Airway assembly and methods of using an airway assembly

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. The proximal portion of the inner tube has an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the distal portion of the inner tube. A further embodiment provides a method of using an airway assembly in an airway. The method comprises the steps of: providing an airway assembly having an outer tube, an inner tube disposed coaxially with the outer tube, and a seal disposed on the inner tube. The seal is inserted into the airway. The seal is moved from a collapsed position to an expanded position where the seal engages the airway. Fluid is moved through the inner tube and the seal. An additional embodiment provides a method of using an airway assembly in an airway. The method comprises the steps of: providing an airway assembly having an outer tube, and an inner tube disposed coaxially with the outer tube. The airway assembly is placed in a first status. The airway assembly is inserted into an airway when the airway assembly is in the first status. The outer tube is moved with respect to the inner tube to place the airway assembly in a second status. The outer tube is moved with respect to the inner tube to place the airway assembly in a third status.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.