Airway device

Abstract

An airway adjunct or airway assembly that comprises a gas administration tube and a gas sampling tube can be utilized to improve health care to a patient. The gas administration tube may be connected, for example, to an oxygen source. The gas sampling tube may be connected, for example, to capnography equipment. Internal terminal ends of the gas administration tube and gas sampling tube can be longitudinally offset from one another within the airway assembly, which may reduce diffusion of the exhaled gas to be sampled, thereby increasing monitoring accuracy. Some embodiments of the present disclosure comprise an airway adjunct adaptable to attach into or onto various types of airway devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airway adjunct comprising:
 a gas administration tube comprising a first internal terminal end and a first port at an opposite end of the gas administration tube from the first internal terminal end;   a gas sampling tube comprising a second internal terminal end and a second port at an opposite end of the gas sampling tube from the second internal terminal end;   the second internal terminal end being offset at least one millimeter from the first internal terminal end, the offset being in a longitudinal direction and away from the second port; and   the longitudinal direction being defined as a direction parallel to an airway flow direction of the airway adjunct.   
     
     
         2 . The airway adjunct of  claim 1 , wherein the airway adjunct is adapted to secure to an airway device. 
     
     
         3 . The airway adjunct of  claim 2 , wherein the airway device comprises an oropharyngeal airway. 
     
     
         4 . The airway adjunct of  claim 2 , wherein the airway device comprises a nasopharyngeal airway. 
     
     
         5 . The airway adjunct of  claim 2 , further comprising a clamping tab adapted to secure the airway adjunct to a collar of the airway device. 
     
     
         6 . The airway adjunct of  claim 2 , further comprising a ridge adapted to secure the airway adjunct into a throat of the airway device. 
     
     
         7 . The airway adjunct of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas administration tube comprises a first elbow bend and   the gas sampling tube comprises a second elbow bend.   
     
     
         8 . The airway adjunct of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjunct body, wherein the gas administration tube and the gas sampling tube pass through the adjunct body. 
     
     
         9 . The airway adjunct of  claim 8 , further comprising a ventilation through-hole in the adjunct body. 
     
     
         10 . The airway adjunct of  claim 1 , wherein the first port and the second port comprise tubing connectors. 
     
     
         11 . A method of maintaining a patient's airway, comprising:
 providing an airway assembly, the airway assembly comprising:
 a gas administration tube comprising a first internal terminal end and a first port at an opposite end of the gas administration tube from the first internal terminal end; 
 a gas sampling tube comprising a second internal terminal end and a second port at an opposite end of the gas sampling tube from the second internal terminal end; 
 the second internal terminal end being offset at least one millimeter from the first internal terminal end, the offset being in a longitudinal direction and away from the second port; and 
 the longitudinal direction being defined as a direction parallel to an airway flow direction of the airway assembly; 
   inserting the airway assembly into the patient's airway.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising attaching an airway adjunct to an airway device, thereby forming the airway assembly, the airway adjunct comprising the gas administration tube and the gas sampling tube. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising connecting a tubing between the second port and a carbon dioxide monitoring machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising connecting a tubing between the first port and an oxygen supply. 
     
     
         15 . An airway assembly comprising:
 a housing;   a gas administration tube comprising a first internal terminal end within the housing and a first port, outside of the housing, at an opposite end of the gas administration tube from the first internal terminal end;   a gas sampling tube comprising a second internal terminal end within the housing and a second port, outside of the housing, at an opposite end of the gas sampling tube from the second internal terminal end;   the second internal terminal end being offset at least one millimeter from the first internal terminal end, the offset being in a longitudinal direction and away from the second port; and   the longitudinal direction being defined as a direction parallel to an airway flow direction of the airway assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The airway assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the airway assembly comprises an airway adjunct secured to an airway device, the airway adjunct comprising the gas administration tube and the gas sampling tube. 
     
     
         17 . The airway assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the airway device comprises an oropharyngeal airway or a nasopharyngeal airway. 
     
     
         18 . The airway assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the airway adjunct further comprises a clamping tab adapted to secure the airway adjunct to a collar of the airway device. 
     
     
         19 . The airway assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the airway adjunct further comprises a ridge adapted to secure the airway adjunct into a throat of the airway device. 
     
     
         20 . The airway assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first port and the second port comprise tubing connectors.