METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REMOVING FLUID MATERIAL FROM THE AIRWAY ABOVE AN ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE CUFF

• US 20090229615A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SunMed Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: YOUNG, David Matthew, STENZLER, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.140
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0418 with integrated means for changing the degree of curvature, e.g. for easy intubation
• 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

Abstract

A minimally invasive tracheal fluid removal device and corresponding method of use for removing accumulated subglottic secretions in an intubated patient'"'"'s endotracheal tube. The device may be configured as a dual-track or single-tube suction guidance system. This device presents a significant improvement over the art as it eliminates the need to reintubate the patient each time the suction mechanism is removed to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

a dual-track guidance rail having an exterior track and an interior track;

a pair of guidance rail connectors connected to the dual-track guidance rail and attached to the endotracheal tube;

a suction catheter;

a retention connector attaching the suction catheter slidably to the endotracheal tube;

a slider positioned slidably between the exterior track and interior track, and attached to an end of the suction tube to move the suction tube; and

a suction guide attached to the slider for moving the slider along a trajectory between the exterior track and the interior track.

2. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 1, wherein the guidance rail connectors each comprise a C-ring.

3. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 2, wherein the C-rings are pre-sized to fit a variety of endotracheal tube diameters.

4. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 1, wherein an insertion aid is attached to an upper terminal end of the suction guide.

5. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 4, wherein the insertion aid is a wire.

6. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 1, wherein the guidance rail connectors each have a plurality of apertures for receiving the upper and lower terminal ends of the exterior and interior tracks.

7. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 6, wherein the guidance rail connectors are a first guidance rail connector and a second guidance rail connector.

8. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 7, wherein the first guidance rail connector has an aperture for receiving the suction guide such that the suction guide passes inside the aperture on its trajectory atop the second guidance rail.

9. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

a guidance track having an external guide rail and an internal guide rail, wherein each guide rail has an upper and lower end;

first and second C-rings having first and second segments, such that the first segment is connected to the guide rails and the second segment is encircled around the endotracheal tube;

a suction guide having upper and lower terminal ends and positioned slidably between exterior and interior guide rails;

an insertion aid attached to the suction guide; and

a suction catheter attached to the suction guide proximate the lower terminal end thereof and positioned alongside the endotracheal tube such that the trajectory of the suction catheter alongside the endotracheal tube corresponds to the movement of the suction guide.

10. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 9, wherein the first and second C-rings attach to the endotracheal tube at upper and lower ends of said guide rails, respectively.

11. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 9, wherein the insertion aid is a wire.

12. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 11, wherein the lower terminal end of the suction guide comprises a slider that connects the suction guide to the suction catheter and wherein the slider is slidable along the guidance rail.

13. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 12, wherein the slider comprises a C-ring suction catheter retention connector.

14. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

a suction guide attached to the endotracheal tube and having an opening;

a suction guide connector for slidably attaching an upper end of the suction guide to the endotracheal tube;

at least one retention ring located above a lower end of the endotracheal tube; and

a suction cathether, wherein the retention ring slidably connects a lower end of the suction guide to the endotracheal tube, and further wherein the suction catheter is inserted into the opening of the suction guide and passed toward said lower end to remove accumulated subglottic secretions.

15. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 14, wherein the suction guide connector is a C-ring.

16. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

guiding means connected to the endotracheal tube;

a suction catheter;

means for slidably mounting the suction catheter to the endotracheal tube; and

engaging means attached to the suction catheter for slidably engaging the guiding means to guide the suction catheter towards a lower end of the endotracheal tube.

17. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

engaging means having upper and lower terminal ends;

guiding means for guiding the engaging means towards a lower end of the endotracheal tube; and

a suction catheter attached to the guiding means and positioned alongside the endotracheal tube such that the trajectory of the suction catheter alongside the endotracheal tube corresponds to the movement of the guiding means along the guiding means.

18. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

guiding means attached to the endotracheal tube and having an opening;

means for attaching the guiding means to the endotracheal tube; and

a suction catheter, wherein the suction catheter is inserted into and through the opening of the guiding means to remove accumulated subglottic secretions.

19. A method for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

guiding a suction catheter along a path adjacent the endotracheal tube using a guidance rail attached to the endotracheal tube and a suction guide attached to the suction catheter by sliding the suction guide along the rail; and

positioning an end of the suction catheter near a lower end of the endotracheal tube.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the suction catheter along the path using part of the suction guide as a handle.