# US 8,539,954 B2 · Breathing assistance apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,954 B2 - Document ID: US8539954B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/795,084 - Filed: 2010-06-07 - Published: 2011-12-08 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-07 - Applicants: Vincent Meyer - Inventors: Vincent Meyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539954B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0488: {Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes (guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02)} - A61B 5/097: Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices - A61F 5/566: {Intra-oral devices} - A61M 16/0493: {with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract The disclosure describes a novel apparatus for providing an airway to a patient after having his or her jaw wired shut. The apparatus provides for an unobstructed airway that allows a patient with at least a partially blocked nasal passage to breathe effectively and easily during recovery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A breathing assistance apparatus, comprising: a right airway tubing including: a right interior airway opening, a right exterior airway opening, and a right passageway connecting the right interior airway opening and the right exterior airway opening, the right passageway including: a right exit tube, a right inner flat passageway wall connected to the right exit tube adapted to contour around a right outside portion of the patient's teeth, and a right outer curved passageway wall adapted to contour around the right outside portion of the patient's teeth and connected to the right flat passageway wall and the right exit tube, wherein the right passageway provides a flow path for air adapted to move the air to and from behind a right side of a patient's teeth via the right interior airway opening via the right exterior airway opening during use; a left airway tubing including: a left interior airway opening, a left exterior airway opening, and a left passageway connecting the left interior airway opening and the left exterior airway opening, the left passageway including: a left exit tube, a left inner flat passageway wall connected to the left exit tube adapted to contour around a left outside portion of the patient's teeth, and a left curved passageway wall connected to the left flat passageway wall and the left exit tube adapted to contour around the left outside portion of the patient's teeth; wherein the left passageway provides a flow path for air adapted to move the air to and from behind a left side of a patient's teeth via the left interior airway opening via the left exterior airway opening during use, wherein the right airway tubing and the left airway tubing are made of a semi-rigid material that is adapted to provide the flow path located between the patient's teeth and cheeks; and a connector, the connector attaching the right airway tubing to the left airway tubing; said connector spanning from the right exterior airway opening and the left exterior airway opening to a juncture of the right inner flat passageway wall and the left inner flat passageway wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is connective webbing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector allows the left airway tubing to be separated from the right airway tubing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right airway tubing and the left airway tubing are the mirror images of each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right airway tubing and the left airway tubing are made of a semi-rigid plastic material that is configured to be cut with scissors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right exterior airway opening and the left exterior airway opening are adapted to be located outside of a patient's mouth during use. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right interior airway opening and the left interior airway opening are adapted to extend at least partially through a space behind the teeth of the patient during use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right interior airway opening and the left interior airway opening are adapted to be positioned adjacent to a space behind the teeth of the patient during use. ### Claim 9 A breathing assistance apparatus, comprising: a left airway tubing, the left airway tubing including: a left interior airway opening, a left exterior airway opening, and a left passageway connecting the left interior airway opening and the left exterior airway opening, the left passageway including: a left exit tube, a left curved outer passageway wall connected to the left exit tube adapted to contour around a left outside portion of the patient's teeth, and a left inner flat passageway wall connected to the left outer passageway wall and the left exit tube, wherein the left passageway provides a flow path for air adapted to move the air to and from behind a left side of a patient's teeth via the left interior airway opening via the left exterior airway opening during use; a right airway tubing including: a right interior airway opening, a right exterior airway opening, and a right passageway connecting the right interior airway opening and the right exterior airway opening, the right passageway including: a right exit tube, a right inner flat passageway wall connected to the right exit tube adapted to contour around a right outside portion of the patient's teeth, and a right outer curved passageway wall adapted to contour around the right outside portion of the patient's teeth and connected to the right flat passageway wall and the right exit tube, wherein the right passageway provides a flow path for air adapted to move the air to and from behind a right side of a patient's teeth via the right interior airway opening via the right exterior airway opening during use; and a connector, the connector attaching the right airway tubing to the left airway tubing; said connector spanning from the right exterior airway opening and the left exterior airway opening to a juncture of the right inner flat passageway wall and the left inner flat passageway wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left interior airway opening is curved. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein an elbow is formed by the connection of the left exit tube to the left outer passageway wall and the left inner passageway wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the left exit tube is a handle for insertion and removal of the breathing apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the right airway tubing and the left airway tubing are made of a semi-rigid plastic material that is configured to be cut with scissors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the right the right exterior airway opening and the left exterior airway opening are adapted to be located outside of the patient's mouth during use. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the right interior airway opening and the left interior airway opening are adapted to extend at least partially through a space behind the teeth of the patient during use. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The breathing assistance apparatus of claim 9, wherein the right interior airway opening and the left interior airway opening are adapted to be adjacent to a space behind the teeth of the patient during use.