Device for evacuating and/or monitoring gas leaking from a patient during surgery or anesthetization

Abstract

A system is described herein for evacuating gas as it is leaking from a patient's airway. The system comprises a gas evacuation flowpath configured for collecting a gas flow escaping from the patient when inserted into the patient's airway. A vacuum source is connected to the gas evacuation flowpath. Devices that may be employed as part of the system and a method for evacuating gas from a patient are also described.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for evacuating gas as it is leaking from a patient's airway, the method comprising:
 collecting a gas that has leaked past a seal of closed circuit gas administration equipment and into the patient's throat or mouth; and   removing the collected gas from the patient using a vacuum system.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the seal is a primary seal, the method further comprising providing a secondary seal in the patient's airway that is separate from the primary seal, the collecting of the gas occurring between the primary seal and the secondary seal. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising administering a gas to a patient using the airway tube, the patient airway tube including the primary seal. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the gas comprises anesthesia. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising determining one of oxygen concentration, anesthesia concentration or CO 2  gas concentration in the collected gas. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising determining one of oxygen concentration, anesthesia concentration or CO 2  gas concentration in the collected gas. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising determining the effectiveness of the primary seal using the determined concentration of the collected gas. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising providing determined oxygen concentration data to a user. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising determining if there is acid reflux in the patient's airway. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the closed circuit gas administration equipment comprises an intubation device comprising an airway tube and the seal positioned on an outer perimeter of the airway tube, the airway tube comprising a first flowpath configured to administer a gas to the patient, the seal positioned in the patient's airway to block a space between the airway tube and tissue lining the patient's airway. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the closed circuit gas administration equipment further comprises a gas evacuation flowpath comprising one or more vents positioned in the patient's airway for collecting the gas that has leaked past the seal, the gas evacuation flowpath being separate from the first flowpath. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the seal is a primary seal, and further comprising providing a secondary seal in the patient's airway that is separate from the primary seal, the one or more vents being positioned between the primary seal and the secondary seal. 
     
     
         43 . A method for evacuating gas as it is leaking from a patient's airway, the method comprising:
 inserting an intubation device comprising an airway tube and a primary seal positioned on an outer perimeter of the airway tube, the airway tube comprising a first flowpath configured to administer a gas to the patient, the primary seal positioned in the patient's airway to block a space between the airway tube and tissue lining the patient's airway;   inserting a gas evacuation flowpath comprising one or more vents into the patient, and providing a secondary seal in the patient's airway that is separate from the primary seal, the gas evacuation flowpath being separate from the first flowpath and being inserted so that the one or more vents are positioned in the patient's airway between the primary seal and the secondary seal for collecting a gas flow that leaks past the primary seal;   collecting a gas that has leaked past the primary seal and into the patient's throat or mouth; and   removing the collected gas from the patient using a vacuum system.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the intubation device is an endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the intubation device is a laryngeal mask airway.