US5584290A — Combined laryngeal mask airway and muscular or ne…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

In combination, a laryngeal mask having a front side and a back side and means including an outer portion of said front side for establishing peripherally sealed engagement of said mask around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, with the front side facing into the laryngeal inlet and the back side facing the back wall of the pharynx, an elongate airway tube having a distal end which establishes a sealed passage through said mask between the back and front sides of said mask, electrode means locally carried by said mask within the outer portion having said sealed engagement, and means including at least one flexible lead to said electrode means for external coupling of a portion of the laryngeal inlet to external electric circuitry.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 124 words

In combination, a laryngeal mask having a front side and a back side and means including an outer portion of said front side for establishing peripherally sealed engagement of said mask around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, with the front side facing into the laryngeal inlet and the back side facing the back wall of the pharynx, an elongate airway tube having a distal end which establishes a sealed passage through said mask between the back and front sides of said mask, electrode means locally carried by said mask within the outer portion having said sealed engagement, and means including at least one flexible lead to said electrode means for external coupling of a portion of the laryngeal inlet to external electric circuitry.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The combination of claim 1, in which the peripherally sealed outer portion of said front side includes a distal-end portion for sealed contact with a local portion of the hypopharyngeal surface, and in which said electrode means comprises at least one electrode within said distal-end portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination of claim 1, in which said electrode means comprises plural spaced electrodes within said peripherally sealed outer portion of the front side of said mask.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

The combination of claim 1, in which said laryngeal mask has a distal-end formation projecting distally beyond the outer portion having said peripherally sealed engagement, and in which said electrode means includes at least one electrode carried by said distal-end formation and adapted for body-tissue engagement within the upper oesophageal sphincter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The combination of claim 1, in which said electrode means comprises a series of separate electrodes in distributed array within said peripherally sealed outer portion of the front side of said mask.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 13 words

The combination of claim 5, in which said electrodes are in paired grouping.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination of claim 1, in which said electrode means for said at least one flexible lead comprises the distal end of said flexible lead.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 7, in which the material of said electrode means is platinum.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 176 words

In combination, a laryngeal mask having a front side and a back side and means including an outer portion of said front side for establishing peripherally sealed engagement of said mask around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, with the front side facing into the laryngeal inlet and the back side facing the back wall of the pharynx, an elongate airway tube having a distal end which establishes a sealed passage through said mask between the back and front sides of said mask, said mask and the sealed airway passage therethrough having a longitudinally extending central plane of symmetry which extends between proximal and distal ends of said mask for symmetry of the peripherally sealed engagement on opposite sides of said central plane, and electrode means locally carried by said mask at intercept with said central plane and within the distal end of the outer portion having said sealed engagement, and means including at least one flexible lead to said electrode means for external coupling of a portion of the hypopharyngeal surface to external electric circuitry.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 176 words

In combination, a laryngeal mask having a front side and a back side and means including an outer portion of said front side for establishing peripherally sealed engagement of said mask around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, with the front side facing into the laryngeal inlet and the back side facing the back wall of the pharynx, an elongate airway tube having a distal end which establishes a sealed passage through said mask between the back and front sides of said mask, said mask and the sealed airway passage therethrough having a longitudinally extending central plane of symmetry which extends between proximal and distal ends of said mask for symmetry of the peripherally sealed engagement on opposite sides of said central plane, and electrode means locally carried by said mask at intercept with said central plane and within the distal end of the outer portion having said sealed engagement, and means including at least one flexible lead to said electrode means for external coupling of a portion of the hypopharyngeal surface to external electric circuitry.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The combination of claim 19, in which said electrode means is a pair of closely spaced electrodes each of which has an independent flexible lead for coupling to the external circuitry.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The combination of claim 9, in which said electrode means is a single electrode.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 149 words

An artificial airway device to facilitate a patient's lung ventilation, comprising an airway tube and a laryngeal mask at one end of said tube, said mask having a front side and a back side and a first inflatable cuff formation in a generally elliptical configuration extending from a proximal end to a distal end and adapted upon inflation to achieve a peripheral seal of the front side of said mask to and around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, electrode means including at least one tissue-engageable electrode locally within a portion of the peripheral seal, and a second inflatable cuff formation on the back side of said mask, said second cuff formation in inflated condition being adapted to engage the back wall of the pharynx and thereby to compressionally load said electrode into local tissue engagement while also enhancing the peripheral seal of the front side of said mask.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 149 words

An artificial airway device to facilitate a patient's lung ventilation, comprising an airway tube and a laryngeal mask at one end of said tube, said mask having a front side and a back side and a first inflatable cuff formation in a generally elliptical configuration extending from a proximal end to a distal end and adapted upon inflation to achieve a peripheral seal of the front side of said mask to and around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, electrode means including at least one tissue-engageable electrode locally within a portion of the peripheral seal, and a second inflatable cuff formation on the back side of said mask, said second cuff formation in inflated condition being adapted to engage the back wall of the pharynx and thereby to compressionally load said electrode into local tissue engagement while also enhancing the peripheral seal of the front side of said mask.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 75 words

