U.S. patent number RE35,531 [Application Number 08/644,213] was granted by the patent office on 1997-06-17 for laryngeal mask assembly and method for removing same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Laryngeal Mask Company Ltd.. Invention is credited to Eric B. Callaghan, Mark L. Callaghan.
United States Patent |
RE35,531 |
Callaghan , et al. |
June 17, 1997 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Laryngeal mask assembly and method for removing same
Abstract
A laryngeal mask assembly (10) includes an artificial airway
tube (14) and an inflatable mask (26). The mask (26) is forced into
the mouth (20) of a patient (12) to an operating position adjacent
the larynx (21). A scoping instrument (22) is sent through the
artificial airway tube (14) and the inflatable mask (26) to locate
the vocal cords (23) and trachea (35). The artificial airway tube
(14) and inflatable mask (26) are removed, keeping the scoping
instrument (22) in a position within the trachea (35) whereafter
the laryngeal mask assembly (10) is removed by peeling it off the
scoping instrument (22) using the slit (34) creating by the
overlapping edges (36, 38).
Inventors: |
Callaghan; Eric B. (Marquette,
MI), Callaghan; Mark L. (Marquette, MI) |
Assignee: |
The Laryngeal Mask Company Ltd.
(Nicosia, CY)
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Family
ID: |
23494503 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/644,213 |
Filed: |
May 10, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
378775 |
Jan 26, 1995 |
05477851 |
Dec 26, 1995 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/207.15;
128/200.23; 604/103.07 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
16/04 (20130101); A61M 16/0409 (20140204) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
16/04 (20060101); A61M 016/00 (); A61M
019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/207.14,207.19,206.26,207.16,200.26 ;604/96-103,174 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2366844 |
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Feb 1992 |
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FR |
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2308400 |
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Jun 1992 |
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DE |
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685295 |
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Nov 1991 |
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GB |
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Other References
Brimacombe, J. and Johns, K.; (1991), "Modified Intravent LMA",
Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, vol. 19, No. 4, p. 616. .
Maroof, M.; Khan, R.M.; Siddique, M.S.K.; Bhatti, T.H.; Hussain,
A.; (1992), "Fiber-Optic Intubation Through a Modified Laryngeal
Mask", Anesthesiology, vol. 77, No. 3A, A510. .
Maroff, M.; Khan, R.M.; Khan, H.; Stewart J.; Mroze, C.; (1992),
"Evaluation of Modified Laryngeal Mask Airway as an Aid to Fiber
Optic Intubation (FOI)", Anesthesiology, vol. 77, No. 3A, A1062.
.
Darling, J.R.; D'Arcy, J.T.; Murray, J.M.; (1993), "Split Laryngeal
Mask Airway as an Aid to Fibrooeptic Intubation", Anaesthesia, vol.
48, pp. 79-80. .
Brimacombe, J.; (1993), "The Split Laryngeal Mask Airway",
Anaesthesia, vol. 48, p. 639. .
Darling, J. R.; Keohane, M.; and Murray, J.M.; (1993), "A Split
Laryngeal Mask as an Aid to Training in Fibreoptic Tracheal
Intubation", Anaesthesia, vol. 48, pp. 1079-1082..
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Primary Examiner: Millin; Vincent
Assistant Examiner: Raciti; Eric P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hopgood, Calimafde, Kalil &
Judlowe
Claims
We claim:
1. An artificial airway assembly (10) for ventilating a patient
(12) and utilizing a scoping device in the airway of a patient,
said artificial airway assembly (10) comprising:
a flexible airway tube (14) having a patient insertion end (16) and
a breathing tool receiving end (18), said flexible airway tube
having .[.pass through.]. .Iadd.a branching pass-through
.Iaddend.means (24) for allowing a scoping instrument (22) to pass
therethrough .Iadd.and for guiding the scoping instrument
.Iaddend.to an operating position to view vocal cords and trachea
of the patient (12);
a mask (26) fixedly secured to said patient insertion end (16) of
said flexible airway tube (14), said mask (26) having conforming
means for conforming to a space immediately adjacent the larynx of
the patient (12) to properly position the scoping instrument (22),
said artificial airway assembly (10) characterized by removing
means (.[.3.]..Iadd.30.Iaddend.) for removing said flexible airway
tube (14) and mask (26) from the scoping instrument (22) while
maintaining the scoping instrument (22) in the operating
position.
2. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized
by said removing means (30) including a slit (34) extending
.Iadd.distally along said pass-through means (24) and distally
continuously from said pass-through means .Iaddend.along said
flexible airway tube (14).
3. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 2 further characterized
by said slit (34) extending through a portion of said mask
(26).
4. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized
by said slit (34) creating two opposing side edges (36, 38).
5. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 4 further characterized
by said two opposing side edges (36, 38) overlapping each other
such that said artificial airway assembly (10) is substantially
sealed between said patient insertion end (16) and said breathing
tool receiving end (18). .[.6. An assembly (10) as set forth in
claim 5 further characterized by said flexible airway tube (14)
including a second branch (24) in fluid communication with said
flexible airway tube (14) for guiding the scoping
instrument (22) into flexible airway tube (14)..].7. A method for
intubating a patient (12) using an artificial airway assembly (10)
including a mask (26) and flexible airway tube (14) .Iadd.having a
branching pass-through guide passage which communicates with the
flexible airway assembly between a breathing-tool receiving end and
a patient-insertion end of the artificial airway assembly
(10).Iaddend., and a scoping device (22), the method comprising the
steps of:
(a) inserting the artificial airway assembly (10) into the mouth
(20) of a patient (12);
(b) positioning the mask (26) adjacent the larynx;
(c) initiating ventilation of the patient via the breathing-tool
receiving end;
(.Iadd.d.Iaddend.) moving the scoping device (22) through the
.Iadd.branching pass-through guide passage (24) at least to the
patient-insertion end of the .Iaddend.artificial airway assembly
(10) and the mask (26);
(e) removing the artificial airway assembly (10) from the mouth
(20) of the patient (12); and
(f) peeling the artificial airway assembly (10) off the scoping
device
(22). .Iadd.8. The method of claim 7, in which step (d) includes
moving the scoping device beyond the mask (26) and into the trachea
of the patient..Iaddend..Iadd.9. An assembly (10) as set forth in
claim 1, further characterized by said removing means (30)
including a continuously elongate locally weakened and tearable
course extending the length of said pass-through means (24) from
the receiving end thereof to the patient-insertion end (16) of the
flexible airway tube (14)..Iaddend..Iadd.10. An assembly (10) as
set forth in claim 3, in which said mask (26) has a hole (27) for
establishing a ventilating passage between the flexible airway tube
(14) and the larynx, and the conforming means of said mask (26)
comprises an inflatable ring for establishing an initial
peripherally sealing engagement of the mask at the laryngeal inlet,
said slit (34) extending to at least one of said holes and said
inflatable ring being characterized by a local split between
peripherally confronting ends of the slit portion of said mask
(26)..Iaddend..Iadd.11. An artificial airway assembly (10) for
ventilating a patient (12) and utilizing a scoping device in the
patient's airway, said artificial airway assembly (10)
comprising:
a flexible airway tube (14) having a patient-insertion end (16) and
a breathing-tool receiving end (18) and a pass-through receiving
end (24), said pass-through receiving end (24) being adapted to
allow a scoping instrument (22) to pass therethrough to an
operating position at the patient-insertion end (16) of said tube
to view vocal cords and trachea of the patient (12), said
breathing-tool receiving end (18) and said pass-through receiving
end (24) having separate merging communication with said airway
tube at a location intermediate said patient-insertion end (16) and
said receiving ends (18, 24);
a mask (26) fixedly secured to said patient-insertion end (16) of
said flexible airway tube (14), said mask (26) having conforming
means for conforming to a space immediately adjacent the larynx of
the patient (12) to properly position the scoping instrument (22),
said artificial airway assembly (10) being characterized by
removing means (30) for removing said flexible airway tube (14) and
mask (26) from the scoping instrument (22) while maintaining the
scoping instrument (22) in the operating
position..Iaddend..Iadd.12. An artificial airway assembly (10) for
ventilating a patient (12) and utilizing a scoping device in the
airway of a patient, said artificial airway assembly (10)
comprising:
a flexible airway tube (14) having a patient-insertion end (16) and
a breathing-tool receiving end (18) and a pass-through receiving
end (24), said pass-through receiving end (24) being adapted to
allow a scoping instrument (22) to pass therethrough to an
operating position at the patient-insertion end (16) of said tube
to view vocal cords and trachea of the patient (12), said
breathing-tool receiving end (18) and said pass-through receiving
end (24) having separate merging communication with said airway
tube at a location intermediate said patient-insertion end (16) and
said receiving ends (18, 24);
a mask secured to the patient-insertion end of the flexible airway
tube, said mask having an opening (27) for patient ventilating
passage therethrough,
removing means (30) for removing said flexible airway tube and mask
from the scoping instrument while maintaining the scoping
instrument in the operating position, said removing means being
characterized by an elongate continuous slit from said pass-through
receiving end (24) to said mask opening (27) and via an intervening
length of said flexible airway tube,
said mask (26) including an inflatable ring for peripheral sealing
of said mask at the laryngeal inlet, said inflatable ring being
characterized by a split at the location of slit passage in said
mask to the mask opening, the split of said ring defining
confronting peripheral ends which inflate in patient-installed
position into sealed relation to each other and thus into
peripherally continuous sealed relation to the laryngeal
inlet..Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention related to artificial airway assemblies. More
particularly, the invention relates to artificial airway assemblies
which are easily removable after locating the vocal cord of a
patient.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
In recent years, several improvements have been made in the
artificial airway technology. U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,514, issued to
Brain on Apr. 9, 1985, discloses an artificial airway assembly used
to facilitate lung ventilation in an unconscious patient. The
laryngeal mask provides a seal around the larynx. A tube connected
to the laryngeal mask allows air to pass therethrough and through
the mask to facilitate breathing. A pump is used to inflate and
deflate the laryngeal mask to facilitate the inserting and removing
of the laryngeal airway in the .[.patients.]. .Iadd.patient's
.Iaddend.mouth, as well as to improve the seal around the larynx.
