Tubular device for intubation
First Claim
1. A tubular device for intubation of a body pathway, comprising:
- an elongated tubular member of resilient material providing a wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, having a forward segment and end for residing within a body pathway, and also having a rearward segment and end for residing outside a body pathway, said tubular member defining a central axis and a central fluid passage extending therethrough;
an elongated guide means provided by said tubular member adapted and longitudinally sufficient for slidably receiving a suction catheter and guiding the same along a substantial length of said tubular member directionally away from the vicinity of said rearward end toward said forward end, said guide means defined within the wall of said tubular member between said inner wall and said outer wall surfaces for defining a region therein for the accommodation of said suction catheter, said guide means further adapted to modify in configuration from a normally unexpanded attitude to an expanded attitude when accommodating said suction catheter; and
fluid communication means for providing fluid communication between the region within said guide means and said body pathway, said fluid communication means provided by the wall of said tubular member and residing in locations adjacent said guide means between said forward and said rearward ends, said fluid communication means also residing in a plurality of locations along the wall of said tubular member adjacent a plurality of locations within said guide means for providing fluid communication over a substantial length of said guide means between said region and said body pathway, whereby said suction catheter can remove secretions over any of several locations along said tubular member when moved at various depths within said guide means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tracheal tube (20) provides an expansible channel (40) along its length. The channel normally maintains a generally concealed attitude within the trachael tube wall and adapts by expansion for the insertion of a suction catheter (60), guiding the catheter at various depths within the channel for the removal of secretions and other substances which accumulate around the tube when in use within the intubated pathway. Ports (46), located at strategic locations along the tube wall and leading to the channel, afford access to these accumulations. Among the various embodiments of the invention is a valve-like arrangement which opens the ports only when a catheter is inserted within the channel. Also, a novel means for directing and concentrating suction forces at individual ports is disclosed.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A tubular device for intubation of a body pathway, comprising:
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an elongated tubular member of resilient material providing a wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, having a forward segment and end for residing within a body pathway, and also having a rearward segment and end for residing outside a body pathway, said tubular member defining a central axis and a central fluid passage extending therethrough; an elongated guide means provided by said tubular member adapted and longitudinally sufficient for slidably receiving a suction catheter and guiding the same along a substantial length of said tubular member directionally away from the vicinity of said rearward end toward said forward end, said guide means defined within the wall of said tubular member between said inner wall and said outer wall surfaces for defining a region therein for the accommodation of said suction catheter, said guide means further adapted to modify in configuration from a normally unexpanded attitude to an expanded attitude when accommodating said suction catheter; and fluid communication means for providing fluid communication between the region within said guide means and said body pathway, said fluid communication means provided by the wall of said tubular member and residing in locations adjacent said guide means between said forward and said rearward ends, said fluid communication means also residing in a plurality of locations along the wall of said tubular member adjacent a plurality of locations within said guide means for providing fluid communication over a substantial length of said guide means between said region and said body pathway, whereby said suction catheter can remove secretions over any of several locations along said tubular member when moved at various depths within said guide means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An arrangement for removing substances from within a body pathway by suction, comprising:
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an elongated tubular member providing a wall with an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, having a forward segment and end for residing within a body pathway, and also having a rearward segment and end for residing outside a body pathway, said tubular member defining a central axis and a central fluid passage extending within from said forward end to said rearward end; an elongated guide means provided by said tubular member adapted and longitudinally sufficient for slidably receiving a suction catheter and guiding the same along a substantial length of said tubular member directionally away from the vicinity of said rearward end and a substantial distance toward said forward end, said guide means defined within the wall of said tubular member between said inner wall and said outer wall surfaces for defining a region therein for the accommodation of said suction catheter; fluid communication means located to provide fluid communication between said guide means and said body pathway, said fluid communication means provided by the wall of said tubular member and residing in locations adjacent said guide means between the forward and rearward ends of said tubular member, and said fluid communication means also residing in a plurality of locations along the wall of said tubular member adjacent a plurality of locations within said guide means for providing fluid communication over a substantial length of said guide means between said region and said body pathway; an elongated suction catheter including a catheter wall defining a central lumen, a forward termination, and apertured means communicating with said central lumen and residing in the vicinity of said forward termination, said fluid communication means; and alignment means for aligning said aperatured means within said guide means for a registry with said fluid communication means; whereby said suction catheter can remove secretions over any of several locations along said tubular member when moved at various depths within said guide means, and whereby said aperatured means achieves a registry with said fluid communication means as said suction catheter is guided to various positions within said guide means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification