Tracheal catheter with closeable suction lumen

• US 20070089748A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Teixeira, Scott, Madsen, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/259,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089748A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.150
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0479 above the cuff, e.g. giving access to the upper trachea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/10 Flow characteristics

Abstract

A multilumen tracheal tube and a method of suctioning fluids through the same are disclosed. The tube includes a rinse lumen and a suction lumen, the rinse lumen enables rinsing of fluids within the suction lumen while simultaneously suctioning the fluids and ventilating the patient. A closure mechanism is provided to seal off the interior of the tracheal tube during the rinse function. This enables higher rinse pressures and greater suctioning capabilities.

Claims

1. A tracheal tube comprising:

a cannula having a respiratory lumen, a suction lumen, and a rinse lumen, the suction lumen terminating in a port for suctioning a subglottic space external to the cannula while simultaneously enabling ventilation through the respiratory lumen, the rinse lumen terminating within the suction lumen proximate to the port;

a closure mechanism for selectively occluding the port and preventing fluid transfer from the suction lumen to the subglottic space; and

an activator for selectively engaging and disengaging the closure mechanism.

2. The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the closure mechanism comprises a plug attached to a slidable member, the slidable member extending axially along the cannula and terminating at a user manipulable end, the user manipulable end comprising the activator.

3. The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the closure mechanism comprises a slidable member having a surface that is movable between at least two positions, the slidable member movable in response to liquid impingement upon the surface, the surface comprising the activator.

4. The tracheal tube of claim 3 wherein introduction of a rinse liquid into the rinse lumen impinges upon the activator causing the slidable member to move from a first position to a second position, the first position characterized in that the slidable member is positioned away from the port, the second position characterized in that the slidable member occludes the port.

5. The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the closure mechanism seats against an interior surface of the suction port.

6. The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein a positive pressure differential between the suction lumen and the subglottic space seals the port from liquid flow into the subglottic space.

7. The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the closure mechanism comprises an inflatable balloon for sealing against and occluding the port when inflated.

8. The tracheal tube of claim 1 wherein the closure mechanism comprises any of a plug, a cover, a valve, an inflatable balloon, alone or in combination.

9. The tracheal tube of claim 1 comprising a source of rinse liquid for introduction and passage through the rinse lumen.

10. A method of rinsing a suction lumen associated with a tracheal tube comprising:

intubating a patient with a tracheal tube, the tracheal tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an inflatable cuff proximate to the distal end sealing the trachea from the lungs at the subglottic region, and a respiratory lumen;

providing a suction lumen terminating in a port located proximal to the cuff for suctioning a subglottic space external to the cannula while simultaneously enabling ventilation through the respiratory lumen;

providing a rinse lumen terminating within the suction lumen proximate to the port;

providing a closure mechanism for selectively occluding the port and preventing fluid transfer from the suction lumen to the subglottic space;

activating the closure mechanism so as to occlude the port;

irrigating the suction lumen with a rinse liquid introduced into the suction lumen through a rinse lumen;

maintaining suction on the suction lumen so as to evacuate the suction lumen of rinse liquid; and

maintaining ventilation to the patient while irrigating and suctioning.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the rinse liquid comprises a biocompatible liquid such as water or saline.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the rinse liquid comprises an antiseptic.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the rinse liquid is introduced into the suction lumen under turbulent flow conditions.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the rinse liquid is introduced into the suction lumen as a spray.

15. A method of rinsing a suction lumen associated with a tracheal tube while simultaneously ventilating an intubated patient comprising:

intubating a patient with a tracheal tube having a distal end and an inflatable cuff proximate to the distal end sealing the subglottic space from the lungs at the trachea;

occluding a suction port contained within a suction lumen extending through the tracheal tube and terminating at the suction port proximal to the inflatable cuff;

irrigating the suction lumen with a rinse liquid introduced into the suction lumen proximal to the suction port via a rinse lumen;

maintaining ventilation to the patient; and

suctioning the liquid from the suction lumen while minimizing contact of the rinse liquid with the subglottic space.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising engaging a slidable member that extends axially along the cannula and terminates at a user manipulable end, the opposite end terminating in a plug adapted to occlude the suction port.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein introduction of the rinse liquid into the rinse lumen impinges upon an activator causing a plug to move from a first position to a second position, the first position characterized in that the plug is positioned away from the port, the second position characterized in that the plug occludes the port.