Simultaneous respiration and endotracheal suctioning of a critically ill patient
First Claim
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1. A ventilator system, comprising:
- a conduit adapted to be connected between a trachea tube and a respirator and having an opening in a side wall of said conduit near the trachea tube,a length of bendable suction tubing having a valve located a distance from a free end of the tube, said valve being actuatable between positions opened and closed to fluid flow therethrough, andmeans installed in said opening for receiving said free end of the suction tube therethrough for passage through said conduit into the trachea tube, said receiving means being characterized by substantially sealing said opening in the absence of the suction tube being positioned therein, by permitting insertion of the tube therethrough by pushing along its length in a manner to form a substantial seal between the tube and conduit without any further manipulation, and by permitting withdrawl of the suctioning tube therefrom by hand with a resulting substantial resealing of said opening upon withdrawl of the tube without any further manipulation,whereby endotracheal suctioning may be periodically accomplished through the ventilator conduit without having to disconnect the patient from the respirator.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for accomplishing endotracheal suctioning of a patient without having to disconnect the patient from a respirator. A suctioning tube is positioned in the tracheal tube through a wall of the respirator tubing set, in a manner maintaining the integrity of the respiration system. The technique is particularly useful for maintaining positive end expiratory pressure without interruptions during suctioning.
187 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A ventilator system, comprising:
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a conduit adapted to be connected between a trachea tube and a respirator and having an opening in a side wall of said conduit near the trachea tube, a length of bendable suction tubing having a valve located a distance from a free end of the tube, said valve being actuatable between positions opened and closed to fluid flow therethrough, and means installed in said opening for receiving said free end of the suction tube therethrough for passage through said conduit into the trachea tube, said receiving means being characterized by substantially sealing said opening in the absence of the suction tube being positioned therein, by permitting insertion of the tube therethrough by pushing along its length in a manner to form a substantial seal between the tube and conduit without any further manipulation, and by permitting withdrawl of the suctioning tube therefrom by hand with a resulting substantial resealing of said opening upon withdrawl of the tube without any further manipulation, whereby endotracheal suctioning may be periodically accomplished through the ventilator conduit without having to disconnect the patient from the respirator. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 2. In a ventilator conduit adapted to be connected between a trachea tube and a respirator and having an opening in a side wall of said conduit near the trachea tube, the improvement comprising means installed in said opening for receiving a bendable suction tube therethrough for passage through said conduit into the trachea tube, said receiving means being characterized by substantially sealing said opening in the absence of the suction tube being positioned therein, by permitting insertion of the tube therethrough by pushing along its length in a manner to form a substantial seal between the tube and conduit without any further manipulation, and by permitting withdrawal of the suctioning tube therefrom by hand with a resulting substantial resealing of said opening upon withdrawal of the tube without any further manipulation, whereby endotracheal suctioning may be periodically accomplished through the ventilator conduit without having to disconnect the patient from the respirator.
- 10. For use in a ventilator conduit adapted to be connected between a patient'"'"'s trachea and a respirator, a manifold having a first opening for connection to a tracheal tube and second and third openings for connection to a respirator, the improvement comprising a fourth opening oriented generally opposite said first opening and formed of pre-punctured resilient material biased to normally maintain the puncture substantially closed but adapted to receive a tube therethrough and form a substantial seal therewith, whereby a suctioning tube may be selectively inserted through said fourth opening into a tracheal tube attached to the first opening of the manifold and removed therefrom while maintaining the integrity of an enclosed fluid passage within the manifold without any further manipulations being required.
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11. For use in a ventilator conduit adapted to be connected between a patient'"'"'s trachea and a respirator, a connector for joining a tracheal tube to a manifold in the vicinity of a patient'"'"'s mouth, the connector comprising:
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walls forming an enclosed gaseous passage having first and second openings therethrough shaped for connection with the tracheal tube and the manifold, respectively, and a third opening in said wall formed of pre-punctured resilient material biased to normally maintain said puncture substantially closed but adapted to receive a bendable suctioning tube pushed along its length through said puncture and form a substantial seal around said tube, said third opening being positioned generally opposite said first opening, whereby a suctioning tube may be selectively inserted through the third opening into a tracheal tube attached to the first opening of the connector and removed therefrom while maintaining the integrity of the enclosed gaseous passage without any further manipulations being required. - View Dependent Claims (12, 15, 19)
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14. A ventilator assembly, comprising:
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a pair of flexible hoses adapted at one end for connection to a respirator, a trachea tube, and means providing an enclosed conduit for connecting another end of said hoses to the trachea tube, said conduit including an opening in a wall thereof in which means are installed for receiving a bendable suction tube therethrough for entry into said conduit, said receiving means being characterized by substantially closing off said opening in the absence of the suction tube positioned therein, by permitting insertion of the suction tube therethrough by pushing along its length in a manner to form a substantial seal between the tube and conduit without any further manipulation, and by permitting withdrawal of the suctioning tube therefrom by hand with a resulting subtantial resealing of said opening upon withdrawal of the tube without any further manipulation, whereby endotracheal suctioning may be periodically accomplished through the ventilator conduit into the trachea tube without having to disconnect the patient from the respirator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 20)
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21. A method of endotracheal suctioning of a breathing patient who is connected by a fluid conduit to a respirator from a tracheal oxygen tube, comprising the steps of:
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inserting one end of a length of bendable suctioning tube by pushing along its length through a pre-punctured resilient material provided in an opening in a wall of said conduit in order to provide a substantial fluid seal between the conduit and tube, thence into said tracheal tube until said one suctioning tube end extends out of said oxygen tube within the patient'"'"'s trachea, said suctioning tube having an outside diameter significantly less than an inside diameter of said tracheal tube, and connecting another end of the suctioning tube to a suctioning apparatus, thereby to remove fluid from the patient, the inserting and connecting steps being accomplished with the respirator being operably connected to said tracheal tube, whereby suctioning is accomplished without interrupting the patient'"'"'s breathing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of endotracheal suctioning of a breathing patient who is connected by a gaseous conduit from a tracheal oxygen tube to a respirator that maintains positive end expiratory pressure within lungs of the patient, comprising the steps of:
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providing an opening in said gaseous conduit near the tracheal tube which is normally substantially closed off by a pre-punctured resilient plug biased to normally maintain the puncture substantially closed, inserting one end of a suctioning tube through the puncture of said plug and thence into the patient'"'"'s lungs through the tracheal tube, said plug by pushing along its length additionally characterized by forming a substantial seal around said suctioning tube when so inserted, suctioning the lungs of the patient to remove fluid therefrom through the suctioning tube, and removing the suctioning tube from said conduit through said plug once the suctioning is completed, whereby the resiliency of the plug again closes the puncture as the suctioning tube is removed, thereby to maintain positive end expiratory pressure during and after suctioning.
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Specification