Laryngeal mask airway
AssigneeEvergreen Medical Incorporated
InventorKent L. Christopher
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims4
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.