The artificial airway device of claim 12, in which said first inflatable cuff formation includes a distal-end region adapted for contact with the hypopharyngeal surface, and in which said electrode means further includes at least one electrode carried by said distal-end region, said second inflatable cuff formation being sufficiently extensive in the distal direction to enable at least a degree of compressional preload of said distal-end electrode in application to tissue of the hypopharyngeal surface.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 104 words

The method of therapeutically treating or monitoring an existing muscular or neuromuscular condition of a patient, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient's laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient's airway; and (b) using said electrode means in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to monitor and/or to affect a muscular or neuromuscular condition of the patient.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 104 words

The method of therapeutically treating or monitoring an existing muscular or neuromuscular condition of a patient, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient's laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient's airway; and (b) using said electrode means in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to monitor and/or to affect a muscular or neuromuscular condition of the patient.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 14, wherein step (b) consists in using said electrode means in conjunction with a conductive grounding connection to an exterior surface portion of the body.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 140 words

The method of monitoring the depth of an anaesthetized condition of a patient in the course of an operative procedure, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient3s laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient3s airway, said electrode means being so positioned on said mask as to have local contact with the patient3s crico-arytenoid muscle when said mask is correctly positioned in the patient; (b) anaesthetizing the patient; and (c) using said electrode means in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to monitor activity of the crico-arytenoid muscle in real time during the anaesthesia.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 140 words

The method of monitoring the depth of an anaesthetized condition of a patient in the course of an operative procedure, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient3s laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient3s airway, said electrode means being so positioned on said mask as to have local contact with the patient3s crico-arytenoid muscle when said mask is correctly positioned in the patient; (b) anaesthetizing the patient; and (c) using said electrode means in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to monitor activity of the crico-arytenoid muscle in real time during the anaesthesia.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 16, for the case of a surgical operation in which a neuro-muscular blocking agent has been administered to facilitate muscular relaxation during surgery, and wherein step (c) additionally comprises use of the external electrical circuitry to stimulate the posterior crico-arytenoid muscle to open the glottis in avoidance or reduction of a state of laryngospasm.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 149 words

In combination, a larynegeal mask having a front side and a back side and means including an outer portion of said front side for establishing peripherally sealed engagement of said mask around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, with the front side facing into the laryngeal inlet and the back side facing the back wall of the pharynx, an elongate airway tube having a distal end which establishes a sealed passage through said mask between the back and front sides of said mask, said laryngeal mask having a distal-end formation projecting distally beyond the outer portion having said peripherally sealed engagement, electrode means including at least one electrode carried by said distal-end formation and adapted for body-tissue engagement within the upper oesophageal sphincter, and means including at least one flexible lead to said electrode means for external coupling of a portion of the laryngeal inlet to external electric circuitry.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 149 words

In combination, a larynegeal mask having a front side and a back side and means including an outer portion of said front side for establishing peripherally sealed engagement of said mask around the laryngeal inlet of a patient, with the front side facing into the laryngeal inlet and the back side facing the back wall of the pharynx, an elongate airway tube having a distal end which establishes a sealed passage through said mask between the back and front sides of said mask, said laryngeal mask having a distal-end formation projecting distally beyond the outer portion having said peripherally sealed engagement, electrode means including at least one electrode carried by said distal-end formation and adapted for body-tissue engagement within the upper oesophageal sphincter, and means including at least one flexible lead to said electrode means for external coupling of a portion of the laryngeal inlet to external electric circuitry.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 132 words

The method of monitoring the depth of an anaesthetized condition of a patient in the course of an operative procedure, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient's laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient's airway; (b) using said electrode means in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to determine a first level of selected parameter response upon initial completion of an anaesthetized condition of the patient; and (c) thereafter using said circuitry to monitor said parameter response for a predetermined change from said first level.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 132 words

The method of monitoring the depth of an anaesthetized condition of a patient in the course of an operative procedure, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient's laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient's airway; (b) using said electrode means in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to determine a first level of selected parameter response upon initial completion of an anaesthetized condition of the patient; and (c) thereafter using said circuitry to monitor said parameter response for a predetermined change from said first level.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 116 words

The method of therapeutically treating or monitoring an existing muscular or neuromuscular condition of a patient, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient's laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means with at least two separate electrodes in spaced relation and in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient's airway; and (b) using both of said electrodes concurrently in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to monitor and/or to affect a muscular or neuromuscular condition of this patient.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 116 words

The method of therapeutically treating or monitoring an existing muscular or neuromuscular condition of a patient, which method comprises: (a) selecting and installing a laryngeal mask having an airway tube with a distal end having an inflatable cuff formation for inflated peripherally sealed engagement to the patient's laryngeal inlet, said cuff formation having electrode means with at least two separate electrodes in spaced relation and in local contact with body tissue by reason of cuff inflation to seal the laryngeal mask for exclusive airway-tube communication with the patient's airway; and (b) using both of said electrodes concurrently in conjunction with external electrical circuitry to monitor and/or to affect a muscular or neuromuscular condition of this patient.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-17	2000-06-17	2000-12-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-17	2004-06-17	2004-12-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-17	2008-06-17	2008-12-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Combined laryngeal mask airway and muscular or neuro-muscular response device

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