Airway stabilization system

Abstract

An airway stabilization system including an airway device and a securing mechanism or faceplate therefor is provided which includes active stabilizing components on both the airway device and the faceplate which prevent clinically significant movement of the airway device with respect to the patients vocal cords in response to the application of significant forces in any direction to the device, be they longitudinal, torsional/rotational or bending. The system includes an airway device and an attached retention collar which interacts with a securing device/patient to ensure proper airway insertion depth and provide unparalleled strength and stability against movement. The airway stabilization system includes a unique stabilizer readily adapted for use in field situations to releasably engage or release a retention structure on the airway device to facilitate ease of application in all conditions, a twist-off 15 mm connector which allows a secure connection of the 15 mm connector to the airway device while facilitating easy disconnection thereof, and a universal bite block which cooperates with the securing system to prevent oral and/or dental damage and discomfort to the patient when the system is installed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A universal bite block adapted for use with a ventilatory airway system or device in human and veterinary medical applications comprising:
 a flat rectangular panel defining a plane having perpendicular longitudinal and transverse axes; the panel including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a circumferential edge surface connected to and extending between the upper and lower surfaces, the circumferential edge surface including a pair of spaced-apart first and second longitudinal edge portions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced-apart first and second transverse edge portions extending parallel to the transverse axis;   a transversely extending stop member or flange operatively connected to the flat rectangular panel and having a body, an upper surface, a lower surface and an aperture or space extending intermediate the upper and lower surfaces and adapted to removably receive an airway system or device;   a first support member secured to and extending along the first longitudinal edge portion of the circumferential edge surface, and a second support member secured to and extending along the second longitudinal portion of the circumferential edge surface, each of the first and second support members including a rectangular shaped body extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plane, the body having first and second spaced apart-faces, each face lying in a plane which is parallel to the plane defined by the panel, third and fourth spaced-apart faces, each face lying in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane defined by the panel, a bottom surface forming a first end of the rectangular shaped body and being operatively connected to the upper surface of the transversely extending stop member or flange, and a top surface forming a second end of the rectangular shaped body.   
     
     
         2 . The universal bite block of  claim 1  wherein the transversely extending stop member comprises a c-shaped body connected to the bite block, the c-shaped body including an upper surface and a lower surface and an elongate portion extending in a transverse direction parallel to the transverse axis across the upper surface of the panel and in a transverse plane extending through the plane defined by the panel in a direction perpendicular thereto, the c-shaped body further including first and second legs lying in the transverse plane, the first leg operatively connected to a first end of the elongate portion of the c-shaped body, to one of the pair of spaced-apart longitudinal portions of the circumferential edge surface and to the lower surface of the panel and a second leg operatively connected to a second end of the elongate portion of the c-shaped body, to the other of the pair of spaced-apart longitudinal portions of the circumferential edge surface and to the lower surface of the panel, the stop member further including a space extending transversely across the lower surface of the panel intermediate the first and second legs. 
     
     
         3 . The universal bite block of  claim 2  wherein the top surfaces of each of the first and second support members lie in a plane extending in a direction parallel to the plane of the c-shaped body. 
     
     
         4 . The universal bite block of  claim 1  wherein the first transverse portion of the circumferential edge of the panel is located at a distance d 1  from the lower surface of the transversely extending stop member or flange and wherein the plane in which each of the top surfaces of the first and second support members lie is located at a distance d 2  from the upper surface of the transversely extending stop member or flange. 
     
     
         5 . The universal bite block of  claim 4  wherein the distance d 2  is greater than the distance d 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The universal bite block of  claim 2  wherein the rectangular shaped body of each of the support members includes four edges extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bite block. 
     
     
         7 . The universal bite block of  claim 6  wherein at least three of the four edges include a rounded surface.