Airway device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to airway devices. It is applicable to supraglottic devices including laryngeal airway devices and to their methods of manufacture. The present disclosure is particularly applicable to laryngeal airway devices for human and veterinary use. The device includes an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the airway tube is provided with a pre-formed and non-inflatable peri-pharyngeal bowl. The peri-pharyngeal bowl includes a posterior bowl portion having a back dorsal portion and a side wall extending around and depending from the periphery of the back dorsal portion to define an internal space, and further includes a resiliently deformable flange extending laterally from the side wall of the back dorsal portion which defines an extended internal space, the resiliently deformable flange has inner and outer surfaces that extend to a circumferential edge.

1 . An airway device for human or animal use, the device comprising an airway tube having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the device is further provided with a connector for connecting the airway device to a gas supply, wherein the connector is provided with one or more spigots which are embedded in the airway tube and which prevents the removal of the connector from the airway tube of the device without also destroying the airway tube of the device, such that if the connector were to be removed from the airway tube of the device, it would also result in the destruction of the airway tube of the device, wherein the connector is provided with a tube within a tube arrangement comprising an inner tube and an outer tube. 
     
     
         2 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inner tube corresponds to the diameter of the airway tube and the outer tube corresponds with the diameter required to connect to the to the relevant gas supply. 
     
     
         3 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the one or more spigots are provided to connect the inner tube to the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the material of the airway tube fills the void between the inner and outer tubes and over and around the one or more spigots. 
     
     
         5 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the connector comprises a material which loses its structure and/or rigidity when exposed to water. 
     
     
         6 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the connector is a reduced or low dead space connector. 
     
     
         7 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is formed from a single shot of plastics material in which the one or more spigots of the connector are embedded. 
     
     
         8 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the plastics material is of 10 to 90 Shore Hardness on the A scale. 
     
     
         9 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the distal end of the airway tube is provided with a pre-formed and non-inflatable peri-pharyngeal bowl, the peri-pharyngeal bowl comprising a posterior bowl portion having a back dorsal portion and a side wall extending around and depending from the periphery of the back dorsal portion to define an internal space. 
     
     
         10 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the peri-pharyngeal bowl further comprises a resiliently deformable flange extending laterally from the side wall of the back dorsal portion in a direction away from the internal space, the resiliently deformable flange defining an extended internal space, the resiliently deformable flange having inner and outer surfaces that extend to a circumferential edge. 
     
     
         11 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the circumferential edge is rounded or curved such that it is blunt and does not have any square edges. 
     
     
         12 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the circumferential edge is provided with a circumferential lip and the circumferential lip is rounded or curved such that it is blunt and does not have any square edges. 
     
     
         13 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the circumferential lip is formed by providing the circumferential edge with a bend towards to the outer surface of the circumferential edge, preferably the bend is 70° to 90°. 
     
     
         14 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the circumferential lip is the same depth and thickness as the thickness of the resiliently deformable flange. 
     
     
         15 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the resiliently deformable flange forms a generally ovoid shape. 
     
     
         16 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the resiliently deformable flange splays outwardly upon application of a force preferably the resiliently deformable flange splays outwardly upon application of a force when in situ in a human or animal patient. 
     
     
         17 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the resiliently deformable flange forms a seal with the peri-larynx in the hypopharynx of the human or animal patient, preferably the resiliently deformable flange forms a seal with the peri-larynx in the hypopharynx of the human or animal patient by enveloping the glottis within the peri-pharyngeal bowl when in situ in a human or animal patient, preferably the resiliently deformable flange forms a seal with the peri-larynx in the hypopharynx of the human or animal patient by enveloping body of the larynx in general within the peri-pharyngeal bowl when in situ in a human or animal patient, preferably the resiliently deformable flange forms a seal within and against the mucosa of the pharyngeal and hypo-pharyngeal walls of the human or animal patient when in situ in a human or animal patient, preferably the resiliently deformable flange forms a substantially continuous ovoid seal with the flattest areas of the mucosa to the front, back and sides of the body of the larynx. 
     
     
         18 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the circumferential edge of the resiliently deformable flange forms the seal. 
     
     
         19 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the circumferential lip of the circumferential edge forms the seal. 
     
     
         20 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the internal space and the extended internal space together comprises a combined internal space and wherein the combined internal space contains and envelopes 50% to 100% of the body of the larynx of the human or animal patient, preferably the internal space and the extended internal space together comprises a combined internal space and wherein the combined internal space contains and envelopes 50% to 100% of the body of the larynx of the human or animal patient without making contact therewith once the airway device is in situ in a human or animal patient, preferably the internal space contains and envelopes 50% to 100% of the body of the larynx of the human or animal patient preferably the internal space contains and envelopes 50% to 100% of the body of the larynx of the human or animal patient, without making contact therewith once the airway device is in situ in a human or animal patient. 
     
     
         21 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the resiliently deformable flange is configured to extend substantially around the entire circumference of the peri-pharyngeal bowl, preferably the depth of the resiliently deformable flange is configured to vary around the circumference of the peri-pharyngeal bowl. 
     
     
         22 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the resiliently deformable flange of the peri-pharyngeal bowl is about 1% to 15% of the external width of the peri-pharyngeal bowl at its widest point. 
     
     
         23 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the thickness of the back dorsal portion of the peri-pharyngeal bowl is between about 1 mm to about 15 mm, the thickness of the side wall varies between about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm, and the thickness of the resiliently deformable flange is between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the peri-pharyngeal bowl is provided with a tip at the distal end of the peri-pharyngeal bowl configured to wedge into the upper oesophagus region of the human or animal. 
     
     
         25 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the exterior of the posterior bowl is provided with rounded square corners between the exterior of the back dorsal portion and the side walls of the posterior bowl. 
     
     
         26 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the exterior of the posterior bowl is provided with a flattened back dorsal portion. 
     
     
         27 . The airway device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the airway device is further provided with a gastric tube passageway.