WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 MEDICAL APPARATUS WITH HYPOPHARYNGEAL 2 SUCTIONING CAPABILITY 3 4 5 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 6 7 This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional 8 application No. 60/665,585, filed March 25, 2005. The 9 entire disclosure of provisional application no. 10 60/665,585 is hereby incorporated by reference. 11 12 TECHNICAL FIELD 13 The present invention generally relates to 14 nasogastric tubes and laryngeal masks. 15 16 BACKGROUND ART 17 Nasogastric tubes and related devices are described 18 in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,643,230, 5,417,664, 5,011,474, 19 5,000,175, 4,821,715, 4,787,894, 4,735,607, 4,699,138, 20 4,508,533, and 4,214,593. Nasogastric tubes and related 21 devices are also described in the following patents and 22 published patent applications: EP 0500778, JP 10179677, 23 WO 9716154, WO 9631248, and WO 8000538. 24 Nasogastric tubes are used to aspirate food contents 25 from the stomach or to feed patients who are unable to 26 safely feed themselves. Nasogastric tubes are commonly 27 used in the operating room, intensive care units, home 28 care, and in hospice settings. Prior art nasogastric 29 tubes are frequently used to aspirate stomach contents. 1 However, in some cases, aspiration of the stomach contents results in microapirations which can cause nosocomial infections. Similar problems can occur with prior art laryngeal masks. Laryngeal masks are used to provide ventilation and are commonly used in the operating room and in situations where it is difficult to insert an endotracheal tube. Prior art laryngeal masks and related devices are described in U.S. Patent Nos . 4,351,328, 4,509,514, 4,995,388, 5,241,956, 5,303,697, 5,355,879, 5,632,271, 5,878,745, 6,631,720 and 6,895,966 and in published international patent application no. W01994/02191. A disadvantage of prior art laryngeal masks is that there is no protection from aspiration into the lungs of gastric contents or saliva regurgitated into the hypopharynx and pharynx . DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to, in one aspect, a medical apparatus comprising a nasogastric tube with hypopharyngeal suctioning capability. An important feature of the medical apparatus of the present invention is that it includes a suction intake in the area of the hypopharynx which effects capturing microaspirations as well as larger regurgitated material that reaches the hypopharynx. A significant advantage of the present invention is that it reduces infection rates in intubated patients. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the medical apparatus comprises a flexible nasogastric tube for insertion through a patient's nose. The nasogastric tube has a first end and a distal, second end that defines an opening. The nasogastric tube has a length sufficient to allow the opening to be positioned in a patient's stomach. The medical apparatus further comprises a flexible oropharyngeal tube for insertion through a 2 patient's mouth. The oropharyngeal tube has a first end and a distal, second end that defines a suction intake. The oropharyngeal tube has a length that is less than the length of the nasogastric tube and which allows the suction intake to be positioned in a patient's hypopharynx region. The medical apparatus further comprises a section of tube joined to and in communication with the flexible nasogastric and oropharyngeal tubes. The section of tube is configured to be joined to a suction apparatus that creates suction within the oropharyngeal tubes. This suction causes microaspirations and regurgitated material in the hypopharynx region to be sucked into the suction intake of the oropharyngeal tube. In another aspect, the present invention is related to a medical apparatus comprising a laryngeal mask and a suction tube attached to the laryngeal mask. The suction tube includes a plurality of suction intakes that suck oropharyngeal secretions from the patient's mouth and the back of the patient's throat. Thus, in one embodiment, this medical apparatus comprises a laryngeal mask having a front side and rear side wherein the rear side faces the back of a patient's throat when the laryngeal mask is used in a patient, and a flexible suction tube attached to and extending along the rear side of the laryngeal mask. The suction tube comprises a plurality of suction intakes for suctioning oropharyngeal secretions in the patient's mouth and throat and has an opening that is configured to be connected to an apparatus for producing suction within the flexible suction tube. In another aspect, a laryngeal mask airway for facilitating ventilation of