Endotracheal surfactant distribution system

• US 20040007236A1
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: McGee, Thomas E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections

Abstract

Apparatus for delivering a medicament through an artificial airway connected to a patient ventilation/aspiration system without breaking the ventilation circuit comprises a manifold with an interior chamber communicating with first, second and third ports. The manifold is structured and arranged to maintain an uninterrupted ventilation pathway between the first and second ports and to provide a travel path for a suction catheter between the second and third ports, the second port being adapted for connection to the artificial airway. The apparatus further includes a catheter assembly, including a catheter with a lumen, positioned within a protective sleeve and slidable through a distal end fixture connected to the third port. The catheter assembly is structured and arranged to permit advancement of the distal end of the catheter through the manifold and artificial airway. A syringe and a suction control valve are interchangeably connectable to the proximal end of the catheter assembly.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering a medicament through an artificial airway connected to a patient ventilation/aspiration system without breaking the ventilation circuit, comprising:

a manifold with an interior chamber communicating with first, second and third ports, said manifold being structured and arranged to maintain an uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said first and second ports and to provide a travel path for a suction catheter between said second and third ports, said second port being adapted for connection to a said artificial airway;

a catheter assembly, including a catheter with a lumen, said catheter being positioned within a protective sleeve and slidable through a distal end fixture, said end fixture being connected to said third port, said catheter assembly being structured and arranged to permit advancement of the distal end of said catheter through said manifold and artificial airway;

a storage and delivery system, removably connectable to the proximal end of said catheter assembly, said system being operable to introduce medicament into the lumen of said catheter; and

a suction control device, interchangeable with said storage and delivery system.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manifold comprises:

a first, ventilation, port in open communication with an interior chamber;

a second, patient connection, port in open communication with said interior chamber and forming a fluid flow path with said ventilation port;

a third, access, port in communication with said interior chamber, said access port and patient connection port being positioned to provide a catheter travel pathway through said access port, said interior chamber and said patient connection port, into said artificial airway; and

a valve, comprising;

a stem positioned within said interior chamber constructed and arranged for movement between;

a first position in which said stem blocks fluid flow through said access port; and

a second position in which said stem provides a portion of said catheter travel pathway; and

actuation structure linked to said stem and operable to move said stem between said first and second positions;

said valve being further constructed and arranged to avoid blocking fluid flow between said ventilation port and said patient connection port.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further including an adaptor component interposed between said storage and delivery system and said proximal end of said catheter assembly, said adaptor component constituting means for interconnecting said system in fluid flow relationship with said lumen of said catheter.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said storage and delivery system is a syringe with a discharge end constructed and arranged to couple with a first end of said adaptor and said proximal end of said catheter assembly is structured and arranged to couple with a second end of said adaptor.

5. An adaptor for coupling the discharge end of a syringe to a connector carried by the proximal end of a catheter assembly, said connector being constructed and arranged to couple with complimentary connection structure carried by a vacuum control device, said adaptor comprising:

a body member, having;

an open flow path between a first end and a second end;

said first end being structured to effect a fluid tight coupling with said discharge end of said syringe; and

said second end being structured to effect a fluid tight seal with said connector carried by said proximal end;

whereby to provide means for placing said open flow path in fluid flow communication between said syringe and the lumen of a catheter component of said catheter assembly.

6. A method for delivering a medicament to a treatment site through an artificial airway associated with a patient ventilation/aspiration system, comprising:

establishing an artificial airway through the trachea of a patient to a treatment site;

connecting a manifold with an interior chamber communicating with first, second and third ports, structured and arranged to maintain a travel path for a suction catheter between said first and second ports and an uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports, to the entry of said artificial airway;

providing a catheter assembly in communication with said first port, the proximal end of said catheter assembly carrying structure that is constructed to interconnect to a vacuum control valve;

connecting a storage and delivery component containing a supply of medicament to said proximal end of said catheter assembly;

advancing a catheter of said catheter assembly to said treatment site;

operating said storage and delivery component to discharge medicament to said treatment site;

removing said storage and delivery component from said proximal end of said catheter assembly; and

connecting a suction control device to said proximal end of said catheter assembly.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said storage and delivery component is a syringe with a discharge end removably connectable to said proximal end of said catheter assembly, said medicament is surfactant and said suction control device is a valve.

8. A method for delivering a medicament to a treatment site through an artificial airway associated with a patient ventilation/aspiration system, comprising:

applying an intubation procedure, whereby to establish such an artificial airway through the trachea of a patient to a treatment site, said airway including an entry from outside said patient;

connecting to said entry, a manifold having an interior chamber communicating with a first, proximal port, a second, distal, port and a third port, structured and arranged to maintain a travel path for a suction catheter between said first and second ports and an uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports, said second port being in communication with said artificial airway at said entry;

connecting a suction catheter assembly to said first port, said catheter assembly having a proximal end, a distal end connected to said first port and a catheter component, having proximal and distal ends and being insertable through said first port, along said travel path and through said entry;

advancing said distal end of said catheter to said treatment site, while maintaining said uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports; and

introducing medicament into said proximal end of said catheter component, whereby to discharge a quantity of said medicament through said distal end of said catheter element at said treatment site, while maintaining said uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports.

9. The method of claim 8, including the step of applying suction to said distal end of said catheter element, whereby to implement aspiration, following the introduction of said medicament.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein medicament is introduced into said proximal end of said catheter element by means of a syringe coupled to said proximal end of said catheter element.

11. The method of Claim 10, wherein following said introducing of medicament, said syringe is decoupled from said proximal end of said catheter element and a suction control device is coupled to said proximal end of said catheter element selectively to apply suction to said distal end of said catheter element, whereby to implement aspiration, following the introduction of said medicament.

12. The method of claim 8 adapted for the delivery of surfactant to the proximity of lung tissue of a neonatal patient, comprising:

applying an intubation procedure, whereby to establish an artificial airway through the trachea of said patient to a treatment site proximate the lungs of said patient, said airway including an entry from outside said patient;

connecting to said entry, a manifold having an interior chamber communicating with a first, proximal port, a second, distal, port and a third port, structured and arranged to maintain a travel path for a suction catheter between said first and second ports and an uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports, said second port being in communication with said artificial airway at said entry;

connecting a suction catheter assembly to said first port, said catheter assembly having a proximal end, a distal end connected to said first port and a catheter component, having proximal and distal ends and being insertable through said first port, along said travel path and through said entry;

advancing said distal end of said catheter to said treatment site, while maintaining said uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports; and

introducing surfactant into said proximal end of said catheter component, whereby to discharge a quantity of said surfactant through said distal end of said catheter element at said treatment site, while maintaining said uninterrupted ventilation pathway between said second and third ports.

13. The method of claim 12, including the step of applying suction to said distal end of said catheter element, whereby to implement aspiration, following the introduction of said surfactant.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein surfactant is introduced into said proximal end of said catheter element by means of a syringe coupled to said proximal end of said catheter element.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein following said introducing of surfactant, said syringe is decoupled from said proximal end of said catheter element and a suction control device is coupled to said proximal end of said catheter element selectively to apply suction to said distal end of said catheter element, whereby to implement aspiration, following the introduction of said surfactant.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein following said introducing of surfactant, said syringe is decoupled from said proximal end of said catheter element and surfactant remaining within the lumen of said catheter element is displaced to said treatment site.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein following said displacement of surfactant, a suction control device is coupled to said proximal end of said catheter element selectively to apply suction to said distal end of said catheter element, whereby to implement aspiration, following the introduction of said surfactant.