37 results about "Laryngeal inlet" patented technology

A laryngeal airway device includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends, and a sealing member attached to the distal end of the air tube. The sealing member includes an anterior surface adapted to seat in the throat, against the hyoid bone, and to stretch the laryngeal inlet. A hole extends through the anterior surface and the sealing member and communicates through an air passage with the distal end of the air tube. When the sealing member is seated in the throat, the hole is contained within the rim of the stretched laryngeal inlet, with which the anterior surface forms a seal that surrounds the hole. Airway patency is thereby ensured.

A laryngeal airway device for sealing against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member includes a coupler for coupling the device to an introducer. Complementing the laryngeal airway device is an introducer that includes a track for receiving the coupler of the laryngeal airway device and guiding the sealing member to a sealing position with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The introducer may include an epiglottic engager on a distal end to engage the epiglottis and retain it while the sealing member is being tracked to engagement with the laryngeal inlet.

An airway device for human or animal use comprising an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of which is surrounded by a laryngeal cuff, wherein the cuff is non-inflatable and is pre-formed in a shape such that a face region of the cuff is adapted to fit snugly over the laryngeal inlet of a patient, and wherein the external profile of the tube is substantially uniform between the distal end of the tube where it starts to meet the cuff and the proximal end of the tube, and wherein the face region of the cuff is formed from a material with a Shore hardness on the A scale of between 0 to 30.

A laryngeal mask airway device is provided that incorporates a video sensor, such as a CCD, CMOS or NMOS imaging chip, arranged to provide an image of the laryngeal inlet or other airway structures. The video sensor is electrically coupled to a reusable processing unit that receives the signals generated by the video sensor and generates a digital image of the interior of the patient's airway, thereby enabling the clinician to have immediate optical confirmation of the position of the mask aperture relative to the laryngeal inlet from the moment of insertion of the device.

A gastro-laryngeal mask features softly compliant construction of the distal half of the mask, wherein the mask is of generally elliptical configuration, with an inflatable peripheral cuff to seal and support the mask around the laryngeal inlet. A back cushion is inflatable to engage the back wall of the pharynx and thus to forwardly load the peripheral-cuff seal to the laryngeal inlet. An evacuation tube for external removal of a possible gastric discharge completes an evacuation or discharge passage contained within the mask and opening through the distal end of the peripheral cuff. Special provision is made for assuring integrity of the discharge passage within the flexible distal half of the mask, i.e., assuring against collapse of the distal-end half of the softly compliant evacuation tube in the distal region of the mask, such that inflation of the mask does not compromise viability of the evacuation tube by compressing softly compliant material of the evacuation tube during periods of mask inflation. The special provision also favors such collapse of the mask when deflated as to provide a leading flexible edge for piloting a safe and correct advancing insertional advance of the deflated mask in the patient's throat, in avoidance of epiglottis interference and to the point of locating engagement in the upper sphincter of the oesophagus.

An airway management device including a hollow flexible tube. The tube defines a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is configured to be coupled to a ventilator and/or anesthesia circuit. An opening is provided at or near the distal end to allow passage of air and/or anesthesia therethrough. The tube is configured to be expanded radially after insertion through a patient's nasopharyngeal passageway when the distal end of the tube is positioned proximate the patient's hypopharynx. The device may include an inflatable outer sleeve surrounding and extending along the length of the tube. When the outer sleeve is in a deflated state, the distal end of the tube may be inserted through a patient's nasopharyngeal passageway. When the distal end of the tube is positioned proximate the patient's hypopharynx, the outer sleeve may be inflated and expanded. The device may include an inflatable cuff attached at or near the distal end of the tube and including an opening fluidly coupled with the opening and lumen of the tube to allow passage of air and/or anesthesia therethrough. When in a deflated state, the inflatable cuff may be inserted through the patient's nasopharyngeal passageway. When in an inflated state, the inflatable cuff may expand to form a seal around the patient's supraglottic laryngeal inlet. An intermediate inflatable cuff having a larger diameter than other portions of the outer sleeve when inflated may be positioned along the length of the tube between the proximal and distal ends. The respective inflatable elements of the device may be concurrently or separately inflatable.

A laryngeal mask airway having a laryngeal mask and a flexible airway tube is provided with an external brace that is easily detached or reattached onto the airway tube. The brace, when attached, enhances the stiffness of the combination to facilitate placement of the mask at the laryngeal inlet of a patient. After the mask is in proper, sealed position at the laryngeal inlet the brace may be removed to permit the external portion of the flexible airway tube to be located in an out-of-the-way position.

