This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61 /561 ,617 filed on 1 1 /18/201 1 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to an airway mask. More specifically, the invention is a multiple-use airway mask.

It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple-use airway mask that can be utilized in combination with or without an artificial airway such as an endotracheal tube or a tracheotomy tube.

It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple-use airway mask that can be inverted and can be utilized in a normal position and an inverted position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple-use airway mask that is a single-piece to prevent losing a detachable airway mask.

What is really needed is a multiple-use airway mask that can be utilized in combination with or without an artificial airway such as an endotracheal tube or a tracheotomy tube that can be inverted and can be utilized in a normal position and an inverted position that is a single-piece to prevent losing a detachable airway mask. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary

embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

Figure 1 A illustrates a side environmental perspective view of a multiple- use airway mask, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 B illustrates a side perspective view of a multiple-use airway mask, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2A illustrates a side environmental perspective view of an inverted multiple-use airway mask used in combination with an endotracheal tube, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2B illustrates a side environmental perspective view of an inverted multiple-use airway mask used in combination with a tracheotomy tube, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2C illustrates a side perspective view of an inverted multiple-use airway mask, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention, however, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase "in one embodiment" is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms "comprising", "having" and "including" are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

Figure 1 A illustrates a side environmental perspective view of a multiple- use airway mask 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The multiple-use airway mask 100 illustrated in Figure 1 A includes the multiple-use airway mask 100 and a user 1 10. The multiple-use airway mask 100 is ventilating the user 1 10 without the utilization of an artificial airway such as an endotracheal tube (Figure 2A, 210) or a tracheotomy tube (Figure 2B, 260). The user 1 10 is simply placing the multiple-use airway mask 100 against a user's face 1 12 to ventilate the user 1 10. Additional details regarding the multiple-use airway mask 100 are illustrated in Figure 1 B.

Figure 1 B illustrates a side perspective view of a multiple-use airway mask 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The multiple- use airway mask 100 illustrated in Figure 1 B is similar to the multiple-use airway mask 100 illustrated in Figure 1 A.

The multiple-use airway mask 100 includes a transparent flexible airway mask 120, an airway adaptor 130, a manual resuscitation bag valve 140, a manual resuscitation bag 150 and an attachment strap 160. The transparent flexible airway mask 120 encloses a user's face 1 12 while the user's airway 1 13 is ventilated (See Figure 1 A). The transparent flexible airway mask 120 can be enclosed against and removed from the user's face 1 12 as needed. The transparent flexible airway mask 120 is transparent and allows a health care worker to unobstructedly look over the transparent flexible airway mask 120 to prevent the user 1 10 from aspirating on secretions and the user 1 10 is receiving an appropriate air flow or ventilation airway mask. The term unobstructedly is defined as allowing the user 1 10 to look over the transparent flexible airway mask 120 without the transparent flexible airway mask 120 blocking any user 1 10 visual capability. The airway adaptor 130 has a first end 132, a second end 134 and has a hollow elongated shape 136. The airway adaptor 130 directs a quantity of ventilation to the transparent flexible airway mask 120. The first end 132 of the airway adaptor 130 has an approximate 15 mm diameter and the second end 134 of the airway adaptor 130 has an approximate 22 mm diameter, although the first end 132 and the second end 134 of the airway adaptor 130 can have any suitable diameter. The first end 132 of the airway adaptor 130 extends inside the transparent flexible airway mask 120 and the second end 134 of the airway adaptor 130 extends outside the transparent flexible airway mask 120. The airway adaptor 130 is permanently bonded to the transparent flexible airway mask 120. The manual resuscitation bag valve 140 receives the second end 134 of the airway adaptor 130 and is permanently bonded to the second end 134 of the airway adaptor 130. The manual resuscitation bag valve 140 controls a quantity of ventilation directed to the transparent flexible airway mask 120. The manual resuscitation bag 150 is permanently attached to the manual

resuscitation bag valve 140 and produces a quantity of ventilation transmitted through the airway adaptor 130 to the transparent flexible airway mask 120. The manual resuscitation bag 150 produces a quantity of ventilation by a person, typically a caregiver or a healthcare provider such as a respiratory therapist, a nurse, a doctor, a paramedic or any other suitable person by squeezing the manual resuscitation bag 150. The attachment strap 160 has a first end 162 and a second end 164. The attachment strap 160 keeps the transparent flexible airway mask 120 attached to the manual resuscitation bag 150 as a safety measure due to any malfunction which separates the transparent flexible airway mask 120 from the multiple-use airway mask 100, the transparent flexible airway mask 120 will still be attached or bonded and available. The first end 162 of the attachment strap 160 is attached to the transparent flexible airway mask 120 and the second end 164 of the attachment strap 160 is attached to the manual resuscitation bag 150.