Although this artificial airway assembly provides an unblocked
airway for an unconscious patient to facilitate the breathing of
the patient, the system does not secure the airway in such a manner
as an endotracheal tube which resides in the trachea and prevents
aspiration of gastric contents in a more definitive manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The assembly is an artificial airway assembly for ventilating a
patient as well aiding in the tracheal intubation of patients in
which traditional procedures would be difficult. The artificial
airway assembly comprises a flexible airway tube having a patient
insertion end and a breathing tube receiving end. The flexible
airway tube allows a scoping instrument to pass therethrough to an
operating position to view the vocal cords and trachea of the
patient. A mask is fixedly secured to the patient insertion end of
the flexible airway tube wherein the mask is capable of conforming
to the space immediately adjacent the larynx of the patient to
properly position the scope instrument. The artificial airway
assembly is characterized by removing means for removing the
flexible airway tube from the scope instrument while maintaining
the scoping instrument in the operating position.
The advantages associated with the subject invention .[.includes.].
.Iadd.include .Iaddend.the ability to remove the laryngeal mask
from the patient's airway while maintaining the end of the scoping
instrument in position in the trachea .Iadd., .Iaddend.allowing an
endotracheal tube to be guided over the scoping instrument, thereby
securing the airway in a definitive manner and allowing for
ventilation through the endotracheal tube and prevention of
aspiration of gastric contents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the subject
invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view partially cut away of the mask of the
preferred embodiment of the subject invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along .[.lines.]. .Iadd.line
.Iaddend.3--3 of .Iadd.the artificial airway tube of .Iaddend.FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view .[.of.]. .Iadd.similar to FIG. 3,
for .Iaddend.an alternative embodiment of the artificial airway
tube;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view .Iadd.in longitudinal section
.Iaddend.taken along .[.lines.]. .Iadd.line .Iaddend.5--5 of FIG.
2; and
FIG. 6 is a side view partially cut away of a patient with the
preferred embodiment of the subject invention inserted in the
operating position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
.[.Turning to the enclosed sketches,.]. .Iadd.Referring to the
drawings, .Iaddend.an artificial airway assembly is generally shown
at 10. The artificial airway 10 ventilates a patient while when the
patient 12 .[.can not breath.]. .Iadd.cannot breathe .Iaddend.on
.Iadd.his or .Iaddend.her own or needs some form of respiratory
assistance. Typically, this occurs when the patient 12 is
unconscious during surgery. The artificial airway assembly 10
comprises a flexible airway tube 14. The flexible airway tube 14
includes a patient insertion end 16 and a breathing tool receiving
end 18. The patient insertion end 16 is inserted into the patient's
mouth 20 and extended into a position adjacent the larynx 21.Iadd.,
specifically the laryngeal inlet.Iaddend.. The breathing tool
receiving end 18 is attached to a breathing tool (not shown) such
as a ventilating bag or a ventilating machine.
The flexible airway tube 14 allows a scoping instrument 22 to pass
therethrough to an operating position to view the vocal cords 23
and trachea 35 of the patient 12. In the preferred embodiment, the
scoping instrument 22 is .[.fiber.]. .Iadd.a fiber-.Iaddend.optic
scope which extends along the length of the flexible airway to a
tube 14 and out the patient insertion end 16 to view the vocal
cords 23 and enter the trachea 35. The flexible airway tube 14
includes a second branch 24 which is in fluid communication with
the flexible airway tube 14. The second branch 24 guides the
scoping instrument 22 into the flexible airway tube 14 and allows
for uninterrupted ventilation to continue through the breathing
tool receiving end 18. The scoping instrument 22, i.e., the fiber
optic scope, is not part of the subject invention wherein any type
of scoping instrument may be used to determine the location of the
patient insertion end 16.
