Ventilation assistance device
A ventilation assembly ( 37 ) for use in ventilation of a subject using a laryngeal mask ( 5 ) comprises a head-wearable harness ( 39 ) and a pusher ( 41 ). The harness is arrangeable on the subject's head (H) for supporting the pusher to press against the floor of the mouth ( 15 ) of the subject (P). The pusher comprises laterally opposite protrusions to displace, in use and operably supported by the harness on the subject (P), soft tissue of the subject at the left and right submandibular triangles (trigonum submandibulare) in cranial direction relative to the mandible ( 29 ) of the subject and surrounding tissue of the subject such as the submental triangle (trigonum submentale) for, when the laryngeal mask is installed in the airway of the subject, urging internal soft tissue of the subject against the laryngeal mask in the airway of the subject. Each protrusion or the pusher as a whole is hollow providing a recess for accommodating an operators' finger.
1 . A ventilation assembly for use in ventilation of a subject using a laryngeal mask comprising a head-wearable harness and a pusher,
wherein the head-wearable harness is arrangeable on a head of the subject for supporting the pusher to press against the floor of the mouth of the subject,
the pusher is generally U-shaped in a transverse direction, comprising a bridge in a front portion for, in use and operably supported by the head-wearable harness on the subject, accommodating a tissue located at a submental triangle of the subject, and laterally opposing legs extending rearward from the bridge in a rear portion, wherein the bridge extends for ⅓ to ¼ of a pusher length from a front end of the pusher;
the legs comprise laterally opposite protrusions arranged in a position dorsal to the bridge and wherein the protrusions provide a space between them having a shape generally flaring in a cranial direction in use to displace, in use and operably supported by the harness on the subject, soft tissue of the subject at a left and a right submandibular triangles in the cranial direction relative to a mandible of the subject and surrounding tissue of the subject's the submental triangle, when the laryngeal mask is installed in an airway of the subject, urging internal soft tissue of the subject against the laryngeal mask in the airway of the subject, and
each protrusion is hollow providing a recess at a bottom side of the pusher, for accommodating an operators' finger so as to facilitate manipulation and placement of the pusher.
2 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pusher is formed as a continuous hollow body, and/or wherein the pusher has a substantially constant thickness in a direction normal to an outside surface of the pusher.
3 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bridge and the protrusions provide a substantially continuously smooth surface, the bridge having a saddle shape.
4 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the ventilation assembly is in use, the protrusions each have a summit in a range arranged from a rear end of the pusher between ⅓ and ½ of a pusher length.
5 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the pusher has a length with respect to a sagittal plane in a range of 55-85 mm; and/or
a total height with respect to the sagittal plane in a range of 20-45 mm.
6 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each protrusion has a base and each protrusion having a summit laterally outward on a respective said base, being arranged in a lateral outer half of the respective base.
7 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , comprising one or more connectors for operably connecting the head-wearable harness and the pusher.
8 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more connectors comprise at least one hook and/or at least one loop for operably engaging the head-wearable harness.
9 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one hook and/or the at least one loop comprises a support portion elongated along an axis for operably engaging the head-wearable harness circumferentially looped around the support portion, the support portion being provided with plural axial corrugations.
10 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the head-wearable harness is attachable or attached such that when in use, the head-wearable harness is arranged laterally adjacent a summit of each protrusion.
11 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the harness comprises a flexible band.
12 . The ventilation assembly according to claim 1 , comprising one or more sound mufflers and/or sound emitters for controlling sound to an ear of the subject.
13 . An assembly, comprising the ventilation assembly according to claim 1 and a laryngeal mask.