Surgical Airway Device and Method of Use

Abstract

Featured herein is a surgical airway device ( 10 ) that is constructed and arranged to be placed into the mouth of a patient to maintain a surgical airway in the patient. Also featured is a method of using such a surgical airway device ( 10 ). The surgical airway device ( 10 ) has a flange ( 20 ) that is constructed and arranged to be located outside of the mouth, an inner tube ( 21 ) that defines a working channel ( 22 ) defining an anterior opening in the flange ( 20 ) and located proximate the lips, and a posterior end ( 26 ) located in the back of the mouth. There is an outer tube ( 70 ) that is generally coaxial with, spaced from and fully or partially surrounds the inner tube ( 21 ), wherein a coaxial gap ( 80 ) is located between at least part of the outer tube ( 70 ) and the inner tube ( 21 ). There is a first lumen ( 30 ) that is in fluid communication with the working channel ( 22 ) and a second lumen ( 40 ) that is in fluid communication with the coaxial gap ( 80 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airway device that is constructed and arranged to be placed into the mouth of a patient, to maintain an airway in the patient, the airway device comprising:
 a flange constructed and arranged to be located outside of the patient's mouth;   an inner tube that defines a working channel defining an anterior opening in the flange and located proximate the patient's lips, and a posterior end located in the back of the patient's mouth;   an outer tube that is generally coaxial with, spaced from and fully or partially surrounds the inner tube, wherein a coaxial gap is located between at least part of the outer tube and the inner tube;   a first lumen that is in fluid communication with the working channel and has an inlet or outlet configured to be located in the oral cavity; and   a second lumen that is in fluid communication with the coaxial gap and has an inlet or outlet configured to be located in the oral cavity;   wherein the inlet or outlet of one of the first and second lumens is configured to be located more posteriorly than the inlet or outlet of the other of the first and second lumens.   
     
     
         2 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the second lumen is on the left side of the inner tube when the airway device is placed in the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         3 . The airway device of  claim 2  wherein the second lumen is adapted to be connected to at least one of a source of suction and a source of oxygen. 
     
     
         4 . The airway device of  claim 3  further comprising a suction control device located between the second lumen and a source of suction. 
     
     
         5 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the first lumen is on the right side of the inner tube when the device is placed in the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         6 . The airway device of  claim 5  wherein the first lumen is adapted to be connected to a carbon dioxide monitor. 
     
     
         7 . The airway device of  claim 1  further comprising a curved wall bordering at least part of the coaxial gap, to help direct saliva into the second lumen. 
     
     
         8 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the airway device defines a lateral midline and wherein the two lumens are located at or below the midline. 
     
     
         9 . The airway device of  claim 1  further comprising a sheath located in the working channel and with a sheath opening that is in fluid communication with the first lumen. 
     
     
         10 . The airway device of  claim 9  wherein the sheath has a posterior end that projects beyond the posterior end of the inner tube. 
     
     
         11 . The airway device of  claim 10  wherein the sheath comprises a sheath flange that sits against the flange of the airway device and a curved sheath tube that is located in the inner tube and has a posterior end that projects beyond the posterior end of the inner tube. 
     
     
         12 . The airway device of  claim 11  wherein the sheath opening comprises an open side in the sheath tube, wherein the open side also extends through the sheath flange. 
     
     
         13 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the first lumen passes through the outer tube and the inner tube and defines a first lumen opening in the inner tube that is open to the working channel. 
     
     
         14 . The airway device of  claim 13  wherein the second lumen passes through the outer tube and defines a second lumen opening in the outer tube that is open to the coaxial gap. 
     
     
         15 . The airway device of  claim 14  wherein the first lumen opening is more anterior than is the posterior end of the working channel. 
     
     
         16 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second lumens comprise flexible fluid lines. 
     
     
         17 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the second lumen comprises a flexible tubing line for connection to a source of oxygen or suction. 
     
     
         18 . The airway device of  claim 1  wherein the first lumen comprises a flexible tubing line for connection to a carbon dioxide monitor. 
     
     
         19 . An airway device that is constructed and arranged to be placed into the mouth of a patient, to maintain an airway in the patient, the airway device comprising:
 a flange constructed and arranged to be located outside of the patient's mouth;   an inner tube that defines a working channel defining an anterior opening in the flange and located proximate the patient's lips, and a posterior end located in the back of the patient's mouth;   an outer tube that is generally coaxial with, spaced from and fully or partially surrounds the inner tube, wherein a coaxial gap is located between at least part of the outer tube and the inner tube;   a first lumen that is in fluid communication with the working channel and has an inlet configured to be located in the oral cavity, wherein the first lumen is on the right side of the inner tube when the device is placed in the patient's mouth and wherein the first lumen is adapted to be connected to a carbon dioxide monitor; and   a second lumen that is in fluid communication with the coaxial gap and has an outlet configured to be located in the oral cavity, wherein the second lumen is on the left side of the inner tube when the airway device is placed in the patient's mouth and wherein the second lumen is adapted to be connected to at least one of a source of suction and a source of oxygen;   wherein the airway device defines a lateral midline and wherein the two lumens are located at or below the midline;   wherein the outlet of the second lumen is configured to be located more posteriorly than the inlet of the first lumen.   
     
     
         20 . A method of accomplishing an airway, a scope working channel, at least one of posterior saliva suction and oxygen delivery, and anterior capnography in a patient, comprising:
 a) providing an airway device for maintaining an airway in a patient, the airway device comprising:
 i) a flange constructed and arranged to be located outside of the mouth; 
 ii) an inner tube that defines a working channel defining an anterior opening in the flange and located proximate the lips, and a posterior end located in the back of the mouth; 
 iii) an outer tube that is generally coaxial with, spaced from and fully or partially surrounds the inner tube, wherein a coaxial gap is located between at least part of the outer tube and the inner tube; 
 iv) a first lumen that is in fluid communication with the working channel and has an inlet configured to be located in the oral cavity; 
 v) a second lumen that is in fluid communication with the coaxial gap and has an outlet configured to be located in the oral cavity; and 
 vi) wherein the outlet of the second lumen is configured to be located more posteriorly than the inlet of the first lumen; 
   b) inserting the airway device into the patient's mouth such that the flange is located outside of and against or proximate the lips;   c) fluidly coupling a carbon dioxide monitoring device to the first lumen; and   d) fluidly coupling a suction source or an oxygen delivery source to the second lumen.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the second lumen is on the left side of the inner tube when the device is placed in the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the airway device further comprises a suction control device located between the second lumen and a source of suction. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first lumen is on the right side of the inner tube when the airway device is placed in the patient's mouth.