Laryngeal mask assembly and method for removing same

Abstract

A laryngeal mask assembly (10) includes an artificial airway tube (14) and an inflatable mask (26). The mask (26) is forced into the mouth (20) of a patient (12) to an operating position adjacent the larynx (21). A scoping instrument (22) is sent through the artificial airway tube (14) and the inflatable mask (26) to locate the vocal cords (23) and trachea (35). The artificial airway tube (14) and inflatable mask (26) are removed, keeping the scoping instrument (22) in a position within the trachea (35) whereafter the laryngeal mask assembly (10) is removed by peeling it off the scoping instrument (22) using the slit (34) creating by the overlapping edges (36, 38).

We claim: 
     
       1. An artificial airway assembly (10) for ventilating a patient (12) and utilizing a scoping device in the airway of a patient, said artificial airway assembly (10) comprising: a flexible airway tube (14) having a patient insertion end (16) and a breathing tool receiving end (18), said flexible airway tube having .[.pass through.]. .Iadd.a branching pass-through .Iaddend.means (24) for allowing a scoping instrument (22) to pass therethrough .Iadd.and for guiding the scoping instrument .Iaddend.to an operating position to view vocal cords and trachea of the patient (12);   a mask (26) fixedly secured to said patient insertion end (16) of said flexible airway tube (14), said mask (26) having conforming means for conforming to a space immediately adjacent the larynx of the patient (12) to properly position the scoping instrument (22), said artificial airway assembly (10) characterized by removing means (.[.3.]..Iadd.30.Iaddend.) for removing said flexible airway tube (14) and mask (26) from the scoping instrument (22) while maintaining the scoping instrument (22) in the operating position.   
     
     
       2. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said removing means (30) including a slit (34) extending .Iadd.distally along said pass-through means (24) and distally continuously from said pass-through means .Iaddend.along said flexible airway tube (14). 
     
     
       3. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said slit (34) extending through a portion of said mask (26). 
     
     
       4. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said slit (34) creating two opposing side edges (36, 38). 
     
     
       5. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by said two opposing side edges (36, 38) overlapping each other such that said artificial airway assembly (10) is substantially sealed between said patient insertion end (16) and said breathing tool receiving end (18). .[.6. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by said flexible airway tube (14) including a second branch (24) in fluid communication with said flexible airway tube (14) for guiding the scoping 
     
     
        instrument (22) into flexible airway tube (14)..].7. A method for intubating a patient (12) using an artificial airway assembly (10) including a mask (26) and flexible airway tube (14) .Iadd.having a branching pass-through guide passage which communicates with the flexible airway assembly between a breathing-tool receiving end and a patient-insertion end of the artificial airway assembly (10).Iaddend., and a scoping device (22), the method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting the artificial airway assembly (10) into the mouth (20) of a patient (12);   (b) positioning the mask (26) adjacent the larynx;   (c) initiating ventilation of the patient via the breathing-tool receiving end;   (.Iadd.d.Iaddend.) moving the scoping device (22) through the .Iadd.branching pass-through guide passage (24) at least to the patient-insertion end of the .Iaddend.artificial airway assembly (10) and the mask (26);   (e) removing the artificial airway assembly (10) from the mouth (20) of the patient (12); and   (f) peeling the artificial airway assembly (10) off the scoping device   
     
     
        (22). .Iadd.8.  The method of claim 7, in which step (d) includes moving the scoping device beyond the mask (26) and into the trachea of the patient..Iaddend..Iadd.9. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1, further characterized by said removing means (30) including a continuously elongate locally weakened and tearable course extending the length of said pass-through means (24) from the receiving end thereof to the patient-insertion end (16) of the flexible airway tube (14)..Iaddend..Iadd.10. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 3, in which said mask (26) has a hole (27) for establishing a ventilating passage between the flexible airway tube (14) and the larynx, and the conforming means of said mask (26) comprises an inflatable ring for establishing an initial peripherally sealing engagement of the mask at the laryngeal inlet, said slit (34) extending to at least one of said holes and said inflatable ring being characterized by a local split between peripherally confronting ends of the slit portion of said mask (26)..Iaddend..Iadd.11. An artificial airway assembly (10) for ventilating a patient (12) and utilizing a scoping device in the patient's airway, said artificial airway assembly (10) comprising: a flexible airway tube (14) having a patient-insertion end (16) and a breathing-tool receiving end (18) and a pass-through receiving end (24), said pass-through receiving end (24) being adapted to allow a scoping instrument (22) to pass therethrough to an operating position at the patient-insertion end (16) of said tube to view vocal cords and trachea of the patient (12), said breathing-tool receiving end (18) and said pass-through receiving end (24) having separate merging communication with said airway tube at a location intermediate said patient-insertion end (16) and said receiving ends (18, 24);   a mask (26) fixedly secured to said patient-insertion end (16) of said flexible airway tube (14), said mask (26) having conforming means for conforming to a space immediately adjacent the larynx of the patient (12) to properly position the scoping instrument (22), said artificial airway assembly (10) being characterized by   removing means (30) for removing said flexible airway tube (14) and mask (26) from the scoping instrument (22) while maintaining the scoping instrument (22) in the operating position..Iaddend..Iadd.12. An artificial airway assembly (10) for ventilating a patient (12) and utilizing a scoping device in the airway of a patient, said artificial airway assembly (10) comprising:   a flexible airway tube (14) having a patient-insertion end (16) and a breathing-tool receiving end (18) and a pass-through receiving end (24), said pass-through receiving end (24) being adapted to allow a scoping instrument (22) to pass therethrough to an operating position at the patient-insertion end (16) of said tube to view vocal cords and trachea of the patient (12), said breathing-tool receiving end (18) and said pass-through receiving end (24) having separate merging communication with said airway tube at a location intermediate said patient-insertion end (16) and said receiving ends (18, 24);   a mask secured to the patient-insertion end of the flexible airway tube, said mask having an opening (27) for patient ventilating passage therethrough,   removing means (30) for removing said flexible airway tube and mask from the scoping instrument while maintaining the scoping instrument in the operating position, said removing means being characterized by an elongate continuous slit from said pass-through receiving end (24) to said mask opening (27) and via an intervening length of said flexible airway tube,   said mask (26) including an inflatable ring for peripheral sealing of said mask at the laryngeal inlet, said inflatable ring being characterized by a split at the location of slit passage in said mask to the mask opening, the split of said ring defining confronting peripheral ends which inflate in patient-installed position into sealed relation to each other and thus into peripherally continuous sealed relation to the laryngeal inlet..Iaddend.