LMA Airway Management abrand of Teleflex Incorporated

The first laryngeal mask airway, the LMA Classic™, was invented and designed by Dr. Archie Brain in the East End of London in 1981. While a practicing anesthesiologist, Dr. Brain identified the need for better safety, reliability, and ease of insertion of airway management devices. The most important role of an anesthesiologist is control of the patient`s airway. Loss of a patient airway can lead to life-threatening hypoxia within two to three minutes. In looking at the anatomy and physiology of the upper airway in relation to existing airway devices, it was apparent to Dr. Brain that the way in which the respiratory system was connected with existing artificial airways was less than ideal. The drawback to the facemask connection is that there is no easy way to make a reliable seal. The reliable seal depends on the hands of the operator and his stamina during an extended case in keeping that seal intact.