Importance

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Abstract

A patient airway bite block which can be used together with laryngeal mask airways (LMAs), oral endotracheal tubes, and similar patient airways. The bite block includes a bite block portion which is wedge-shaped and defines a posterior portion and an anterior portion and has upper and lower non-incisor teeth engagement surfaces. The wedge-shaped bite block portion is angled such that the non-incisor teeth engagement surfaces gradually become farther apart in a direction from the posterior portion toward the anterior portion, thereby to hold a patient's incisors apart when the bite block is positioned in the patient's mouth at one side thereof. At least one pair of spaced apart flanges is provided. The flanges extend from the bite block portion and are dimensioned to be positioned between the patient's non-incisor teeth and cheek and on the tongue side of the patient's non-incisor teeth, respectively. The flanges serve to retain the bite block in place in the patient's mouth. A handle, for positioning the bite block within the patient's mouth and for removing the bite block therefrom, is fixedly attached to the bite block portion and operative to extend outside of the patient's mouth when the bite block is positioned in the patient's mouth.

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First Claim