a patient is provided, the laryngeal mask airway having a front side and rear side wherein the rear side faces the back of a patient's throat when the laryngeal mask airway is used in a 3 patient, the laryngeal mask airway including a mask portion and a flexible breathing tube in communication with the mask portion, characterized in that: the laryngeal mask airway includes a flexible suction tube attached to and extending along the rear side of the laryngeal mask airway, the flexible suction tube having an opening that is configured to be connected to a suction producing apparatus for producing suction within the flexible suction tube, the flexible suction tube having a portion] attached to the rear side of the mask portion and facing the back of the patient's throat, the portion] of the flexible suction tube having a plurality of suction ports that face the back of the patient's throat when the laryngeal mask airway is positioned inside a patient's throat, wherein the plurality of suction ports suck in oropharyngeal secretions in the patient's hypopharynx region. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the invention are believed to be novel. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, generally in side elevation, of a medical apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the same being shown used in a patient; FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view, generally in side 4 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 I elevation, of a medical apparatus in accordance with 2 another embodiment of the invention, the same being shown 3 used in a patient; 4 FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic view, generally in side 5 elevation, of a medical apparatus in accordance with 6 another embodiment of the invention, the same being shown 7 used in a patient; 8 FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the tube 9 structure shown in FIG. 3A; 10 FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of a portion of the view 11 of FIG. 3A; 12 FIG. 3D is an elevational view of a portion of the 13 tube structure shown in FIG. 3A; 14 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a medical apparatus 15 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 16 FIG. 5 is a plan view of the front side of a suction 17 tube depicted in FIG. 4; 18 FIG. 6 is a plan view of the rear side of the suction 19 tube shown in FIG. 5; 20 FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the medical 21 apparatus of FIG. 4 used in a patient;. 22 FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view, generally in side 23 elevation, of a medical apparatus in accordance with a 24 further embodiment of the invention, the same being shown 25 used in a patient; 26 FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the view 5 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 shown in FIG. 8; 2 FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the view 3 shown in FIG. 8; 4 FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a medical apparatus 5 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 6 and 7 FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8 12-12 in FIG. 11. 9 10 MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 11 Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a diagrammatic 12 view of one embodiment of the medical apparatus of the 13 present invention. This medical apparatus, generally 14 indicated by reference numeral 10, comprises tube 15 structure 12. Tube structure 12 comprises nasogastric 16 tube section 14 and oropharyngeal tube section 16. The 17 interior of nasogastric tube section 14 is known as the 18 lumen. Similarly, the interior of oropharyngeal tube 19 section 16 is known as the lumen. Nasogastric tube 20 section 14 and oropharyngeal tube section 16 are joined 21 together at tube section 18 so as to.form a generally "Y" 22 shaped configuration. Tube section 18 is configured to 23 be connected to tube section 20. Tube section 20 is 24 configured to be connected to an external apparatus 21 25 (shown in phantom). For example, such external apparatus 26 21 can be a suction apparatus for creating suction within 6 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 tube structure 12. In another example, the aforesaid 2 external apparatus can be a food source for feeding a 3 patient that is unable to feed himself or herself. 4 As shown in FIG. 1, nasogastric tube section 14 has 5 a sufficient length that allows it to be inserted through 6 the patient's nose 30, through the hypopharnyx region 40 7 (which is just below epiglottis 42) and into the 8 patient's stomach 50. Nasogastric tube section 14 has 9 opening 60 that is located in the patient's stomach 50. 