RETRACTING ORAL AIRWAY

 

Introduction: An adjustable retracting oral airway for reversibly establishing a maximum flange-blade dimension of the distal portion of an intra-oral extension with respect to a dental flange. Several alternative extension retraction means coupled to a dental flange are used to establish varying degrees of freedom of motion of the intra-oral extension (including the blade) with respect to the flange. Mating surfaces of the blade extension and the extension retraction means may be frictional or may have positive interlock (as, for example, with ratchet or gear teeth). Living hinges of plastic material are used in low-cost embodiments, including an embodiment having a single wedge-lock hinge. Self-coiling tension members are found in low-profile embodiments allowing mask ventilation with a retracting oral airway in place.

NON-CONFIDENTIAL TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION

The preceding is intended to be a non-confidential summary of a novel technology created at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

UTHSCH Ref. No. 1995-0007

Inventors: Dr. Teodulo Aves

Patent Status: United States Issued Patent No. 5,740,791

License Available: world-wide; exclusive or non-exclusive

 

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