Mucus slurping endotracheal tube
First Claim
1. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube comprising:
- an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube; and
, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more distally or inwardly facing holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endotracheal tube assembly (10) is disclosed which suctions away bacteria multiplying mucus before such mucus can accumulate on the inside walls of the endotracheal tube (14). In the preferred embodiment, one or more suctioning tubes (20, 21) are formed into the walls of an endotracheal tube so that they extend along length of the endotracheal tube. A plurality of mucus slurping holes (34) are then formed at or near the distal end of the endotracheal tube and connected to the suctioning tubes. In operation, suctioning through the mucus slurping holes is preferably performed intermittently during patient expiration. By timing this intermittent suctioning with patient expiration, the suctioning flow will be in the same direction as patient breathing. While the mucus slurper of the present invention has been found to be effective at keeping the inner walls of the endotracheal tube free of mucus deposits, it can nonetheless be combined with other cleaning and disinfectant techniques for greater assurance of cleanliness.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube comprising:
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an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube; and
,said suctioning tube terminating at one or more distally or inwardly facing holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising:
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an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and
electronic sensors and activators to time mucus suctioning to correspond with expiration of air through said endotracheal tube.
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7. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising:
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an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and
a vial in said suctioning tube between said vacuum source and the proximal end of said endotracheal tube to accumulate suctioned mucus.
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8. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising:
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an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and
a bactericidal film on the inside tubular wall of said endotracheal tube.
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9. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube comprising:
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an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of suctioning tubes within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tubes being connectable to one or more vacuum sources from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube; and
,each of said suctioning tubes terminating at a distally or inwardly facing hole located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising
an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end; -
a plurality of suctioning tubes within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tubes being connectable to one or more vacuum sources from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, each of said suctioning tubes terminating at a hole located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and
electronic sensors and activators to time mucus suctioning to correspond with expiration of air through said endotracheal tube.
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13. A method for suctioning away mucus from an endotracheal tube placed in the trachea of a human or animal before such mucus can accumulate on the inside walls of said endotracheal tube comprising the steps of:
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selecting an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
forming a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
terminating said suctioning tube at one or more distally or inwardly facing holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube;
inserting said endotracheal tube into the trachea of a human or animal to a point above a human or animal'"'"'s lungs;
applying suction through said suctioning tube hole(s) to remove mucus before said mucus can migrate up past said hole(s) and onto the inside wall of said endotracheal tube. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. A method for suctioning away mucus from an endotracheal tube placed in the trachea of a human or animal before such mucus can accumulate on the inside walls of said endotracheal tube comprising the steps of:
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selecting an endotracheal tube having tubular walls a proximal end and a distal end;
forming a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
terminating said suctioning tube at one or more holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube;
inserting said endotracheal tube into the trachea of a human or animal to a point above a human or animal'"'"'s lungs;
applying suction through said suctioning tube hole(s) to remove mucus before said mucus can migrate up past said hole(s) and onto the inside wall of said endotracheal tube; and
,timing said suctioning to correspond to the expiration of air by said human or animal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification