Artificial airway device and method of its use

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to artificial airway devices used to facilitate lung ventilation in unconscious patients, and more specifically to devices designed for placement above the laryngeal opening of the patient in order to prevent airway obstruction and to permit either spontaneous or controlled ventilation.

#2. Description of Related Art

#Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims, when considered in connection with the attached sheets of drawings, illustrating different forms of the invention, wherein like characters represent like parts and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the artificial airway device of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the mask portion used with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the artificial airway of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a mask portion 100 is connected to a partially curved airway tube 200 which includes a connection end 300. Connection end 300 may be connected to any known device or mechanism for providing artificial or spontaneous ventilation of a patient and/or for providing oxygen, air, anesthesia or other gases to the respiratory system of the patient. An inflation fluid supply unit 400 with a fluid connector 403 is also shown in FIG. 1.

#In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mask portion 100 includes a opening portion 110 and a seating tip 120 extending axially outwardly from the mask opening portion 110. The mask portion 100 is preferably integrally formed in one piece, and includes an opening 101 which securely receives a distal end 201 of the airway tube 200.

#The airway tube 200 is assembled into the opening 101 and fixed to the mask portion 100, using any appropriate attachment technique or mechanism. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the airway tube 200 is made of a material which is sufficiently flexible to permit it to deform so as to fit down the patient's airway (see FIGS. 7 and 8), but is also sufficiently stiff to permit the airway tube 200 and the mask portion 100 to be accurately positioned manually in the patient P. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or any other known inexpensive, durable and partially flexible material may be used as the material from which the airway tube 200 is made.