Inventors:
Ramiro M. Alvarez - Fremont CA
Lawrence J. Barcelo - Salinas CA
Faustino Bernadett - Rolling Hills CA
Susan J. Lea - Berkeley CA
International Classification:
A61F 556
Abstract:
A tongue positioning apparatus comprising a shield attached to a tongue receptacle for moving the user's tongue forward to provide access to the user's oropharynx during a medical procedure and a tube configured to receive an elongated device secured to the receptacle. The invention also comprises a method of performing a medical procedure including placing the tongue positioning apparatus on a patient's tongue, introducing a device through the tube and performing a medical procedure. Preferably, the procedure may comprise administering a gaseous anesthetic, intubating the patient or performing an endoscopic operation.