Artificial airway device with sealing cuff for distal end

Details Artificial airway device with sealing cuff for distal end Artificial airway device with sealing cuff for distal end

1997-11-04

1999-02-02

Asher, Kimberly L.

Surgery

Respiratory method or device

Respiratory gas supply means enters mouth or tracheotomy...

12820714, 604101, A61M 1600, A61M 2900, A62B 906

Patent

active

058651764

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an artificial airway device to facilitate the ventilation of the lungs of an unconcious patient.


BACKGROUND

It is known to provide an artificial airway device in the form of a laryngeal mask comprising an airway tube opening into the interior space of a mask portion which is positioned in the hypopharynx of the patient and forms a seal around the inlet to the larynx to form an airway to the patients lungs permitting spontaneous or controlled ventilation thereof.
Such a known artificial airway device suffers from several disadvantages. As the mask portion has to provide a seal around the inlet to the patients larynx, it is necessary for the mask to be formed with a collar engaging in sealing contact with the tissues around the circumference of the patients laryngeal inlet, resulting in the need for the mask portion to be of a relatively large size and complex shape.
The complexity of the shape of the mask portion is further increased by the need to provide restraining means extending across the open space defined by the collar to reduce the risk of a blockage to the airway by the epiglottis falling inwards into said open space.
The size and complexity of shape of the mask portion of this known type of artificial airway device makes it difficult and expensive to produce. In order for this known type of artificial airway to be economically viable in view of its cost, it is therefore necessary to produce the device from materials which allow the device to be re-used which further increase the cost of the known device.
The re-use of such devices is in itself inherently inadvisable due not only to the possibility of eventual failure of parts of the device during use but also to the danger of cross-infection between patients if the device is not completely sterilised prior to re-use.
A further disadvantage of the known device is that the complexity of the shape of the mask portion in particular makes it difficult to ensure that the device is effectively sterilised.
Another disadvantage of the known device results from the need for the mask portion thereof to engage in sealing contact with the tissues around the circumference of the patients laryngeal inlet, resulting in the need for the mask portion to be accurately positioned and the risk of this portion of the device being wholly or partially dislodged during movement of a patient during an operation which can cause difficulties in maintaining said sealing contact.
Yet another disadvantage of the known device is that access to the oesophagus is precluded or at least severely restricted by the mask portion of the known device and the relatively large size of the mask portion of the known device only permits oral introduction into the patients hypopharynx and precludes nasal introduction of the device which may be required for certain operations involving for example dental surgery.


OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

The object of the invention is to provide an artificial airway device in which one or more of the above disadvantages of the known device are alleviated.
According to this invention, an artificial airway device to facilitate the ventilation of the lungs of an unconcious patient comprises a hollow elongate member which is open at both ends, an aperture in the wall of the hollow member providing fluid communication between the interior and exterior of said hollow members the aperture being disposed between the ends of said hollow member and sealing means for providing a seal in the patient's pharynx between the external surface of the hollow member and the pharynx on one side of the aperture, between the external surface of the hollow member and the patient's oesophagus on the other side of the aperture and for releasably closing the open end of the hollow member which is inserted into the oesophagus.
Preferably, the sealing means comprises inflatable members adapted when inflated to extend from the external surface of the hollow member for engaging in sealing contact with the patient's pharynx and/or oesophagus.
Preferably, also, the

REFERENCES:
patent: 3874377 (1975-04-01), Davidson
patent: 3915173 (1975-10-01), Brekke
patent: 4166468 (1979-09-01), Haynie
patent: 4230108 (1980-10-01), Young
patent: 4256099 (1981-03-01), Dryden
patent: 4327720 (1982-05-01), Bronson et al.
patent: 5339808 (1994-08-01), Don Michael

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