Figure 2A illustrates a side environmental perspective view of an inverted multiple-use airway mask 200 used in combination with an endotracheal tube 210, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The multiple- use airway mask 200 illustrated in Figure 2A includes a transparent flexible airway mask 220, an airway adaptor 230, a manual resuscitation bag valve 240, a manual resuscitation bag 250 and an attachment strap 255 that is similar to the multiple-use airway mask 100, the transparent flexible airway mask 120, the airway adaptor 130, the manual resuscitation bag valve 140, the manual resuscitation bag 150 and the attachment strap 160 illustrated in Figure 1 B.

Additionally the multiple-use airway mask 200 includes an endotracheal tube 210. In contrast to Figure 1 B, the transparent flexible airway mask 220 is turned inside-out thereby exposing a first end 232 of the airway adaptor 230 that is similar to the first end 132 of the airway adaptor 130 illustrated in Figure 1 B. The endotracheal tube 210 has a first end 212 and a second end 214 and provides an artificial airway into a user's mouth 1 14 or a user's airway 1 16. The first end 212 of the endotracheal tube 210 is removably inserted into the first end 232 of the airway adaptor 230. The second end 214 of the endotracheal tube 210 is removably inserted into the user's mouth 1 14 or the user's airway 1 16 to provide a quantity of ventilation to the user's mouth 1 14 or the user's airway 1 16. The term removably inserted is defined as allowing an object being inserted into something, such as a user's mouth 1 14 or a user's airway 1 16 and being capable of being removed.

Figure 2B illustrates a side environmental perspective view of an inverted multiple-use airway mask 200 used in combination with a tracheotomy tube 260, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The multiple-use airway mask 200 illustrated in Figure 2B includes a transparent flexible airway mask 220, an airway adaptor 230, a manual resuscitation bag valve 240 and a manual resuscitation bag 250 that is similar to the multiple-use airway mask 200, the transparent flexible airway mask 220, the airway adaptor 230, the manual resuscitation bag valve 240, the manual resuscitation bag 250 and the

attachment strap 255 illustrated in Figure 2B.

In contrast to Figure 1 B, the transparent flexible airway mask 220 is turned inside-out thereby exposing a first end 232 of the airway adaptor 230 that is similar to the first end 132 of the airway adaptor 130 illustrated in Figure 1 B. The tracheotomy tube 260 has a first end 262 and a second end 264 and provides an artificial airway to a user's airway 1 16. The first end 262 of the tracheotomy tube 260 is removably inserted into the first end 232 of the airway adaptor 230. The second end 264 of the tracheotomy tube 260 is removably inserted into an aperture 1 17 on the user's airway 1 16 to provide a quantity of ventilation to the user's airway 1 16. The term removably inserted is defined as allowing an object being inserted into something such as a user's mouth 1 14 or a user's airway 1 16 and being capable of being removed as previously defined in Figure 2A. Figure 2C illustrates a side perspective view of an inverted multiple-use airway mask 200, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The multiple-use airway mask 200 illustrated in Figure 2C includes a transparent flexible airway mask 220, an airway adaptor 230, a manual resuscitation bag valve 240, a manual resuscitation bag 250 and an attachment strap 255 that is similar to the multiple-use airway mask 200, the transparent flexible airway mask 220, the airway adaptor 230, the manual resuscitation bag valve 240, the manual resuscitation bag 250 and the attachment strap 255 illustrated in Figure 2A and Figure 2B. The multiple-use airway mask 200 illustrated in Figure 2C can also be turned inside out to accommodate the endotracheal tube 210 or the tracheotomy tube 260 with the first end 232 of the airway adaptor 230 as illustrated in Figure 2A and Figure 2B.

The multiple-use airway mask solves the problem of losing a detachable airway mask. The multiple-use airway mask has no detachable parts and solves the problem of losing an airway mask. The multiple-use airway mask, which can be turned inside-out, is an improvement over a traditional airway mask. The multiple-use airway mask works by ventilating a user with or without an artificial airway. The multiple-use airway mask includes a fixed air adapter that is bonded to the airway mask near the base of the mask between the airway mask and the bag reservoir. The multiple-use airway mask manually ventilates a user with a healthcare provider squeezing the reservoir bag to desired lung inflation. The multiple-use airway mask can be turned inside-out exposing the adapter to accommodate an artificial airway for the purpose of manual ventilation. The multiple-use airway mask is used to ventilate a user without having to disassemble or reassemble a bag valve mask. The multiple-use airway mask will ventilate a user with or without an artificial airway in any user population. Our design has no detachable parts which will insure that in an event of an unplanned extubation, there will be no loss of an airway mask and will also ensure a quantity of ventilation without a lapse in time, which would put the user at risk for anoxic brain injury or even death from respiratory failure.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.