Artificial airway device

1. An artificial airway device to facilitate lung ventilation of a patient, comprising:

at least one airway tube and a mask carried at one end of the at least one airway tube,

the mask having an inflatable peripheral formation capable of conforming to, and of readily fitting within, the actual and potential space behind the larynx of the patient so as to form a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet,

the peripheral formation surrounding a hollow interior space or lumen of the mask and the at least one airway tube opening into the lumen of the mask,

the device further comprising a backplate bounded by the peripheral formation;

characterized in that the mask provides a space for drainage of gastric matter leaving the oesophagus,

wherein said space is an internal volume of the mask within the body of the mask forming a generally frusto-conical channel within the body of the mask, the space being surrounded by the peripheral formation and backplate; the space having an inlet at the distal end of the mask and an outlet at the posterior end of the mask, which outlet has a greater cross-sectional area than the inlet in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mask, in order to effect a significant rise in the pressure of fluid emerging from the oesophageal sphincter while still providing an inflatable mask shape which maintains the seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet.

2. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , wherein the mask provides a space within the pharynx when the peripheral formation creates the seal around the laryngeal inlet.

3. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , wherein the mask includes a portion which is moveable between a first condition and a second condition to provide the said space.

4. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral formation includes a pair of lateral wings, a wing being attached on each side of the backplate and moveable relative thereto to create the space and provide for sealing.

5. The artificial airway device of claim 1 wherein the space is defined by a relatively soft-walled collapsible sheath.

6. The artificial airway device of claim 1 wherein the peripheral formation is an inflatable cuff.

7. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral formation is a non-inflatable cuff.

8. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises a collapsible ring.

9. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises a U-shape formation.

10. The artificial airway device of claim 1 , further comprising a means for receiving part of a device already inserted in the patient to facilitate the insertion of the artificial airway device by sliding the artificial airway device along the part of the device already inserted in the patient.

11. The artificial airway device of claim 10 , said means comprising a receiving portion defined by the exterior surface of the artificial airway device.

12. The artificial airway device of claim 11 , wherein the receiving portion comprises a channel formed in the exterior surface of the artificial airway device.

13. A method of facilitating lung ventilation in accordance with any one of claims 1 , 2 or 3 to 12 , the method comprising the step of inserting the device into a patient to maintain a seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet.