Laryngeal mask

1. A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising:

a mask portion; and

an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx;

the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion, the inner wall further comprising a portion of thicker material that extends around the opening, and

whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx and wherein the pressurised gas also pushes the inner wall outwards and urges the inner wall into sealing contact with tissues underlying the inner wall.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soft, flexible portion of the mask portion extends in a ventral direction from a wall section of the mask portion, the soft, flexible portion having a thinner wall thickness than the wall thickness of the wall section.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner wall defines or includes the opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the opening of the mask portion through which ventilation gases are supplied to the patient is provided with a sloped region or a ramp.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mask portion further includes a cricoid contacting portion that extends towards the cricoid cartilage and abuts with the cricoid cartilage when the mask portion is properly inserted, the cricoid contacting portion being adapted to form a seal in the vicinity of the cricoid cartilage or upper oesophagus.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the cricoid contacting portion has a resilient and conformable structure that, in use, abuts with the cricoid cartilage.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a dorsal side of the cricoid contacting portion includes one or more transversely extending openings facilitating fluid communication between passageways on either side of the mask portion.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mask portion includes a distal portion that extends past the cricoid cartilage when the mask portion is properly inserted.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device includes a ventral curvature at a proximal portion of the mask portion, or near where the mask portion and airway tube join or merge.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soft flexible portion is shaped such that it extends into and fills the piriform recess when the mask portion is supplied with ventilation gas.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the soft, flexible portion has a wall thickness less than that of the rest of the mask portion.

12. A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising:

a mask portion;

an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx;

one or more openings at or near a distal end of the mask portion, the one or more openings being associated with a pair of longitudinally extending passageways or cavities that allow fluid communication between the oesophagus and the throat region when the mask portion is inserted into the patient, and

one or more transversely extending openings facilitating fluid communication between the pair of passageways;

the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft, flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft, flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion; and

whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx.

13. A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising:

a mask portion; and

an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx;

the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft, flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft, flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion; and

a cricoid contacting portion that extends towards the cricoid cartilage and abuts with the cricoid cartilage when the mask portion is properly inserted, the cricoid contacting portion being adapted to form a seal in the vicinity of the cricoid cartilage or upper oesophagus,

wherein the cricoid contacting portion, with a distal portion of the soft, flexible portion is in the form of a sling shaped region into which the cricoid cartilage snugly fits;

whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx.

14. A device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the device comprising:

a mask portion; and

an airway tube connected to or formed with the mask portion for passing gas to the patient's larynx when the mask portion is properly inserted into the laryngo pharynx;

the mask portion having an opening through which ventilation gases exit the mask portion, the mask portion further comprising a soft, flexible portion positioned on a ventral side of the mask portion, the soft flexible portion having a part that extends from a structure comprising thicker wall thickness or less flexibility than the soft, flexible portion, the soft, flexible portion including a ventral wall portion positioned such that when the mask portion is inserted into a patient, the ventral wall portion lies generally parallel to the tissues surrounding the laryngeal inlet of the patient, the soft flexible portion further comprising an inner wall that extends in a dorsal direction from the ventral wall portion, the opening being defined by a dorsal end of the inner wall, wherein an entire peripheral extent of the opening is dorsally spaced from the larynx when the device is properly inserted into the patient, and

whereby the soft, flexible portion is arranged in the completed device such that application of pressurised gas to the airway tube urges the ventral wall portion of the soft, flexible portion into contact with the tissues surrounding the laryngeal opening or the anterior pharyngeal wall to thereby form a seal with the larynx when the mask portion is positioned in the laryngo pharynx to thereby prevent ingress of extraneous fluids into the larynx and wherein the pressurised gas also pushes the inner wall outwards and urges the inner wall into sealing contact with tissues underlying the inner wall;

wherein a distal end of a ventral peripheral portion of the mask portion includes an upwardly extending portion that extends towards a dorsal side of the mask portion and the upwardly extending portion includes one or more openings formed therein to facilitate fluid flow from the oesophagus to a proximal side of the mask portion during use of the mask portion.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the mask portion is provided with a dorsal groove or recess near a distal tip thereof.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein a peripheral portion of the mask portion includes an inflatable cuff, with the soft, flexible portion extending from the inflatable cuff.