DEVICES AND METHODS FOR AIRWAY SUCTIONING

• US 20160235933A1
• Filed: 04/22/2016
• Published: 08/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciel Medical, Inc. (Vyaire Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ciel Medical, Inc. (Vyaire Medical, Inc.)
• Inventors: GARRETT, Mary K., AZAGURY, Dan E., HULME, Gary B., JENKINSON, Ronan L., JONES, Chris, ROSE, Jacqueline
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• 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 16/0488 Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0687 having means for atraumatic insertion in the body or protection of the tip of the sheath during insertion, e.g. special designs of dilators, needles or sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1025 Respiratory system A61M2210/0618 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0102 Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes

Abstract

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for positioning a suction catheter in the airway of a patient. The systems may comprise a suction catheter, a delivery device, and/or a stylet. The delivery device may comprise an elongate shaft, an atraumatic distal end, an elongate passageway, and a retention element configured to releasably couple to an endotracheal tube. The suction catheter may be positioned in the elongate passageway, and the delivery device may help advance the suction catheter into the airway of a patient. In some variations, the delivery device may comprise elements configured to release the suction catheter in the airway after positioning.

Claims

1. A method of positioning a suction catheter in an airway of a patient intubated with an endotracheal tube, comprising:

advancing a delivery device into the airway, wherein the delivery device comprises an elongate shaft comprising a central shaft region and an atraumatic distal end;

an elongate lumen configured to receive a suction catheter;

a proximal alignment region; and

a retention element configured to releasably couple to an endotracheal tube;

aligning the proximal alignment region of the delivery device with an anatomical landmark to position a distal outlet of the elongate lumen of the delivery device about the vocal cords; and

advancing a distal portion of a suction catheter out of the distal outlet of the elongate lumen to advance the distal portion of the suction catheter into an airway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anatomical landmark is a patient'"'"'s teeth, lip or gumline.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery device further comprises a handle, and wherein the proximal alignment region is a portion of the handle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasably locking the suction catheter to the delivery device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing the distal portion of the suction catheter comprises advancing the suction catheter with a stylet positioned in the suction catheter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the distal outlet of the elongate lumen of the delivery device at or near the vocal cords comprises positioning the distal outlet of the elongate passageway within 2 cm of the vocal cords.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein positioning the distal outlet of the elongate passageway of the delivery device at or near the vocal cords comprises positioning the distal outlet of the elongate passageway within 1 cm of the vocal cords.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the distal outlet of the elongate passageway of the delivery device at or near the vocal cords comprises positioning the distal outlet of the elongate passageway in the airway distal to the vocal cords.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying suction to the airway using the suction catheter.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the retention element to an endotracheal tube and sliding the delivery device along the endotracheal tube.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the retention element is a first retention element positioned on a distal portion of the delivery device, and the delivery device further comprises a second retention element positioned on a proximal portion of the delivery device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling the second retention element to an endotracheal tube after coupling the first retention element.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the delivery device from the suction catheter after the suction catheter has been positioned in the airway, and removing the delivery device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the position of the suction catheter in the airway is maintained while separating the delivery device from the suction catheter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises pieces configured to separate from each other and that together form the elongate passageway.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein separating the delivery device from the suction catheter comprises separating the separating the pieces of the elongate shaft from each other.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the retention element couples to an inner curvature of the endotracheal tube to advance the delivery device along the inner curvature of the endotracheal tube.