EP0922465A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laryngeal mask assemblies
Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
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Filing: 1998-10-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A laryngeal mask assembly has an inflatable cuff 13 mounted at the patient end 14 of a tube 1. The cuff 13 has a region 15 on its anterior surface 16 and a region 18 on its posterior surface 17 that expand preferentially when gas pressure is increased. The cuff 13 is inflated for insertion at low pressure such that the cuff takes one shape and is then further inflated when positioned correctly such that the region 15 on the anterior surface 16 expands and engages the epiglottis 5 and such that the region 18 on the posterior surface 17 expands and engages the adjacent tissue, pushing the anterior surface 16 forwardly.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Pagan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0402; A61M16/0409; A61M16/0434; A61M16/0445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A laryngeal mask assembly comprising a tube (1) with a mask portion at its patient
end (14), the tube (1) having an opening (23) into the centre of an anterior face (16) of
the mask portion, characterised in that the mask portion includes an inflatable cuff
(13) arranged to take a first shape when filled with gas at low pressure and to take a
second shape different from the first shape when the pressure of gas in the cuff (13) is
increased.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that the second
shape includes an enlarged portion (15) on the anterior face (16) of the cuff (13)
arranged to engage the epiglottis (5).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A laryngeal mask according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second shape
includes an enlarged portion (18) on the posterior face (17) of the cuff (13) arranged
to engage adjacent tissue and push the anterior face (16) of the cuff (13) anteriorly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the cuff (13) is made by blow moulding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the cuff (13) has a reduced wall thickness in a region (15, 18) of
the cuff, such that the region (5, 18) expands preferentially when cuff pressure is
increased.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that a region (15, 18) of the cuff (13) is treated to be weaker such that
the region (15, 18) expands preferentially when gas pressure is increased.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that the cuff (13) has a region that is strengthened such that other
regions expand preferentially when gas pressure is increased.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to Claim 7, characterised in that the region that
is strengthened is strengthened by incorporating strengthening matter different from
the cuff material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A laryngeal mask assembly according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the region
that is strengthened is strengthened by increasing the thickness of the cuff material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5305743A
Cited
US5249571A
Cited
GB2267034A
Cited
US5282464A
Cited
US5297547A
Cited
US5355879A
Cited
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