Patent ID: 7263998
Filing Date: 2007-09-04
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An artificial airway device of a resilient material for use as a combined obturator and airway device without penetration into the larynx comprising a flexible pre-formed shaped saccular chamber designed to seal in the pharynx at the base of the tongue and having a semi-rigid hollow stem projecting from a position at or near one end of the chamber at an angle of 90° to 180° to the longitudinal axis of the said chamber, the chamber being provided with one or more openings, and dimensioned and arranged so that in use the chamber is adapted to sealingly engage in a patient's pharynx with at least one opening communicating with the laryngeal inlet and so that the stem extends into or through the patient's mouth for connection to a breathing circuit, wherein said saccular chamber is of a generally foot-like form whose upper face is provided with a transverse ridge extending between two lateral lumps to constitute a sealing zone which in use is arranged to conform to the shape of the base of the tongue and the pyriform fossae and to provide an effective seal of pharynx, and wherein corresponding indentations are formed on either side of the ridge in the upper face and lower face of the saccular chamber, dimensioned and arranged so that in use each pair of corresponding indentations abut each other in order to increase the rigidity of the chamber and the ridge and in use to prevent the collapse of the chamber.