GB2373447A

GB2373447A - Laryngeal mask assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2373447A
Application number: GB0201958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Landuyt Christophe Van
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 2001-02-16
Filing date: 2002-01-29
Publication date: 2002-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-29
Also published as: GB2373447B; GB0201958D0; US6761170B2; US20020112728A1; GB0103815D0

Abstract

A laryngeal mask assembly has a tube 1 with a mask 2 at one end defining a cavity 26 surrounded by a sealing cuff 21. A blocker is operable to prevent entry of the epiglottis into the cavity 26 during insertion of the assembly but does not hinder gas passage along the assembly after insertion. The blocker may be a ballon 40 that is inflated during insertion and is then deflated. Alternatively, the blocker may be a web 140 attached to the patient end of the assembly by a rupturable joint 123. In another arrangement the blocker is an insert 240 with an end 243 that expands to fill the cavity 226 but that is compressible to allow the insert to be pulled out from the machine end of the assembly.

Description

( l i- 2373447 LARYNGEAL MASK ASSEMBLIES

This invention relates to laryngeal mask assemblies and their manufacture It is common practice to use an airway known as a laryngeal mask for administering anaesthetic and ventilation gases to a patient. These airways comprise a tube with an inflatable mask or cuff at one end, the tube being inserted in the patient's mouth so that one end is located in the hypopharynx and so that the mask forms a seal in this region with the surrounding tissue. Laryngeal masks are described in, for example, US 5355879, US 5305743, US 5297547, US 5282464, GB 2267034, US 5249571, US 5241956, US 5303697,

GB 2249959, GB 2111394, EP 448878, US 4995388, GB 2205499, GB 2128561,

GB 2298797, GB 2334215, GB 0020274 and GB 0002805.

Laryngeal masks have several advantages over endotracheal tubes, which are longer and seal with the trachea below the vocal folds. One potential problem with laryngeal masks is that there is a risk that they may be blocked by the epiglottis during insertion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative laryngeal mask assembly. According to the present invention there is provided a laryngeal mask assembly comprising a tube, a mask at the patient end of the tube, an annular cuff extending around the patient end of the mask, and an internal cavity within the mask communicating with the tube at one end and opening from the assembly at its other end within a central region of the cuff,

- the assembly including blocking means that can be put in a first state wh!. it prevents entry of the epiglottis into the cavity or a second state where the cavity is substantially open.

The blocking means may be an expansible member that is expanded in the first state and is retracted in the second state. The expansible member may be a balloon of an elastic material. The expansible member may be attached with the mask and communicate with an inflation lumen extending along the mask and tube. Alternatively, the blocking means could include a removable member such as a web extending across the patient end of the assembly.

The removable member may be retained at its patient end with the mask by a rupturable joint and the assembly may include a non-elastic cord by which the rupturable joint can be torn from the machine end of the assembly. Alternatively, the removable member may be an insert extending along the tube, the insert having a portion expanded within the cavity, which portion provides an end surface substantially level with the patient end of the mask. The insert preferably includes a foam or gel. The mask preferably includes a mount on which the cuff is supported, the assembly having a region towards the mount that is resiliently flexible.

A laryngeal mask assembly according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a side elevation view of the assembly; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross^sectional, side elevation view of the patient end of the assembly;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative assembly; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the assembly of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation view of a second alternative assembly. With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the laryngeal mask assembly comprises a tube 1 and a mask 2 mounted at the patient end 10 of the tube.

The tube 1 is of a bendable plastics material, such as PVC and is curved along its length. A bore 11 extends along the tube from its patient end 10 to its rear, machine end 12.

The mask 2 includes a mount 20 and an inflatable sealing cuff 21. The mount 20 is of a relatively stiffplastics material and is of generally shoe shape. The rear, machine end of the mount has a neck 22 of circular section embracing and bonded to the patient end 10 of the tube 1. The mount 20 tapers outwardly from the machine end 22 to its patient end opening 23, which is inclined to the axis of the machine end at an angle of about 25 so that the patient end of the mount has an oval shape with its forward end 24 being more pointed than its rear end 25. The patient end 23 of the mount 20 is inclined to face towards the inner side of the curve of the tube 1. Internally, the machine end 22 of the mount 20 communicates with a cavity 26 in the mount that increases in crosssectional area along its length, from the machine end.

The cuff 21 is tubular and of a thin flexible plastics material formed into an annulus of the same shape as the patient end 23 of the mount 20. The cuff 21 is attached around the patient end 23 of the mount 20 such as by means of an adhesive. The cuff 21 is inflated and deflated by means of an inflation lumen 24 extending within the wall of the main tube and through a small bore inflation tube. When inflated in position in a patient, the cuff 21 expands to contact patient tissue in the region of the hypopharnyx.

