# US 9,038,636 B2 · Laryngeal mask > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,636 B2 - Document ID: US9038636B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/675,346 - Filed: 2008-08-27 - Published: 2011-02-03 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-30 - Applicants: Kanag Baska - Inventors: Kanag Baska - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038636B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/04: Tracheal tubes (catheters in general A61M25/00) - A61M 16/0409: {with mean for closing the oesophagus} - A61M 16/0415: {with access means to the stomach} - 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)} ## Abstract A device for maintaining an airway in a patient comprises mask having a peripheral portion that forms a seal with the larynx when the mask is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx airway tube connected to or formed with the mask for passing gas to the larynx when the mask is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx. The peripheral portion of the mask includes a soft, flexible portion that contacts tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening when the device is inserted into a patient, the soft, flexible portion being arranged whereby application of pressurized gas to the airway tube urges the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the pharyngeal wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a mask portion; and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion, the inner wall further comprising a portion of thicker material that extends around the opening, and whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx and wherein the pressurised gas also pushes the inner wall outwards and urges the inner wall into sealing contact with tissues underlying the inner wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft, flexible portion of the mask portion extends in a ventral direction from a wall section of the mask portion, the soft, flexible portion having a thinner wall thickness than the wall thickness of the wall section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall defines or includes the opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distal end of the opening of the mask portion through which ventilation gases are supplied to the patient is provided with a sloped region or a ramp. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mask portion further includes a cricoid contacting portion that extends towards the cricoid cartilage and abuts with the cricoid cartilage when the mask portion is properly inserted, the cricoid contacting portion being adapted to form a seal in the vicinity of the cricoid cartilage or upper oesophagus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cricoid contacting portion has a resilient and conformable structure that, in use, abuts with the cricoid cartilage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a dorsal side of the cricoid contacting portion includes one or more transversely extending openings facilitating fluid communication between passageways on either side of the mask portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mask portion includes a distal portion that extends past the cricoid cartilage when the mask portion is properly inserted. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device includes a ventral curvature at a proximal portion of the mask portion, or near where the mask portion and airway tube join or merge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft flexible portion is shaped such that it extends into and fills the piriform recess when the mask portion is supplied with ventilation gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft, flexible portion has a wall thickness less than that of the rest of the mask portion. ### Claim 12 A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a mask portion; an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; one or more openings at or near a distal end of the mask portion, the one or more openings being associated with a pair of longitudinally extending passageways or cavities that allow fluid communication between the oesophagus and the throat region when the mask portion is inserted into the patient, and one or more transversely extending openings facilitating fluid communication between the pair of passageways; the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft, flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft, flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion; and whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx. ### Claim 13 A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a mask portion; and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft, flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft, flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion; and a cricoid contacting portion that extends towards the cricoid cartilage and abuts with the cricoid cartilage when the mask portion is properly inserted, the cricoid contacting portion being adapted to form a seal in the vicinity of the cricoid cartilage or upper oesophagus, wherein the cricoid contacting portion, with a distal portion of the soft, flexible portion is in the form of a sling shaped region into which the cricoid cartilage snugly fits; whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx. ### Claim 14 A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising: a mask portion; and an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx; the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion, the opening being defined by a dorsal end of the inner wall, wherein an entire peripheral extent of the opening is dorsally spaced from the larynx when the device is properly inserted into the patient, and whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx and wherein the pressurised gas also pushes the inner wall outwards and urges the inner wall into sealing contact with tissues underlying the inner wall; wherein a distal end of a ventral peripheral portion of the mask portion includes an upwardly extending portion that extends towards a dorsal side of the mask portion and the upwardly extending portion includes one or more openings formed therein to facilitate fluid flow from the oesophagus to a proximal side of the mask portion during use of the mask portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mask portion is provided with a dorsal groove or recess near a distal tip thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a peripheral portion of the mask portion includes an inflatable cuff, with the soft, flexible portion extending from the inflatable cuff.