A mask 26 is fixedly secured to the patient insertion end 16 of the
flexible airway tube 14. The mask includes holes 27 allowing air
and the scoping instrument 22 to pass therethrough. The mask 26 is
capable of conforming to the space immediately adjacent the larynx
21 of the patient 12 to properly position the scoping instrument
22. More specifically the mask 26 is made of a resilient
rubber-like material .[.having .]. .Iadd.in the form of a
peripheral ring defining .Iaddend.a hollow space 29 capable of
being inflated and deflated to accommodate for the space adjacent
the larynx 21. Because the mask 26 is resiliently deformable, the
natural configuration of the mask 26 .[.is in the deflated
position.]. .Iadd.when installed, is that of inflated resilient
conformance to the profile of the laryngeal inlet, generally as
suggested by FIG. 6.Iaddend.. A valve assembly 28 allows air to
pass in and out of the mask 26 which allows for easier insertion
when the mask 26 is deflated and a better seal around the larynx 21
when the mask 26 is inflated. Typically, air is injected or
withdrawn from the mask 26 with a syringe. The inflatable portion
of the mask 26 has ends 40,41 which come together and abut upon
inflation of the mask 26 to provide a .Iadd.peripheral
.Iaddend.seal. In the deflated position, the ends 40, 41 move away
from each other to facilitate removal of the device 10 and the
scoping instrument 22.
The subject invention is characterized by removing means 30 for
removing the flexible airway tube 14 and the mask 26 from the
scoping instrument 22 while maintaining the scoping instrument 22
in the operating position as shown in FIG. 6. Once the scoping
instrument 22 is in place, artificial airway assembly 10 is
removed, a smaller flexible airway tube (not shown) can be
manipulated to pass over the .[.fiber optic.]. .Iadd.fiberoptic
.Iaddend.scope into the same position as the end 32 of the scoping
instrument 22.Iadd., it being understood that the smaller flexible
airway tube may be a commercial endotracheal tube having its own
inflatable cuff to secure the patient's airway.Iaddend.. Therefore,
once the smaller airway tube is inserted into the same position as
the scoping instrument end 32, the scoping instrument is removed
and the airway is secure.
The removing means 30 includes a slit 34 extending along the
flexible airway tube 14 .[.and.]..Iadd., through .Iaddend.a
position 31 of the mask 26.Iadd., and extending to the central hole
27.Iaddend.. The slit 34 allows the artificial airway assembly 10
to be removed from the scoping instrument 22 while the scoping
instrument 22 remains operational in the operating position. The
slit 34 creates two opposing side edges 36, 38. The opposing side
edges 36, 38 .[.over lap.]. .Iadd.overlap .Iaddend.each other such
that the artificial airway assembly 10 is substantially sealed
between the patient insertion end 16 and the breathing tool
receiving end 18.
As may be seen in .Iadd.the alternative embodiment of .Iaddend.FIG.
4, the removing means 30 may comprise a scored portion 40 which is
weakened at that point allowing the assembly 10 to be torn
.[.away.]. .Iadd.along the weakened alignment 40 .Iaddend.when
.[.pressure.]. .Iadd.an extracting force .Iaddend.is applied to the
assembly 10 to pull the assembly 10 away from the scope instrument
22.
In operation, the method for intubating a patient 12 using an
artificial airway assembly 10 which includes a mask 26 and a
flexible airway tube 14 and a scoping device 22 comprises the steps
of: inserting the artificial airway assembly 10 into the mouth 20
of the patient while positioning the mask 26 adjacent the larynx
21.Iadd., thus sealing the airway tube for exclusive communication
via the laryngeal inlet.Iaddend.; moving the scoping device 22
through the artificial airway assembly 10 .Iadd.via branch 24
.Iaddend.and the mask 26 into the trachea 35; removing the
artificial airway assembly 10 from the mouth 20 of the patient 12;
and peeling the artificial airway assembly 10 off the scoping
device 22. The peeling of the artificial airway assembly 10 off the
scoping deice 22 occurs .[.when.]. .Iadd.outside the patient and
while .Iaddend.the scoping device is maintained in the operating
position and while the scoping device 22 is operating.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it
is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of
limitation.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims wherein reference numerals are merely for convenience and
are not to be in any way limiting, the invention may be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described.
* * * * *