10 When tube section 20 is connected to suction apparatus 11 21, opening 60- functions as a suction intake that effects 12 aspiration of food contents from the stomach. As a 13 result of the suction, the aspirated food contents travel 14 through nasogastric tube section 14 and into a container 15 (not shown) in suction apparatus 21. On the other hand, 16 if tube section 20 is connected to a food source, then 17 opening 60 functions as an output for this food. 18 As shown in FIG. 1, oropharyngeal tube section 16 is 19 inserted through the patient's mouth 52 and has a length 20 that is relatively shorter than the length of nasogastric 21 tube section 14. Oropharyngeal tube section 16 has 22 suction intake 70. The length of oropharyngeal tube 23 section 16 is such that suction intake 70 is positioned 24 in hypopharynx region 40. When tube section 20 is 25 connected to suction apparatus 21, suction intake 70 of 26 oropharyngeal tube section 16 sucks in microaspirations 7 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 I and regurgitated material located in hypopharynx region 2 40 thereby removing such microaspirations and 3 regurgitated material from hypopharynx region 40. Such 4 microaspirations and regurgitated material travel through 5 oropharyngeal tube section 16 and into the aforesaid 6 container (not shown) in suction apparatus 21. Thus, 7 suction intake 70 substantially reduces the risk of 8 infection due to aspirations from the stomach 50 moving 9 into the mouth 52. 10 In one embodiment, nasogastric tube section 14 and 11 oropharyngeal tube section 16 are fabricated from 12 commercially available flexible, soft plastic material, 13 similar to the material used to fabricate conventional 14 endotracheal tubes. In one embodiment, preferably, the 15 internal diameter of such commercial plastic tubing is 16 between about 5mm and 10mm. 17 Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown medical 18 apparatus 100 in accordance with another embodiment of 19 the present invention. Medical apparatus 100 comprises 20 tube structure 102. Tube structure 102 comprises 21 nasogastric tube section 104, nasopharyngeal tube section 22 106, and tube section 108. Nasogastric tube section 104 23 and nasopharyngeal tube section 106 are joined together 24 at tube section 108 so as to form a generally "Y" shaped 25 configuration. Both nasogastric tube section 104 and 26 nasopharyngeal tube section 106 are inserted through the 8 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 I patient's nose 30. Tube section 108 is configured to be 2 connected to tube section 110. Tube section 110 is 3 configured to be connected to an external apparatus (not 4 shown). For example, such an external apparatus can be a 5 suction apparatus such as suction apparatus 21 described 6 in the foregoing description. Such a suction apparatus 7 produces suction within tube structure 102. Thus, tube 8 section 108 and tube section 110 have the same structure 9 and perform the same functions as tube section 18 and 10 tube section 20, respectively, of medical apparatus 10 11 described in the foregoing description. Nasogastric tube 12 section 104 has opening 160. Nasogastric tube section 13 104 has a length that ensures that opening 160 is 14 positioned in the patient's stomach 50. Nasogastric tube 15 section 104 performs the same function as nasogastric 16 tube section 14 (see FIG. 1). Nasopharyngeal tube 17 section 106 has suction intake 170. Nasopharyngeal tube 18 section 106 has a predetermined length that is less than 19 the length of nasogastric tube section 104. This 20 predetermined length of nasopharyngeal tube section 106 21 allows suction intake 170 to be positioned in the 22 patient's hypopharynx region 40. Suction intake 170 23 performs the same function as suction intake 70 of 24 oropharyngeal tube section 16 shown in FIG. 1. When the 25 aforementioned suction apparatus is connected to tube 26 section 110, suction intake 170 sucks in microaspirations 9 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 and regurgitated material located in hypopharynx region 2 40 thereby removing such microaspirations and 3 regurgitated material in hypopharynx region 40. Thus, 4 suction intake 170 substantially reduces the risk of 5 infection due to aspirations from stomach 50 moving into 6 mouth 52. 7 Referring to FIGS. 3A-D, there is shown medical 8 apparatus 300 in accordance with a further embodiment of 9 the present invention. Medical apparatus 300 comprises 10 tube structure 302 which is configured to be inserted 11 through the patient's nose 30. Tube structure 302 12 comprises an outer tube 304 and an inner conduit 306. 