Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a main tubular shaft (1) with a mask portion (5) attached at its patient end (3). The mask portion (5) comprises a mount (50) and a sealing cuff (60) attached to the mount. The interior of the mount (50) defines a large volume atrium (54) communicating with the bore of the shaft (1) at one end and with an opening (61) through the cuff (60) at its other end. The join between the shaft (1) and the mount (50) is located above the rear part (63) of the cuff (60). The height of the atrium (54) is between 2.5 and 3.5 the internal diameter of the shaft. The volume of the atrium (54) is such that the ratio of the internal diameter of the shaft cubed to the internal volume of the atrium is between 50 and 68.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask airway has a main tubular shaft (1) with a channel (2) of part circular section opening along its external surface. A mask portion (5) is attached to the patient end of the shaft, including a mount (50) and a cuff (60) attached to the mount. A channel (55) extends along the mount (50) from the channel (2) in the shaft (1) to the cuff (60). A small-diameter tube (70) opens at one end into the cuff (60) and extends along the channels (55 and 2) in the mount (50) and in the shaft (1). The channel (2) in the shaft (1) mechanically retains the small-diameter tube (70), the tube extending out of the channel through one of several notches (20) spaced along the channel. The tube (70) can be peeled away from the shaft (1) to extend out of one of the other notches (20), so that the shaft can be cut shorter.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask has a tube and mount integrally molded from polyurethane as a single piece. A sealing cuff is attached to the mount separately. An inflation line extends in a groove along the outside of the tube and opens at one end into the cuff so that it can be inflated and deflated.

Abstract: A spinal-epidural needle assembly has a rearwardly-extending sleeve on the epidural needle that is rotatable to a limited extent on its hub and that has a series of circumferentially-extending ribs on its outer surface. The spinal needle has a collar extending forwardly from its hub and slidable along outside of the sleeve of the epidural needle. The collar has a small elastomeric pad on its inner surface, which is slidable along a smooth region to one side of the ribbed region. The spinal needle is locked longitudinally relative to the epidural needle by twisting its collar so that the elastomeric pad slides laterally over the ribbed region with the ribs gripping into the pad.

Abstract: A spinal epidural needle assembly has a spinal needle assembly insertable in an epidural needle assembly. The spinal needle assembly has a rotatable cam lever on its hub, which engages a resilient tongue formed from the hub. The spinal needle assembly is locked with the epidural assembly by pushing in the cam lever, which displaces the tongue inwardly into frictional contact with the epidural needle hub.