Endotracheal tube having irrigation means

• US 5,143,062 A
• Filed: 10/26/1990
• Issued: 09/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Medical Inc. (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Medical Inc. (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Peckham, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Funk, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/605,216
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/200.26, 128/911, 128/912, 604/35, 604/102, 604/128, 604/43, 604/280, 604/281, 604/282
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0479 above the cuff, e.g. giving access to the upper trachea
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes

Abstract

The present invention relates to an endotracheal tube used for mechanical ventilation of a hospital patient, the endotracheal tube is useful in evacuating contaminated secretions that pool within the trachea above an inflatable cuff associated with the endotracheal tube. The endotrocheal tube of the present invention comprises a double lumen through which air may be circulated, thus creating an indirect gentle suction through a suction eye communicating with the distal ends of the lumens, and located at a position proximal to the inflation cuff. This gentle indirect suction reduces the risk of damage to the tracheal mucosa, which often occurs when applying direct suction.

Claims

1. An endotracheal tube for insertion into the trachea of a patient, to enable mechanical ventilation of the lungs of the patient, said endotracheal tube comprising:

a main body comprising a tube having a wall surrounding and defining a single lumen tube, said main body comprising means to supply ventilating gases from an external source to the lungs of the patient and said main body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an inflatable cuff sealed to and surrounding said main body, at a location near the distal end of said main body, such that when said endotracheal tube is properly located within the patient, said inflatable cuff may be inflated to seal the trachea of the patient;

means to inflate and deflate said inflatable cuff; and

double lumen evacuating means for irrigation and/or for suction removal of secretions which may pool in the trachea around the endotracheal tube and above the inflatable cuff;

wherein said double lumen evacuating means comprises a first lumen and a second lumen formed within said wall of said main body, and extending parallel and in close proximity to each other, from the proximal end of said main body to a suction eye formed through a portion of said wall of said main body, said suction eye being located proximal to said inflatable cuff;

wherein said first lumen and said second lumen are separated by a separation wall along the majority of their lengths, from the proximal end of said main body to a position proximal to the beginning of said suction eye, such that said first lumen and said second lumen are connected at a position corresponding approximately to the location of said suction eye.

2. An endotracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein said separation wall extends from the proximal end of said main body to a position approximately 5 mm proximal to the beginning of said suction eye.

3. An endotracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein said means to inflate and deflate said inflatable cuff comprises a cuff lumen formed within said wall of said main body, and extending from the proximal end of said main body, to an inflation opening formed through a portion of said wall of said main body, said inflation opening communicating with the interior of said inflatable cuff.

4. An endotracheal tube according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of said main body includes a connector for connecting operating means for operation of said double lumen evacuating means.

5. An endotracheal tube according to claim 4, wherein said operating means includes a sump or lavage connector attached to said first lumen, and an evacuation connector attached to said second lumen.