13 Thus, inner conduit 306 is positioned within outer tube 14 304. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, inner 15 conduit 306 is a tube having an outer surface 308. In 16 such an embodiment, outer surface 308 is attached to 17 inner surface 310 of outer tube 304. In another 18 embodiment, inner conduit 306 is integrally formed with 19 outer tube 304 during the manufacture of tube structure 20 302. Outer tube 304 section includes openings 320 and 21 322. The length of outer tube 304 is such that opening 22 322 is located in the patient's stomach 50. Opening 322 23 serves the same purpose as opening 60 (see FIG. 1) and 24 opening 160 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, 25 the length of inner conduit 306 is less than the length 26 of outer tube 304. Tube structure 302 has a 10 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 predetermined length that allows opening 320 to be 2 located in the patient's hypopharynx region 40. Inner 3 conduit 306 includes opening 330 that is aligned and in 4 communication with opening 320 in outer tube 304. 5 Opening 330 functions as a suction intake port or 6 opening. Referring to FIG. 3A, tube structure 302 has 7 end 332. Outer tube 304 has opening 334 adjacent to end 8 332. Inner conduit 306 has opening 336 adjacent to end 9 332. Medical apparatus 300 includes tube section 340 10 that is joined to end 332 of tube structure 302. Tube 11 section 340 serves the same purpose as tube section 20 12 (see FIG. 1) and is configured to be connected to an 13 external apparatus such as suction apparatus 21 described 14 in the foregoing description. When a suction apparatus 15 is connected to tube section 340, suction is produced 16 within tube structure 302 which results in 17 microaspirations and regurgitated material located in 18 hypopharynx region 40 to be sucked into opening 330. 19 Thus, microaspirations and regurgitated material in 20 hypopharynx region 40 are removed thereby substantially 21 reducing the risk of infection- due to aspirations from 22 stomach 50 moving into mouth 52. 23 The medical apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3D provide 24 many important advantages. One such advantage is that 25 the suction intake in hypopharynx region 40 captures 26 microaspirations as well as relatively larger 11 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 I regurgitated material and particles that enter the 2 hypopharynx. This feature reduces the risk of infection 3 due to aspirations from the stomach moving into the 4 mouth. This medical apparatus can be used during surgery 5 for patients with any of the following conditions: 6 a) gastric obstruction; 7 b) gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); 8 c) diabetes patients who have full stomachs; 9 d) pregnancy (enlarged abdomens and at risk for 10 aspiration); 11 e) cancer patients (poor digestion, enlarged 12 abdominal tumors, and/or vomiting); and 13 f) patients on medications that increase incidence 14 of nausea and vomiting. 15 This medical apparatus also can be used in the ICU 16 (Intensive Care Unit) for patients in any of the 17 following situations: 18 a) intubated patients who have increased risk of 19 microaspiration in the presence of a nasogastric 20 tube and an endotracheal tube, such as patients 21 with bowel obstruction; 22 b) patients with total parental nutrition who are not 23 intubated but require a nasogastric tube to 24 prevent aspiration;*and 25 c) patients who have gastroparesis, cancer, diabetes, 26 pregnancy and other conditions where patients have 12 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 a full stomach and require a nasogastric tube. 2 In accordance with another embodiment of the 3 invention, medical apparatus 400, shown in FIGS. 4-7, is 4 an improved laryngeal mask configured to effect 5 suctioning the hypopharynx region. Medical apparatus 400 6 comprises laryngeal mask 402 and suction tube 404. In a 7 preferred embodiment, laryngeal mask 402 is configured as 8 the laryngeal mask described in U.S. Patent No. 9 4,509,514, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated 10 by reference. Laryngeal mask 402 has a front side 406 11 and rear side 408. Suction tube 404 is located at the 12 rear side 408 of laryngeal mask 402. In one embodiment, 13 suction tube 404 is integrally formed with laryngeal mask 14 402 during the manufacture of medical apparatus 400. In 15 another embodiment, suction tube 404 is a separate 16 component that is attached to the rear side 408 of 17 laryngeal mask 400. In such an embodiment, any suitable 18 technique can be used to attach suction tube 404 to rear 19 side 408 of laryngeal mask 400. Laryngeal mask 402 20 comprises