Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Means placed in body opening to facilitate insertion of...
Patent
1992-04-20
1994-04-19
Burr, Edgar S.
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Means placed in body opening to facilitate insertion of...
12820714, 12820715, A61M 1600, A61B 126
Patent
active
053036972
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an artificial airway device of the type capable of facilitating ventilation in unconscious patients, and more specifically to such a device designed for placing in the oropharynx of the patient in order to prevent airway obstruction and to permit ventilation.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
British Patent Publications Nos. 2 111 394 A and 2 229 367 A describe artificial airway devices capable of facilitating lung ventilation in an unconscious patient, referred to hereinafter as "laryngeal masks". The insertion of a laryngeal mask needs to be undertaken by persons practised in the use of the mask and is not so effective in emergency situations where untrained personnel may be called to a patient. Furthermore, these devices suffer from the limitation that they do not offer the same degree of protection against aspiration of regurgitated gastric contents into the lungs as does an endotracheal tube. The latter device has long been established as the most reliable means of preventing such aspiration in the unconscious patient and consists of a tube with an inflatable cuff, inflation of which forms a seal against the wall of the trachea. The laryngeal mask by contrast forms a seal around the perimeter of the larynx by means of an inflatable elliptical cuff. The seal so formed depends on pressure against muscular structures which may by their contraction or relaxation Hence, the degree of protection against aspiration already afforded by the laryngeal mask would be enhanced by allowing intubation with an endotracheal tube, with the laryngeal mask in place. Attempts have been made to intubate through the airway tube of a conventional laryngeal mask and this has been found to be effective. However, only a small diameter endotracheal tube can be passed through the mask. Moreover, as the airway tube is flexible, the operation is awkward and not entirely suited to emergency procedures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an artificial airway device to facilitate lung ventilation in an unconscious patient, comprising a substantially rigid airway tube and a mask attached to an end of the airway tube, the mask having an annular peripheral formation of roughly elliptical shape capable of conforming to, or readily fitting within, the actual and potential space behind the larynx so as to form a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet without the device penetrating into the interior of the larynx, the annular peripheral formation surrounding a hollow interior space or lumen of the mask into which the airway tube opens, in which said airway tube is curved to follow the airway of a patient, and said device further comprises a substantially rigid handle portion mounted to an end of the airway tube remote from the mask and extending in a direction away from the mouth of said airway tube.
In the preferred embodiment, the handle portion curves in a direction opposite to the direction of curvature of the airway tube, for example to form an S shape. This shape allows a person to insert a laryngeal mask into a patient quickly and effectively.
The handle portion can be removably mounted to the airway tube so that it can be detached after being used to guide the laryngeal mask into place. This has the advantage that the mask can be left in place in a patient without impeding medical attention.
The mask may include a stiff back piece surrounded by the annular peripheral portion. This assists in allowing the larynx to be pulled forward by manipulating the handle portion to enable regurgitated stomach contents to be released and to increase the seal of the annular peripheral formation against the laryngeal inlet.
The diameter of the airway tube can be such as to allow an endotracheal tube to be inserted through the tube to intubate a patient while the handle portion is braced manually. The inventor has found that in this way it is possible to use a laryngeal mask as a guiding tool to facilitate passage of a norm
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Burr Edgar S.
Raciti Eric P.
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