Patent ID: 8393328

Claim:
An airway assembly insertable into an airway, the airway assembly comprising: (a) an outer tube having walls and a central lumen; (b) an inner tube having walls and a central lumen and being coaxially disposed within the central lumen of the outer tube; and (c) a diametrically expansive seal positioned at a distal end of the inner tube and the diametrically expansive seal including at least one reinforcing member extending along the longitudinal length of the diametrically expansive seal, the diametrically expansive seal being movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, whereby the at least one reinforcing member facilitates diametrically expansive movement of the diametrically expansive seal between the collapsed position and the expanded position, and where the diametrically expansive seal is adapted to sealingly seat against an anatomical airway passage; wherein the inner tube and the outer tube have proximal portions and distal portions, and wherein outer diameters of the distal portions are smaller than outer diameters of the proximal portions.