Oral airway

An oral airway to provide an air passage to a patient's trachea, comprising:

• a straight section having inner and outer ends adapted to fit between the patient's teeth;
• a curved section adapted to fit over the patient's tongue and extending to the oropharyngeal area;
• said straight section including a substantially planar upper member and a substantially planar lower member which are spaced-apart by a medial web extending therebetween;
• said planar upper and lower members of said straight section having substantially the same widths;
• said outer end of said planar upper member having an upwardly extending flange;
• said outer end of said planar lower member having a downwardly extending flange;
• said flanges externally overlying the lips of the patient;
• said curved section comprising spaced-apart curved upper and lower members which are spaced-apart by a medial web extending therebetween;
• said curved upper member of said curved section having substantially the same width as said planar lower member of said straight section;
• said curved lower member of said curved section having a greater width for substantially its entire length than said planar lower member of said straight section;
• said curved lower member of said curved section having a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section.