The assembly additionally includes blocking means in the form of an inflatable balloon 40 within the mount 20. The balloon 40 is in the form of a membrane of elastic material of generally circular shape and attached around its edge 41 in a shallow recess 42 on the inside surface of the mount 20 facing generally towards the opening 23. A second inflation lumen 43 extends along the tube 1 and mount 20, opening through an aperture 44 within the recess 42. The balloon 40 is inflated by supplying air or other fluid along the inflation lumen 43 in the usual way, so that the balloon expands to a first state (as indicated by the broken line in Figure 2) where it substantially fills the cavity 26 and comes substantially level with the patient end 23 of the mask 2. When air is released from the inflation lumen 43, the resilience of the balloon 40 causes it to retract to a second state where it lies flat against the internal surface of the mount 20. When the laryngeal mask is inserted, the balloon 40 is inflate to its first state so that it blocks entry of the epiglottis 50. Once inserted to the correct position, the balloon 40 is deflated to its second state so that it provides no substantial obstruction within the mask 2.

This arrangement reduces the risk of the epiglottis being caught by the laryngeal mask and folded down during insertion where it would potentially block passage through the

l - assembly. Because the blocking means is retracted after insertion, it does not provide any obstruction to gas flow, visualization or the insertion of devices along the laryngeal mask during use.

There are various other ways in which blocking means could be provided in a laryngeal mask. For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the blocking means could be provided by a removable member such as in the form of a web or strip 140 extending loosely along the outside of the assembly, over the rear end of the cuff 121 and attached at its patient end 122 to the inside surface of the mount 120, by a rupturable joint 123 close to the cuff A non-elastic string 124 extends loosely along the web 140 and is attached at its patient end to the rupturable joint 123 so that the joint can be torn readily by pulling the rear, machine end of the string. The web 140 acts to block entrance of the epiglottis during insertion of the assembly. The assembly also has a resilient portion or hinge 150 formed by a region towards the mask 102 of an elastomeric material substantially more flexible and resilient than the remainder of the assembly. The hinge 150 takes the form of a short tubular portion between the patient end of the tube 101 and the machine end of the mount 120. Each end of the hinge portion 150 has a key formation lSl, which securely attaches it to the tube 101 and mount 120. Preferably, the elastic material of the hinge 150 is formed during a two-stage moulding operation with the tube 101 and or alternatively the mount 120, or both. The web 140 may be pulled to displace the patient end of the mask 102 anteriorly in order to facilitate insertion.

The flexible hinge 150 enables the mask 102 more readily to follow the pharyngeal anatomy of the patient during insertion. Once inserted, the clinician pulls the string 124 to release the

- - joint 123 so that the web 140 can be pulled out. Even without the web, the hinge 150 can reduce the risk of the epiglottis projecting into the patient end of the mask 102 because, during insertion, the mask can follow a path further to the posterior of the epiglottis.

In a further embodiment, shown in Figure 5, the blocking means is an insert member 240 insertable within the assembly. The insert 240 has a main, flexible tubular portion 241, a handle 242 at its rear or machine end and a blocking portion 243 at its forward or patient end.

The blocking portion 243 is compressible, such as by being of a foam or having a gel sack, and has a natural, generally conical shape so that it substantially fills the cavity 226 of the mask 202 and has a patient end surface 244 substantially level with the end 223 of the mask.

This end surface 244 provides a soft, atraumatic surface that effectively prevents entry of the epiglottis into the cavity 226 of the mask 202 during insertion of the assembly. Once inserted, the insert 240 is readily removed simply by pulling the handle 242. As it is pulled out, the blocking portion 243 compresses to a smaller size during passage along the tube 201. The insert could have an airway passage extending along it to permit breathing by the patient before removal of the insert.

Claims

l CLAIMS

1. A laryngeal mask assembly comprising a tube, a mask at the patient end of the tube, an annular cuff extending around the patient end of the mask, and an internal cavity within the mask communicating with the tube at one end and opening from the assembly at its other end within a central region of the cuff, wherein the assembly includes blocking means that can be put in a first state where it prevents entry of the epiglottis into the cavity or a second state where the cavity is substantially open.

2. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the blocking means is an expansible

member that is expanded in said first state and is retracted in said second state.

3. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the expansible member is a balloon of an elastic material.

4. An assembly according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the expansible member is attached with the mask and communicates with an inflation lumen extending along the mask and tube.

5. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the blocking means includes a removable member.

6. An assembly according to Claim 5, wherein the removable member is a web extending across the patient end of the assembly.

7. An assembly according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the removable member is retained at its patient end with the mask by a rupturable joint.

8. An assembly according to Claim 7, including a non-elastic cord by which the rupturable joint can be torn from the machine end of the assembly.

9. An assembly according to Claim 5, wherein the removable member is an insert extending along the tube and wherein the insert has a portion expanded within the cavity.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9, wherein the portion provides an end surface substantially level with the patient end of the mask.

An assembly according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein the portion of the insert includes a foam or gel.

12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mask includes a mount on which the cuff is supported, and wherein the assembly has a region towards said mount that is resiliently flexible.

13. A laryngeal mask assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A laryngeal mask assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

A laryngeal mask assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.