LARYNGEAL MASK WITH PIRIFORM-FOSSA CONDUIT

摘要

A laryngeal mask airway device inserted in the pharynx of an unconscious patient to ventilate the lungs includes an airway tube and mask portion with cuff formation shaped to fit the actual and potential space surrounding the circumference of the inlet to the larynx. A piriform-fossa conduit is included in a cuff formation of such mask to facilitate insertion of orogastric tubes. Anatomically the piriform-fossa conduit travels around the laryngeal inlet through the piriform fossa to reach the upper esophagus. Structurally the piriform-fossa conduit travels through the lateral cuff formation with the inflatable cuff element. The distal orifice of the piriform-fossa conduit is on the outer perimeter of the cuff formation near the tip of the mask, does not intersect the medial line at the tip, and does not increase bulk in the distal cuff formation along the medial line.

主权项

1. A laryngeal mask, comprising:
a mask portion having a proximal end in a proximal half, a distal end in a distal half, and a medial line extending from the proximal end to the distal end centrally through the mask portion, wherein the mask portion has a bowl structure that helps to define a bowl interior that is concave toward an anterior-facing opening and a cuff formation attached to a periphery of the bowl interior or recess or interior space of the mask portion; and an airway conduit with a proximal orifice and a distal orifice; and the distal orifice is coupled with and in fluid communication with the bowl interior in the proximal half of the mask portion, wherein the cuff formation includes a piriform-fossa conduit that defines a proximal orifice proximate the proximal orifice of the airway conduit and extends from the proximal orifice along a pathway ending on one side of the medial line and defining a distal orifice along an outer perimeter of the cuff formation proximate the distal end of the mask portion and within the distal one-third of the mask portion; wherein the distal orifice is non-intersecting with the medial line; wherein the piriform-fossa conduit is an element of the cuff formation of the mask portion; wherein the piriform-fossa conduit travels in the lateral portion of the cuff formation; wherein, in the distal one-half of the mask portion of the laryngeal mask, the piriform-fossa conduit travels only in the cuff formation; wherein the proximal orifice of the piriform-fossa conduit opens to an exterior environment outside the laryngeal mask; and wherein the distal orifice of the piriform-fossa conduit opens to an exterior environment outside the laryngeal mask.