The i-gel mask (Intersurgical, Wokingham, UK), is a second-generation, single-use supraglottic airway device. In contrast to other devices, its cuff consists of a thermoplastic elastomer (styrene-ethylenebutadiene-styrene) instead of an inflatable cuff. Previous studies have shown that over time the sealing improved over a period of 10 minutes compared to the moment of insertion [1, 2]. The sealing process may be based on various mechanisms. It is assumed that the warming from room to body temperature leads to improved adaptation to the patient-specific anatomy due to softening of the elastomer [1, 3, 4]. By definition, an elastomer is softened by the effect of temperature and becomes harder when reaching the glass transition temperature.
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