flexible breathing tube 410 and mask portion 21 412 with an inflatable tubular ring 414. Inflatable 22 tubular ring 414 has distal end 415. Suction tube 404 is 23 preferably fabricated from soft plastics material, 24 similar to that conventionally used for endotrachael 25 tubes. Suction tube 404 comprises a rear side that is 26 attached to rear side 408 of laryngeal mask 402. Suction 13 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 I tube 404 includes front side 422. Suction tube 404 2 further includes tube sections 430 and 440 that are 3 joined together at middle tube section 450. Sections 430 4 and 440 are attached to the rear side of mask portion 5 412. Suction tube 404 further includes tube section 460 6 that is connected to middle tube section 450 and extends 7 along the rear side of flexible breathing tube 410. Each 8 tube section 430 and 440 has a plurality of suction ports 9 470 formed on front side 422. Suction tube 404 has end 10 portion 480 that defines opening 482. End portion 480 is. 11 configured to be connected to a suction hose (not shown) 12 that is connected to an external suction apparatus (not 13 shown) such as suction apparatus 21 described in the 14 foregoing description. 15 Referring to FIG. 7, when in use, medical apparatus 16 400 is inserted into the patient's mouth 500 and down 17 through the patient's throat 502 past the epiglottis 504 18 until mask portion 412 comes to rest with distal end 415 19 of inflatable ring 414 in the base 506 of throat 502, 20 lying against the upper end of the normally closed 21 esophagus 508. Suction ports 470 face the back of throat 22 502. Inflatable ring 414 is then inflated as shown to 23 seal around inlet 514 to larynx 516. The patient's 24 airway is thus secure and unobstructed and flexible tube 25 410 is then connected directly to the conventional 26 anesthetic circuit hosing for either positive pressure or 14 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 spontaneous breathing. End portion 480 of suction tube 2 404 is then connected to a suction apparatus to allow 3 suction ports 470 to suck oropharyngeal secretions from 4 the mouth and the back of the throat 502. Such 5 secretions are made not only from the patient's stomach, 6 but also from the salivary glands in the mouth. 7 Medical apparatus 400 provides a laryngeal mask with 8 increased versatility which can be used in many 9 situations including patients with the following 10 conditions: 11 a) gastroesophageal reflux disease; 12 b) gastric obstruction; 13 c) diabetes with full stomachs; 14 d) pregnancy (enlarged abdomen and at risk of 15 aspiration); 16 e) cancer (poor digestion, enlarged abdomen, 17 nausea/vomiting) 18 Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, there is shown 19 medical apparatus 600 in accordance with another 20 embodiment of the invention. Medical apparatus 600 is 21 configured for the situation wherein continuous suction 22 is necessary. As will be shown by the ensuing 23 discussion, medical apparatus 600 prevents collapse of 24 the hypopharynx and stomach walls while continuous 25 suctioning is occurring and also prevents damage to 26. stomach and hypopharynx tissues. Medical apparatus 600 15 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 I generally comprises nasogastric tube structure 610. 2 Nasogastric tube structure 610 comprises suction tube 612 3 and air tube 614. Suction tube 612 and air tube 614 are 4 joined together at end portion 616. End portion 616 5 defines opening 617. Opening 617 is in communication 6 with suction tube 612 and air tube 614. In one 7 embodiment, the portions of suction tube 612 and air tube 8 614 that extend from end portion 616 are attached 9 together until they exit the patient's body. The length 10 of nasogastric tube structure 610 is such that end 11 portion 616 is positioned in stomach 50. Suction tube 12 612 has suction intakes 618. Suction tube 612 and air 13 tube 614 separate outside of the patient's body in order 14 to allow these two tubes to be connected to separate 15 medical equipment. Suction tube 612 is joined to tube 16 section 620 and air tube 614 is joined to air source 622. 