referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like elements , there is shown in fig1 a - e an oropharyngeal device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention . the device 100 includes a body 102 having a proximal end 104 and a distal end 106 . a channel 108 forms an airway through the body 102 that extends through the body 102 from its proximal end 104 to its distal end 106 . as illustrated in fig1 e , the body 102 is sized such that when the distal end 106 of the body 102 is inserted into the mouth 152 of a patient 150 until the proximal end 104 is disposed outside and adjacent to the patient &# 39 ; s mouth 152 , the distal end 106 of the body 102 is disposed within the pharynx 154 above the epiglottis 156 . the body 102 may be formed of a rigid material to serve as a bite block to prevent the patient from biting any conduits inserted through the channel . the airway channel may be completely enclosed within the body of the oropharyngeal device , as illustrated by channel 108 , such that the airway channel has a closed cross section . alternatively , one or more channels may be formed by a ridge , flange or protrusion running the length of the body , as illustrated by channels 508 and 509 in fig5 a and 5b . the device 100 includes three conduits 110 , 112 , 114 that may be used during the administration of anesthesia . the first conduit 110 is for conveying an inhaling gas to the patient 150 . conduit 110 extends from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106 of the body 102 . the second conduit 112 is for suctioning . it also extends from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 106 of the body 102 . the third conduit 114 is for sampling gas exhaled by the patient 150 . conduit 114 extends in the channel 108 from the proximal end 104 of the body 102 and terminates at a position 116 in the channel 108 . conduit 114 extends to a position 116 within the channel 108 that corresponds to the location of the mouth of the patient 150 , when the device is inserted . although the body 102 is illustrated in fig1 a - e as having a rectangular closed cross - section , the body 102 may alternatively be formed in other shapes including a body having an oval , round or square - section . the channel 108 is also illustrated in fig1 a - e as having a rectangular cross - section and may also be formed in other shapes , not necessarily the same shape as the body 102 . similarly , although the first , second , and third conduits 110 , 112 , 114 are illustrated as having round cross - sections , they too may be independently formed in other shapes . in the embodiment illustrated in fig1 a - e , the first and second conduits 110 , 112 , are formed within the body 102 and the third conduit 114 is formed within the channel 108 . alternatively , each conduit 110 , 112 , 114 may be formed either within the body 102 , within the channel 108 , or partially within the body 102 and partially within the channel 108 . the first , second and third conduits each may have an internal diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm . a further embodiment of the oropharyngeal device of the invention is shown in fig2 a - 2d . the oropharyngeal device 200 includes a flange 220 at the proximal end 204 of the body 202 . as illustrated in fig2 d , the distal end 206 of the body 202 is inserted into the mouth of a patient 250 such that the proximal end 204 of the body 202 is outside and adjacent to the patient &# 39 ; s mouth 252 . the flange 220 abuts the entrance of the patient &# 39 ; s mouth and serves to prevent the oropharyngeal device 200 from further proceeding into the patient &# 39 ; s mouth . in certain embodiments of the invention , the third conduit 214 ( for sampling patient exhaled gas ) is contained in channel 208 . in such embodiments , the third conduit 214 may terminate at various positions within the channel 208 . fig3 a - c are cross - sectional views of the oropharyngeal device 200 taken along line 3 - 3 in fig2 a which illustrate various positions within the channel 208 at which the third conduit 214 may terminate . although end - tidal carbon dioxide is optimally monitored at the distal end 206 of the device body , a third conduit 214 having its distal end positioned at or terminating at the distal end 206 of the device body may be clogged by secretions . in fig3 a , the third conduit 214 a extends from the proximal end 204 of the body 202 to a position 316 a within the channel 208 located in the middle - third 302 of the body 202 . in this central position 302 , the third conduit 214 a terminates at a position distant from the proximal end 204 for better gas sampling and at a position distant from the distal end 206 to avoid clogging . the third conduit 214 b shown in fig3 b extends from the proximal end 204 of the body 202 to a position 316 b within the channel 208 located within the first - third 301 of the body 202 as measured from the proximal end 204 . the third conduit 214 c shown in fig3 c extends from the proximal end 204 of the body 202 a to a position 316 c within the channel 208 located in the farthest - third 303 of the body 202 as measured from its proximal end 204 . the oropharyngeal device may include more than three conduits , where more than one inhalant gas conduit , suctioning conduit , or exhalation gas sampling conduit is present . the oropharyngeal device 400 shown in fig4 a - c includes two conduits 410 , 411 for administering an inhalant gas which may be used , for example , to separately administer two different inhalant gases or to administer a larger volume of a single inhalant gas . the oropharyngeal device 400 includes two conduits 414 , 415 for sampling exhalant gas which may each be coupled , for example , to a different device for sampling different components of the exhalant gas . alternatively , the second conduits 414 , 415 may be used in a redundant fashion where one serves as the active conduit and the other serves as the standby conduit . in the event that the active conduit ceases to function as a result of clogging , for example , the standby conduit may instead be used to sample the exhalant gases . as illustrated in fig4 b , the conduit 414 for sampling exhalant gases extends entirely within the channel 408 from the proximal end 404 of the body 402 to a position 416 where it terminates within the channel 408 . the other conduit 415 for sampling exhalant gases is formed within the body 402 and extends from the proximal end 404 of the body 402 and terminates at a position 418 within the channel 408 . the present invention may be applied to oropharyngeal devices having bodies of various shapes . for example , the oropharyngeal device 500 shown in fig5 a includes two u - shaped channels 508 , 509 formed within a body 502 having an i - shaped cross - section . the oropharyngeal device 500 includes a first conduit 510 for administrating an inhalant gas that extends through the body 502 from its proximal end 504 to its distal end 506 . a second conduit 512 for suctioning also extends through the body 502 from its proximal end 504 to its distal end 506 . a third conduit 514 for sampling exhalant gases is formed adjacent to a sidewall 520 of the channel 509 and extends from the proximal end 504 of the body 502 to a position 516 within the channel 509 . to facilitate connection and disconnection of conventional devices such as inhalant gas sources , gas sampling devices , and suctioning devices to the conduits of an oropharyngeal device according to the present invention , the oropharyngeal device may include standard connectors for connecting to such devices . the connectors may be connected to the first , second , and third conduits at the proximal end of the body . alternatively , as shown in fig6 a - c , the oropharyngeal device 600 may include flexible hoses , 632 , 634 , 636 coupled to the ends of the first , second , and third conduits 610 , 612 , 614 , respectively , at the proximal end 604 of the body 602 . the ends of the flexible hoses 632 , 634 , 636 may include connectors 638 , 640 , 642 . during some medical procedures the mouth of the patient may be covered and it may be desirable for the hoses 632 , 634 , 636 or connections to other devices be coupled to the oropharyngeal device 600 from the side . in such cases , a right - angle connector 644 may be used to connect a conduit 612 to the hose 634 . alternatively , instead of the conduits 610 , 612 , 614 extending to the proximal end 604 of the body 602 , the conduits may exit a side of the body 602 adjacent to the proximal end 604 or may exit through the side of the flange . an oropharyngeal device according to the present invention allows for maintenance of an airway while simultaneously administering an inhalant gas , suctioning , and sampling an exhalant gas . this is possible without obstructing access to the face of a patient because first , second , and third conduits for each purpose are integrated into the device . this facilitates the administration of anesthesia during treatment of a patient &# 39 ; s head or neck despite lack of or obstructed access to the patient &# 39 ; s mouth , face , or airway . in the event that mechanical ventilation or “ positive pressure ” is required to augment a patient &# 39 ; s breathing while an oropharyngeal device according to the present invention is in use , a mask for providing mechanical ventilation may be applied over the device and the patient &# 39 ; s mouth . the oropharyngeal device is sized to terminate above or proximal to the path of travel of the epiglottis and avoids manipulation of the larynx and subglottic structures . this avoids increased stimulation and avoids medical complications associated with devices which may impinge on or cause damage to the delicate laryngeal and supra - laryngeal structures and makes the oropharyngeal device suitable for circumstances requiring repeated use such as during on - going radiation treatment . a patient may be taken to a recovery area with the oropharyngeal device still in position and it can then be easily removed as the patient awakens , with very little discomfort to the mouth or throat . the oropharyngeal device may be inserted in a similar fashion to conventional oropharyngeal airways and thus is simple to apply , does not require extensive training or instruction to use , and does not require any special or additional equipment such as an anesthesia circuit . further , the device is recognizable as an anesthesia device and will be readily acceptable to anesthesia personnel . the device may be used to assist in the placement of an endotracheal tube by inserting a fiber optic scope device in the channel for placing the endotracheal device through or adjacent to the oropharyngeal device . all documents referred to herein are incorporated by reference . while the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments and the various figures , it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions made to the described embodiments for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom . therefore , the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment , but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims .
an oropharyngeal device for insertion into the mouth of a patient . the device includes a body having a distal end and a proximal end with a flange formed at the proximal end . the distal end is inserted into the mouth until the flange is disposed outside and adjacent to the patient &# 39 ; s mouth . the flange keeps the proximal device from entering the mouth . the body is sized such that the distal end of the body is disposed within the pharynx above the epiglottis . the device includes a channel that forms an airway between the ends . the device also includes at least three separate conduits integrated into the body for administering oxygen , suctioning , and for assessing ventilation thorough end - tidal carbon dioxide monitoring . the conduits for oxygenation and suctioning extend through the body between its proximal and distal ends . the conduit for end - tidal carbon dioxide monitoring terminates within the channel .