Deconstricting airway devices

Abstract

An intraoral airway having opposing trays with a soft lining or cushion to grip the maxillary and mandibular dental arches of a patient with a fixed relationship in such a manner as to gently open the mouth and thrust the mandibular component slightly forward thereby opening the oral cavity and hypopharynx for air/gas passage that is easily tolerated by fully awake patients/users as well as by sedated, anesthetized or obtunded patients.

1 . A deconstricting airway device for emplacement in the mouth of a patient, comprising:
 at least one arch shaped tray adapted to grasp the maxilla of a patient, said at least one tray having two legs joining at a peak;   said maxillary tray further comprising a resilient and durable material having a groove with a generally U shaped cross-section including an outside lip and a spaced apart inside lip connecting by a floor;   a cushion locating within said groove of said maxillary tray;   at least one arch shaped tray adapted to grasp the mandible of a patient, said at least one tray having two legs joining at a peak;   said mandibular tray further comprising a resilient and durable material having a groove with a generally U shaped cross-section including an outside lip and a spaced apart inside lip connecting by a floor;   a cushion inserting within said groove of said mandibular tray; and,   at least two pillars integrating with said trays and extending vertically between said leg of one tray and said leg of another tray.   
   
   
       2 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said maxillary tray and said mandibular tray each being narrow at the peak of each tray and widening away from the peak of the tray along the legs of the tray attaining maximum width proximate said pillars.   
   
   
       3 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 said mandibular tray adapting to cover the mandibular dental arch of a patient and said maxillary tray adapting to cover the maxillary dental arch of a patient.   
   
   
       4 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 2  further comprising:
 each of said trays tapering in height along said legs from proximate the pillars to proximate the peaks.   
   
   
       5 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 said outside lip and said inside lip of each tray attaining an orientation of approximately 8° to approximately 18° posterior from vertical;   said mandibular tray having sufficient height to cover the incisors of a patient; and,   said maxillary tray having sufficient height to cover the incisors of a patient.   
   
   
       6 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 said outside lip and said inside lip of each tray have the angle from the base of the support approach back to vertical as it is molded toward the molar teeth;   said maxillary tray attaining an included angle with said pillars of slightly less than 90°; and,   said mandibular tray attaining an included angle with said pillars of slightly more than 90°.   
   
   
       7 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 6  further comprising:
 said inside lip of each of said trays being shorter than said outside lip of each of said trays wherein said inside lip and said outside lip are adapted to conform to the angle of the mucosa arising from the lingual edge of the incisors of a patient.   
   
   
       8 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 6  further comprising:
 said inside lip tapering in height at a greater rate than said outside lip thus accommodating the flatter angle of the lingual mucosa of a patient.   
   
   
       9 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said pillars extending from said maxillary tray to said mandibular tray and holding said mandibular tray spaced below said maxillary tray wherein said mandibular tray attains an orientation angled away from said maxillary tray;   said pillars locating coplanar with said outside lip of both trays thus minimizing abrasions to the mouth of a patient; and,   said maxillary tray and said manibular tray adapting to maintain the mandibular arch open from the maxiallary arch in the mouth of a patient.   
   
   
       10 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 said at least one pillar spacing said maxillary tray and said mandibular tray at least one centimeter apart; and,   said at least one pillar orienting said mandibular tray at approximately 5° to approximately 20° below said maxillary tray.   
   
   
       11 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 10  wherein said device gently grasps the maxilla and the mandible of a patient while avoiding contact with any structures of a patient capable of triggering a gag reflex in the patient. 
   
   
       12 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 11  further comprising:
 said mandibular tray adapting to advance the mandibular arch of a patient forward and to engage the camming features of the patient's temporo-mandibular joint particularly positioning the mandibular condyle over the meniscus of the temporo-mandibular joint of the patient; and,   said mandibular tray adapted to open the oropharynx of a patient and maintain patency of the patient's airway.   
   
   
       13 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an integral cleat locating below said mandibular tray proximate the peak, said cleat adapting to receive a tying device, including a zip tie.   
   
   
       14 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said outside lip of said maxillary tray having a notch centered therein proximate said peak, said notch adapting to admit the frenulum of a patient.   
   
   
       15 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said mandibular tray including an integral arch spanning between the legs proximate to said at least one pillar and adapting to span between the premolar portions of a patient's mandibular arch;   said arch having a cross section that avoids triggering the gag reflex of the patient; and,   said arch having a slight height towards said maxillary tray of less than about 21 mm wherein said arch gently retains the patient's tongue upon the floor of the patient's mouth.   
   
   
       16 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 15  wherein said arch has a thickness tapering from proximate the legs to the peak. 
   
   
       17 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 15  wherein said arch locates generally rearward of said at least one pillar thus providing anterior space for comfortable tongue placement. 
   
   
       18 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  wherein said cushion is generally foam material having a thickness and a U shaped cross section including with an outside lip and an inside lip joined by a floor, said outside lip and said inside lip cooperating with said thickness, and said outside lip and said inside lip having a height to hold the teeth of a patient. 
   
   
       19 . The deconstricting airway device of  claim 1  wherein said cushion is generally foam material having a thickness and a U shaped cross section including with an outside lip and an inside lip joined by a floor, said outside lip and said inside lip cooperating with the thickness to hold the alveolar ridges of an edentulous patient. 
   
   
       20 . A mouthpiece emplaced in the mouth of a patient that maintains the patient's airway open and allows passage of air and equipment there through, comprising:
 at least one arch shaped tray adapted to grasp the maxilla of a patient, said at least one tray having two legs joining at a peak, said maxillary tray being of a resilient and durable material and having a generally U shaped groove including an outside lip and a spaced apart inside lip connecting by a floor;   at least one arch shaped tray adapted to grasp the mandible of a patient, said at least one tray having two legs joining at a peak, said mandibular tray being of a resilient and durable material having a generally U shaped groove including an outside lip and a spaced apart inside lip connecting by a floor;   at least two pillars integrating with each of said trays and extending vertically between said leg of one tray and said leg of another tray; and,   said mouthpiece advancing said mandibular tray forwardly of said maxillary tray and adapting to move the mandible forward of the maxilla of a patient thus maintaining the patient's airway open.