Esophago-pharyngeal airway

701,075 5/1902 McCully 128/349 R

2,854,982 10/1958 Pagano 128/348 R

2,857,911 10/1958 Bennett 128/147

3,046,988 7/1962 Moreau et al 128/325

3,322,126 5/1967 Rusch et al 128/351

3,326,207 6/1967 Egan 128/2.06 E

3,407,817 10/1968 Galleher, Jr 128/351

3,417,744 12/1968 Mishkin et al 128/349 B

3,460,541 8/1969 Doherty 128/351

3,543,751 11/1967 Sheffer 128/348

3,683,908 8/1972 DonMichael et al 128/145.7

3,716,059 2/1973 Welborn et al 128/419 D

3,766,924 10/1973 Pidgeon 128/349 B

3,837,347 9/1974 Tower 128/404

3,841,319 10/1974 DonMichael et al 128/28

3,862,635 1/1975 Haraujuneian 128/351

3,874,377 4/1975 Davidson 128/145.5

3,881,479 5/1975 Garden 128/349 B

3,889,688 6/1975 Eamkoow 128/351

3,905,361 9/1975 Hewson et al 128/145.5

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,505,607 12/1967 France 128/349 B

2,426,425 10/1975 Germany 128/419 D

An esophago-pharyngeal airway having at least one inflatable cuff for sealing the nasal passage by urging the soft palate against the posterior nasopharyngeal wall and sometimes another inflatable cuff engageable with the wall of the esophagus to prevent ventilation of the stomach and possible aspiration of the stomach's contents depending upon the selected use. Either or both of the cuffs may be continuously inflated during use of the airway or may automatically inflate and deflate with each respiratory cycle to insure non-traumatic extubation when a tracheal tube is substituted for the esophago-pharyngeal airway. An air tube extends through one of the cuffs and a gastro-esophagus tube extends through both of the cuffs. In one form of the device, the lower cuff is adapted to be positioned in the esophagus between the heart and sternum and is provided with means not only for electronically monitoring heart operation but also for defibrillating the heart when the device is in place for performing artificial respiration.

39 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures