Patent ID: 8622060

Claim:
A supraglottic airway comprising; a respiratory tube having a distal end, a proximal end, and a length therebetween, said respiratory tube having a hollow interior; and a shield comprising a posterior base and defining a cavity within the shield above the posterior base, and a sealing ring surrounding said posterior base, said sealing ring having a cross-section defining a closed curve, said closed curve cross section extending substantially around said posterior base, said sealing ring being substantially enclosed from said cavity and defining an inner volume within said sealing ring apart from said cavity with said respiratory tube hollow interior and sealing ring being in fluid communication in a manner to enable said sealing ring to inflate when a pressure in said respiratory tube hollow interior is greater than in said sealing ring inner volume and enabling said sealing ring to deflate when a pressure in said respiratory tube hollow interior is lower than in said sealing ring inner volume; wherein said shield is attached to said distal end of said respiratory tube so that said hollow interior of said respiratory tube is in fluid communication with said cavity; and wherein said hollow interior and said cavity jointly define an air path.