Laryngeal mask with enhanced insertion

A laryngeal mask as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises a ventral region or a dorsal region.

A laryngeal mask as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one region of reduced wall thickness comprises two regions of reduced wall thickness.

A laryngeal mask as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one region of increased wall thickness or enhanced stiffness in the mask portion of the mask is provided in a proximal end of the mask portion.

A laryngeal mask for establishing an artificial airway in a patient, comprising a mask portion having a resilient conformable peripheral portion shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngopharynx, and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngopharynx, the airway tube including at least one region of enhanced flexibility located at or near a distal end of the airway tube, the airway tube including a continuous region having increased stiffness (relative to the region of enhanced flexibility), the continuous region of increased stiffness extending from the distal end of the airway tube to a proximal end of the airway tube to thereby provide a continuous line of enhanced stiffness to transmit a pushing force therealong, the one or more regions of enhanced flexibility comprising one or more regions having an essentially identical wall thickness to the rest of the airway tube, but having a configuration that enhances flexibility.

A laryngeal mask for establishing an artificial airway in a patient, comprising a mask portion having a resilient conformable peripheral portion shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngopharynx, and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngopharynx, the mask portion including a base plate that, in use, is positioned dorsally of the resilient conformable peripheral portion, the base plate being formed with the airway tube or being connected to the airway tube, wherein the base plate includes at least one region of reduced wall thickness or enhanced flexibility, the base plate also including at least one region of thicker wall thickness or increased stiffness (relative to the at least one region of reduced wall thickness or enhanced flexibility, respectively), the region of thicker wall thickness or increased stiffness extending from a distal part of the base plate to a part of the base plate that joins with or merges into the airway tube.

A laryngeal mask as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the resilient conformable peripheral portion shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx comprises an inflatable cuff or a non-inflatable portion or a soft, non-inflatable cuff that fits snugly onto the perilaryngeal framework, mirroring the shape of the epiglottis, aryepiglottic folds, piriform fossae, peri-thyroid, peri-cricoid, posterior cartilages and spaces.

A laryngeal mask as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising one or more cavities or tubes that, in use, have an opening that extends into the oesophagus of the patient.

A laryngeal mask as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the laryngeal mask is provided with deformation means located on the mask, wherein the application of force to the deformation means causes elastic deformation of the device, thereby facilitating insertion of the device into the patient.

A laryngeal mask for establishing an artificial airway in a patient, comprising a mask portion having a resilient conformable peripheral portion shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngopharynx, and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngopharynx, characterised in that the laryngeal mask includes a joint adapted to permit relative rotation between the airway tube and the mask portion.

A laryngeal mask for establishing an artificial airway in a patient, comprising a mask portion having a resilient conformable peripheral portion shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngopharynx, and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngopharynx, wherein the mask portion includes a dorsal surface, characterised in that a line extending from a proximal part to a distal part of a dorsal-most part of the dorsal surface extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of a distal most part of the airway tube, or the line extending from a proximal part to a distal part of a dorsal-most part of the dorsal surface extends towards a ventral region in a direction from the proximal to distal part of that line.

A laryngeal mask for establishing an artificial airway in a patient, comprising a mask portion having a resilient conformable peripheral portion shaped such that the mask forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngopharynx, and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngopharynx, wherein the mask portion includes a base plate, the base plate having a dorsal surface, characterised in that a line extending from a proximal part to a distal part of a dorsal-most part of the dorsal surface extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of a distal-most part of the airway tube or the line extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of a distal most part of the airway tube such that the line extends distally and ventrally from a proximal end of the line relative to the longitudinal axis of a distal most part of the airway tube.

A laryngeal mask including a mask portion defining a chamber, and an inflatable cuff extending around the chamber, the chamber being in fluid communication with an airway tube such that gases supplied from the airway tube pass into the chamber and thereafter into the larynx of a patient when the mask is in use, wherein the inflatable cuff is formed from a skirt extending from the mask portion and having an end of the skirt being positioned between and retained between at least one lip and a base of the skirt or between two spaced lips.