Laryngeal mask airway
View Patent ↗A laryngeal mask tube has of a dual-airway tube, a mask with an inflatable bladder and an inflation indicator device. The dual-airway tube has a primary tube communicated with the mask to guide gas into the body of a patient and a secondary tube communicated between with the bladder and the inflation indicator device. Two ribs are formed in the mask to prevent blockage of the primary tube and a tongue is formed inside the bladder to prevent the bladder from folding. Improvements of the laryngeal mask are that the tongue further has an easing hole to reduce rigidity of the tongue and the mask further has a fusing portion to integrally combine the dual-tube and the bladder together to avoid breakage at the bladder. Whereby, the laryngeal mask airway eliminates feelings of discomfort to patients and is durable in use.
1. A laryngeal mask airway adapted to be positioned over the larynx of a patient, and comprising:
a dual-airway composed of a primary tube and a secondary tube combined with the primary tube, the secondary tube having a first end and a second end;
a mask adapted to cover the larynx and divided into a curved bottom face adjacent to the primary tube and an inflatable bladder with a pointed end around the curved bottom face that is connected to the first end of the secondary tube, the mask having:
an opening defined in the curved bottom face to communicate with the primary tube;
at least one rib longitudinally formed on the curved bottom face near the opening and adapted to prevent the epiglottis from covering the opening so gases can be transmitted into and out of the patient; and
a tongue extending inside the bladder at the pointed end to prevent the bladder from refolding;
an inhalation indicator device connecting to the second end of the secondary tube;
wherein the tongue has an easing hole defined in the tongue to reduce the rigidity of the tongue; and
the mask further has a fusing portion formed between the bladder and the dual-airway and a through hole defined in the fusing portion to communicate the secondary rube to the bladder; and
wherein the tongue further has a round distal end to lessen a patient's discomfort when in abutment with the mask.
2. The laryngeal mask airway as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tongue further has a round distal end and a neck.