Patent ID: 6918388

Claim:
An incubating laryngeal mask airway device comprising: an airway tube having a fixed curve of substantially constant radius in a first geometric plane, the fixed curve is configured to conform to an anatomical curve in a patient between a proximal end at approximately the location of a hard palate and a distal end at approximately a laryngeal inlet, said fixed curve having an arc of an angular extent between 100° and 145°, said airway tube is adapted to be attached to a gas source outside the patient; and, a mask structure attached to the distal end of the airway tube, said mask structure includes a backing plate which has a generally elliptical periphery in essentially a second geometric plane which is perpendicular to said first geometric plane and that is adapted to provide an air tight seal around the laryngeal inlet, said attachment between the mask structure and airway cube defines a first acute angle, wherein the airway tube defines a lumen adapted to provide gas from the gas source to the laryngeal inlet.