Patent ID: 7896007

Claim:
A laryngeal mask airway device, comprising: A. a rigid airway tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the airway tube defining an internal passage; B. a mask portion coupled to the distal end of the airway tube, the mask portion including a dome shaped backplate and an inflatable cuff, the cuff defining a central opening at least when inflated, the mask portion being insertable through a mouth of a patient to an inserted location within the patient, the cuff surrounding a glottic opening of the patient when inflated and when the mask portion is at the inserted location, a sealed airway passage extending from the proximal end of the tube through the internal passage to the glottic opening when the cuff is inflated and when the mask portion is at the inserted location, the mask portion including an epiglottis elevator bar, the bar extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the distal end of the bar defining an aperture, the bar being positionable in a resting position and an open position, the backplate defining a ramp, the ramp defining a notch; and C. a viewing system having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the viewing system being positioned such that light rays may pass from a portion of the patient's anatomy through the aperture defined by the epiglottis elevator bar to the distal end of the viewing system when the bar is in the resting position and the mask portion is at the inserted location, the proximal end of the viewing system being disposed outside the patient's mouth when the mask portion is at the inserted location, the distal and the proximal ends of the viewing system being in communication such that the proximal end of the viewing system provides a view of the portion of the patient's anatomy.