A laryngoscope comprising a handle, a blade holding element, a detachable blade, means for viewing the laryngeal inlet of a patient and means for adjusting the viewing field. The means for adjusting the viewing field may comprise a light refracting means. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the viewing means comprises at least two fixed cameras elements directed to at least two different viewing fields, the means for adjusting the viewing field may comprise means for switching from one camera to the other or, in embodiments in which the viewing means comprises a movable camera element, the means for adjusting the viewing field may comprise mechanical or electronic means for controlling the movement of the camera. A method for viewing the laryngeal inlet of a patient using a laryngoscope comprising the step of adjusting the viewing field is also covered.

An intubation and supraglottic airway medical device. The device includes an air tube for ventilation, and a tube for guiding a fiber-optic-probe-scope to the distal end of the device. The distal end of the device is configured with a balloon around the tube system and between a bottom plate and the tube system such that when inflated the distal end of the air-tube is moved and thereby positioning the air-tube distal opening in front of a laryngeal inlet. Additionally, the balloon forms a seal with the surrounding tissue. The device includes a drainage loop and an esophageal blocker preventing aspiration. The air tube distal end can include a lifting plate configured to lift an epiglottis when the balloon is inflated.

An airway device (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510) for human or animal use, the device includes an airway tube (12, 112, 212, 312, 412, 512) having a first end (14, 114, 214, 314, 414, 514) and a second end (16, 116, 216, 316, 416, 516), the first end of the airway tube is surrounded by a laryngeal cuff (18, 118, 218, 318, 418, 518), the laryngeal cuff includes a back dorsal portion (20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520), a front face portion (22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522) and a tip portion (32, 132, 232, 332, 432, 532), the front face portion of the laryngeal cuff is shaped to form an anatomical fit over the laryngeal inlet of a human or animal patient, and to form a seal with the laryngeal inlet of the patient, wherein the tip portion includes an annular sealing bulge (90, 190, 290, 390, 490, 590). The annular sealing bulge is adapted to wedge into upper oesophagus region of the human or animal patient. The annular sealing bulge is provided for improved sealing of the tip of the laryngeal cuff in the upper oesophageal region of the human or animal patient. The annular sealing bulge is preferably formed from a soft polymeric or other plastics material with a Shore hardness of between 40 and 000 on the A scale. The annular sealing bulge allows for better sealing with a more variable range of upper oesophageal anatomical features.

An endoscopy device for facilitating the use of an endoscope, comprising at least one airway tube and a mask carried at one end of the at least one airway rube, the mask having a distal end and a proximal end and a peripheral formation capable of conforming to, and of fitting within, the actual and potential space behind the larynx of the patient so as to form a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet, the peripheral formation surrounding a hollow interior space or lumen of the mask and the at least one airway tube opening into the lumen of the mask, the device further comprising a conduit adapted for passage of an endoscope into the oesophagus of a patient when the mask is in place.

The invention relates to a devices and methods for lung ventilation in a patient. In particular, there is provided a laryngeal mask airway device for facilitation of lung ventilation in a patient, comprising an airway tube opening at one end into the interior of a hollow mask portion, the mask portion including a backplate and a cuff, the mask portion shaped to conform to and to fit readily into the actual and potential space behind the larynx and to seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet without penetrating into the interior of the larynx, the airway tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a tab disposed near said proximal end, a sealed airway passage extending from the proximal end of the tube to the glottic opening when the cuff is at the inserted location, characterized in that the tab is adapted to be biasable towards the philtrum of the patient in use.

An endoscopy device for facilitating use of an endoscope, comprising at least one airway tube and a mask having a distal end, a proximal end and a peripheral formation .xi.beta.) capable of conforming to, and fitting within, the actual and potential space behind the larynx of the patient to form a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet, the peripheral formation establishing separation between a laryngeal; chamber side and a pharyngeal side, the device further comprising a conduit adapted for passage of an endoscope into the oesophagus of a patient when mask is in place, conduit including a distal end for cooperation with the oesophageal sphincter, the conduit having a laryngeal side, a pharyngeal side, a right side and a left side, and an outlet wherein at the outlet the width between the left side and the right side is smaller than the width of the conduit.

An airway device for a subject which has an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and a laryngeal mask disposed surrounding the distal end of the airway tube, wherein the inner part of the laryngeal mask has a hollow body filled with a biocompatible thermosensitive hydrogel, wherein the biocompatible thermosensitive hydrogel is gelified within a temperature range such that the biocompatible thermosensitive hydrogel, upon being gelified, allows the laryngeal mask to fit over the circumference of a laryngeal inlet of the subject.