- inserting a tubular guide into a patient's mouth and hypopharynx, said guide having a curved distal portion shaped to allow insertion of an endotracheal tube through the guide into a patient's trachea, said guide further having a laryngeal mask surrounding the distal opening of the guide to substantially seal the laryngeal inlet about the distal opening of the guide;
- inserting the fiber optic probe into an endotracheal tube;
- advancing the fiber optic probe and endotracheal tube so that the endotracheal tube advances along the guide and into the patient's trachea;
- supplying air/oxygen via the guide into the patient's lungs while advancing the endotracheal tube and fiber optic probe;
- removing the guide from the endotracheal tube;
- removing the fiber optic probe from the endotracheal tube;
- and
- ventilating the patient through the endotracheal tube.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.