Disposable laryngeal mask airway device

1. A laryngeal mask airway device, comprising a mask portion and an airway tube, the airway tube extending along a central axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the mask portion being attached to the airway tube near the distal end of the airway tube, the mask portion being insertable through the mouth of a patient to an inserted location within the patient, the mask portion forming a seal around the patient's glottic opening when the mask portion is in the inserted location, the proximal end of the tube being outside the patient's mouth when the mask portion is at the inserted location, the airway tube defining an internal passage, the internal passage extending from the proximal end of the airway tube to the mask portion, the internal passage defining one or more notches, at least one of the notches being disposed near the proximal end of the tube, each of the notches extending along at least a portion of the airway tube in a direction generally parallel to the central axis, the notches being configured to allow a cylindrical tube inserted into the proximal end of the airway tube to extend into the notches as the cylindrical tube is advanced through the airway tube.

2. A device according to claim 1 , the airway tube including a curved central portion disposed between the proximal and distal ends, the central portion extending through part of the patient's natural upper airway when the mask portion is in the inserted location, the central portion defining an inner side and an outer side, one of the notches being defined in the outer side of the central portion.

3. A device according to claim 2 , the airway tube including a proximal portion near the proximal end of the airway tube, two of the notches being defined in the proximal portion.

4. A device according to claim 1 , the airway tube including a proximal portion near the proximal end of the airway tube, two of the notches being defined in the proximal portion.

5. A device according to claim 4 , the airway tube including a curved central portion disposed between the proximal and distal ends, the central portion extending through part of the patient's natural upper airway when the mask portion is in the inserted location, the central portion defining an inner side and an outer side, one of the notches being defined in the outer side of the central portion.

6. A device according to claim 1 , the device including a bar disposed in the airway tube near the distal end of the airway tube, at least one of the notches being defined by the bar.

7. A laryngeal mask airway device, comprising a mask portion and an airway tube, the airway tube extending along a central axis from a proximal end to a distal end, the mask portion being attached to the airway tube near the distal end of the airway tube, the mask portion being insertable through the mouth of a patient to an inserted location within the patient, the mask portion forming a seal around the patient's glottic opening when the mask portion is in the inserted location, the proximal end of the airway tube being near the mouth of the patient when the mask portion is at the inserted location, the airway tube defining an internal passage, the internal passage extending from the proximal end of the airway tube to the mask portion, the internal passage defining one or more notches, at least one of the notches being disposed near the proximal end of the tube, each of the notches extending along at least a portion of the airway tube in a direction generally parallel to the central axis, the notches being configured to allow a cylindrical tube inserted into the proximal end of the airway tube to extend into the notches as the cylindrical tube is advanced through the airway tube.