17 Medical apparatus 600 further comprises 18 oropharyngeal tube structure 630. Oropharyngeal tube 19 structure 630 includes suction tube 632 and air tube 634 20 which are joined at end portion 636. End portion 636 21 defines opening 637. Oropharyngeal tube structure 630 22 includes suction intakes 638. Oropharyngeal tube 23 structure 630 has a predetermined length that is shorter 24 than the length of tube structure 610 thereby allowing 25 end portion 636 to be positioned in hypopharynx region 26 40. The portions of suction tube 632 and air tube 634 16 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 that extend from end portion 636 are attached together 2 until these tubes exit the patient's body. Suction tube 3 632 is joined to tube section 620. Air tube 634 is 4 connected to air source 640. Tube section 620 is joined 5 to intermediate tube section 642. Intermediate tube 6 section 642 is connected to a suction apparatus 644. Air 7 source 622 provides air to air tube 614. This air exits 8 air tube 614 at opening 617. Air source 640 provides air 9 to air tube 634. Such air exits air tube 634 at opening 10 637 in tube structure 630. Suction apparatus 644 11 produces suction within suction tubes 612 and 632. As a 12 result of such suction, stomach contents are sucked into 13 suction intakes 618 and microaspirations and regurgitated 14 material and particles in hypopharynx region 40 are 15 sucked through section intakes 638. The air in air tube 16 614 prevents collapse of the stomach 50 and prevents 17 suction intakes 618 from contacting and sucking the 18 stomach walls. Thus, damage to the tissues of the 19 stomach wall and mucosa is prevented. Similarly, the air 20 in air tube 634 enters hypopharynx region 40 and prevents 21 a collapse of the hypopharynx. This air also prevents 22 suction intakes 638 from contacting and damaging the 23 walls and tissues of the hypopharynx. 24 If low-level, continuous suctioning is needed in 25 stomach 50 and high-level, continuous suctioning is 26 needed in the hypopharynx, then air source 622 can be 17 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 inactivated while air source 640 continues to provide air 2 to air tube 634. Similarly, if low-level, continuous 3 suctioning is needed in hypopharynx region 40 and high 4 level, continuous suctioning is needed in stomach 50, 5 then air source 622 is activated and air source 640 is 6 inactivated. 7 In another embodiment, nasogastric tube structure 8 610 is configured so that suction tube 612, air tube 614 9 and end portion 616 are integral with each other. 10 Similarly, in another embodiment, oropharyngeal tube 11 structure 630 is configured so that suction tube 632, air 12 tube 634 and end portion 636 are integral with each 13 other. In a further embodiment, nasogastric tube 14 structure 610 is configured so that the air tube (e.g. 15 air tube 614) is positioned inside the suction tube (e.g. 16 suction tube 612). Similarly, in a further embodiment, 17 oropharyngeal tube structure 630 is configured so that 18 its air tube (e.g. air tube 634) is positioned within the 19 suction tube (e.g. suction tube 632). 20 Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown medical 21 apparatus 700 in accordance with another embodiment of 22 the invention. As with medical apparatus 600, medical 23 apparatus 700 is configured for use in the situation 24 wherein continuous high-level suctioning is necessary. 25 As will be shown by the ensuing discussion, medical 26 apparatus 700 prevents collapse of the hypopharynx and 18 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 stomach walls while continuous suctioning is occurring 2 and also prevents damage to stomach and hypopharynx 3 tissues. Medical apparatus 700 comprises outer tube 702 4 which is configured to be inserted either through a 5 patient's mouth or patient's nose. Tube 702 has a distal 6 end 703 and a predetermined length that allows end 703 to 7 be positioned in a patient's stomach. 'Tube 702 comprises 8 four separate conduits 704, 706, 708 and 710 which are 9 not in communication with each other. Conduits 704 and 10 708 are suction conduits. Conduits 706 and 710 are air 11 conduits. Tube 702 includes suction intakes or openings 12 712 that are in communication with suction conduit 704. 13 Suction intakes 712 are located a predetermined location 14 along the length of tube 702 that corresponds to the 15 hypopharynx region of a patient when tube 702 is inserted 16 in a patient. When suction is applied to suction conduit 17 704, microaspirations and regurgitated material in the 18 hypopharynx region are sucked through suction intakes 712 19 and up through conduit 704 and into an external suction 20 apparatus as will be explained in the ensuing 21 description. Tube 702 includes an opening or vent 714. 22 Air conduit 706 is in communication with opening 714. 23 When pressurized air is provided to air conduit 706, such 24 air is vented through opening 714. The purpose of this 25 configuration is explained in the ensuing discussion. 26 Tube 702 also includes suction intakes or openings 718. 