Patent ID: RE39938

Claim:
A laryngeal mask construction for concurrent airway service to a patient's laryngeal inlet and for removal of gastric-discharge products from the oesophagus, said construction comprising: an inflatable ring in the form of a generally elliptical annulus having an outer periphery configured for continuously sealed adaptation to the laryngeal inlet, said ring extending longitudinally between proximal and distal ends and having an inflation port connection at its proximal end, said ring being a moulded product of relatively thin and softly pliant elastomeric material, said ring including within the inner periphery of said annulus an apertured panel or membrane establishing separation between a pharyngeal-chamber side and a laryngeal-chamber side, said ring further integrally including at its distal end a distally open tubular conduit for operative engagement and communication with the oesophageal inlet, said tubular conduit extending from its distally open end and in the proximal direction adjacent said panel and on the pharyngeal side of said panel; a domed backing-plate member of relatively stiff elastomeric material and having a concave side which terminates in a generally elliptical footing in a geometric plane and is sealed engagement with said panel at the inner periphery of said annulus, said backing-plate member having an airway-tube connecting formation on a proximally directional axis that is at an acute angle with said geometric plane, said backing-plate member providing stability to the inner periphery of said annulus and directional stability for said tubular conduit; an airway tube connected to said connecting formation; and a gastric-discharge tube connected to said tubular conduit.