Patent ID: 8820319

Claim:
A guide adapted to be inserted into the trachea of a patient to elevate the tongue and soft tissue of the patient to provide an air space for subsequent passage of a medical device, comprising: a member having a straight elongate center portion defining a longitudinal axis, and integral first and second elongate legs, each leg extending in a common plane at respective first and second angles from a respective end of the center portion; and the member having a uniform axial cross-sectional shape along the entire length of the center portion and the legs, the axial cross-sectional shape defining a parabolic geometry, which further defines a concave groove that extends along the entire length of the member to facilitate positioning of the medical device through the air space defined between the groove and the trachea of the patient; and wherein each of the first and second legs is configured and dimensioned to allow either of the legs to pass through a mouth and into a trachea of a patient.