19 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 Suction conduit 708 is in communication with suction 2 intakes 718. When suction is applied to suction conduit 3 708, stomach contents are sucked through suction intakes 4 718 and up through suction conduit 708 and into an 5 external suction apparatus as will be explained in the 6 ensuing description. As shown in FIG. 11, air conduit 7 710 has opening or vent 720. When pressurized air is 8 supplied to air conduit 710, the pressurized air vents 9 through opening 720 and into the patient's stomach. 10 Referring to FIG. 11, medical apparatus 700 further 11 comprises tube sections 730, 732, 734 and 736. Tube 12 section 730 is joined to and in communication with 13 conduit 704. Tube section 732 is joined to and in 14 communication with conduit 706. Tube section 734 is 15 joined to and in communication with conduit 708. Tube 16 section 736 is joined to and in communication with 17 conduit 710. Tube section 730 is configured to be 18 connected to suction apparatus 744. Tube section 732 is 19 configured to be connected to pressurized air source 742. 20 Tube section 734 is configured to be connected to suction 21 apparatus 740. Tube section 736 is configured to be 22 connected to pressurized air source 738. Suction 23 apparatuses 740 and 744 are separate apparatuses. In one 24 scenario, one suction apparatus can provide high-level 25 suction while the other suction apparatus can provide 26 low-level suction. In another scenario, both suction 20 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 apparatuses provide low-level suction. In a further 2 scenario, both suction apparatuses provide high-level 3 suction. Pressurized air sources 738 and 742 are 4 separate air sources and each has an activated state and 5 an inactivated state. Thus, both pressurized air sources 6 can be activated, inactivated, or one pressurized source 7 activated and the other pressurized air source 8 inactivated. 9 When tube 702 is inserted into a patient and high 10 level suction of the stomach and hypopharynx is 11' necessary, suction apparatuses 744 and 740 produce 12 suction within suction conduits 704 and 708, 13 respectively. Stomach contents are sucked into suction 14 intakes 718, and microaspirations and regurgitated 15 material in the hypopharynx region are sucked into 16 suction intakes 712. All material sucked into suction 17 intakes 712 and 718 are sucked through conduits 704 and 18 708, respectively, and int'O baskets or other containers 19 inside suction apparatuses 744 and 740, respectively. In 20 order to prevent suction intakes 712 and 718 from 21 damaging tissues in the hypopharynx and stomach, 22 respectively, pressurized air sources 742 and 738 provide 23 air to air conduits 706 and 710, respectively. The 24 pressurized air supplied to air conduit 706 is vented 25 through opening 714 and the pressurized air provided to 26 air conduit 710 is vented through opening 720. As a 21 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 result, the pressurized air vented through opening 714 2 keeps suction intakes 712 away from hypopharynx tissue, 3 and the pressurized air vented through opening 720 keeps 4 suction intakes 718 away from stomach tissue. If high 5 level suctioning is needed in the hypopharynx but only 6 low-level suctioning is needed in the stomach, then 7 pressurized air source 738 can be inactivated while 8 pressurized air source 742 remains activated. Similarly, 9 if low-level suctioning is needed in the hypopharynx but 10 high-level suctioning is needed in the stomach, then 11 pressurized air source 742 can be inactivated while 12 pressurized air source 738 remains activated. 13 In one embodiment, each conduit 704, 706, 708 and 14 710 is configured as a tube. In another embodiment, 15 conduits 704, 706, 708 and 710 are integrally formed with 16 tube 702 during the manufacturing process. 17 In one embodiment, tube 702 and conduits 704, 706, 18 708 and 710 are fabricated from the same materials used 19 to fabricate the tubes of the medical apparatuses 20 described in the foregoing description. 21 The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of 22 operation of the present invention have been described in 23 the foregoing specification. The invention which is 24 intended to be protected herein should not, however, be 25 construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, 26 as these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than 22 WO 2006/104855 PCT/US2006/010623 1 restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those 2 skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of 3 the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed 4 description should be considered as exemplary in nature 5 and not as limiting the scope and spirit of the invention 6 as set forth in the attached claims. 23