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Publication Number
US-7743769-B2
Publication Date
2010-06-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
A laryngeal mask including a dome and an airway tube extending from a proximal passage through the dome. The dome has a periphery about its base including at least one receptacle. An inflatable cuff of flexible material has a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The longitudinal edges are joined to form a tube forming the cuff. The cuff substantially encircles the periphery of the dome. The mask has at least one buttress adjacent to the periphery at a distal portion of the dome. The tube is fused adjacent the buttress of the dome, and the fusing is below a posterior surface of the dome wherein, upon deflation of the cuff, the buttress upturns the cuff to facilitate insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient.
Core Innovation
A laryngeal mask is described with a dome having a base periphery that includes at least one receptacle, and an airway tube extending from a proximal passage through the dome. An inflatable cuff of flexible material substantially encircles the periphery of the dome by joining first and second longitudinal edges into a tube for the cuff. A buttress is provided adjacent the periphery at a distal portion of the dome.
The cuff includes a fusing of the tube forming the inflatable cuff adjacent to the buttress, with the fusing positioned below a posterior surface of the dome. The structure is configured so that, upon deflation of the cuff, the buttress upturns the cuff to facilitate insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient.
Additional embodiments include a periphery that includes at least one channel and a distal buttress, and cuff formation by reception of one longitudinal edge into a complementary receptacle on the other longitudinal edge, or by holding a semi-rigid bead in a complementary semi-rigid channel. Adhesive placement holds the cuff-forming tube adjacent to the buttress and forms an airtight sanitary seal while avoiding crevices, including embodiments where the adhesive provides a substantially planer posterior surface between the dome and the cuff.
Claims Coverage
The partial content contains three independent claims covering a laryngeal mask with an insertion-facilitating buttress that upturns a deflated inflatable cuff, using cuff-tube joining or fusing positioned below a posterior dome surface, and using bead/receptacle or bead/channel geometries with adhesive that holds the joined cuff structure adjacent to the buttress.
Dome periphery with receptacle and inflation cuff tube joined by fusing adjacent distal buttress
A laryngeal mask comprising a dome having a periphery about its base, the periphery including at least one receptacle; an airway tube extending from a proximal passage through the dome; an inflatable cuff of flexible material forming a tube by joining first and second longitudinal edges, the cuff substantially encircling the periphery; at least one buttress adjacent the periphery at a distal portion of the dome; and a fusing of the tube forming the cuff adjacent to the buttress, the fusing being below a posterior surface of the dome, wherein, upon deflation of the cuff, the buttress upturns the cuff to facilitate insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient.
Cuff tube formation using semi-rigid bead and complementary receptacle held by adhesive adjacent buttress
A laryngeal mask comprising a dome with a periphery including at least one channel and at least one distal buttress; an airway tube extending from a proximal passage through the dome; an inflatable cuff of flexible material wherein the first longitudinal edge includes a semi-rigid bead and the semi-rigid bead is held by a complementary receptacle on the other longitudinal edge to form a tube for the cuff, the cuff substantially encircling the periphery; and an adhesive that holds the tube forming the cuff adjacent to the buttress, the adhesive being below a posterior surface of the dome, wherein, upon deflation of the cuff, the buttress upturns the cuff to facilitate insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient.
Cuff tube formation using semi-rigid bead and complementary semi-rigid channel with planer posterior surface adhesive
A laryngeal mask comprising a dome having a periphery; an airway tube extending from a proximal passage through the dome; an inflatable cuff of flexible material wherein the first longitudinal edge includes at least one semi-rigid bead and the semi-rigid bead is held by a complementary semi-rigid channel on the second longitudinal edge to form, when joined, a tube for the cuff and at least a partial buttress, the cuff substantially encircling the periphery; and an adhesive that holds the joined semi-rigid bead and complementary channel adjacent the buttress, the adhesive providing a substantially planer posterior surface between the dome and the cuff and being below a posterior surface of the dome, wherein, upon deflation of the cuff, the buttress upturns the cuff to facilitate insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on a laryngeal mask where an inflatable cuff that substantially encircles the dome periphery is held by joined cuff structures via fusing or via semi-rigid bead/receptacle or bead/channel formations, with joining or adhesive positioned below a posterior surface, so that upon deflation a buttress upturns the cuff to facilitate insertion into a patient.
Stated Advantages
Facilitating insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient upon deflation of the cuff.
Providing an insertion-facilitating cuff upturning geometry via the buttress when the cuff deflates.
Creating an airtight sanitary seal while avoiding crevices.
Documented Applications
Insertion of the laryngeal mask into a patient.
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