Closed ventilation and suction catheter system

• US 5,279,549 A
• Filed: 10/13/1992
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Medical Company (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ranford, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): REICHLE, KARIN M
• Application Number:
  US07/960,225
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 604/24, 604/27, 604/28, 604/30, 604/32-36, 604/39, 604/43, 604/45, 604/48, 604/49, 604/54, 604/73, 604/93, 604/118-120, 604/149, 604/128, 604/158, 604/163, 604/171-173 , 604/181, 604/246-250, 604/257, 604/263, 604/266, 604/267, 604/902, 128/207.14-207.16, 137/377, 137/382, 137/382.5, 137/383-384.2, 137/384.4-384.8, 137/594, 137/595, 251/637, 251/4-10, 251/89, 251/90-93, 251/95, 251/341-348
• US Class Current: 604/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7413 by changing the cross-section of the line
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7415 by deformation of the fluid passage
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0486 Multi-lumen tracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 Aseptic insertion devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7062 Valve guards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7131 Common lock and valve actuator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87096 Valves with separate, correlated, actuators

Abstract

A closed ventilation and suction catheter system for aspirating or suctioning the bronchial tree or trachea of a patient including a dual lumen catheter, the proximal end of the catheter is connected to a dual valve assembly which is connected to separate irrigation fluid and suction pressure sources and the distal end of the catheter is adapted to be slidably positioned in communication with the bronchial tree of a patient. A transparent and flexible envelope surrounds the catheter to protect the catheter from direct exposure to the atmosphere. The catheter is slidable from the inside of the envelope through an adaptor and a tracheal tube to communicate with the bronchial tree or trachea of the patient. A ventilator is connected to the adaptor near the distal end of the catheter to provide for the artificial ventilation of the patient. The bronchial tree or trachea of the patient may be irrigated and aspirated through the dual lumen catheter and the catheter may be substantially withdrawn into the envelope so that the distal end of the catheter system may be substantially positioned in an irrigation chamber in the adaptor so that the outer surface of the catheter may be flushed with irrigation fluid to remove any mucous accumulated on the distal end thereof.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly for the irrigation and suctioning of the lungs of a patient, said catheter assembly comprising;

a catheter including an elongated tubular member having a plurality of lumens extending therethrough, said tubular member having proximal and distal ends thereon;

a valve assembly having a plurality of valve members therein wherein said valve assembly is operatively associated with said proximal end of said catheter and in operative flow communication with said lumens of said catheter to selectively enable and disable the irrigation and suctioning of the lungs of the patient through said lumens of said catheter;

adaptor means operatively associated with said catheter to enable said distal end of said catheter to be inserted into the lungs of the patient therethrough;

said distal end of said catheter including at least one opening from one of said lumens adjacent thereto to enable communication with the lungs of the patient through said catheter; and

envelope means operatively associated with said valve assembly and said adaptor means for selectively sealing said catheter from exposure to the atmosphere;

wherein said valve assembly further including a first valve member movable between an open and a closed position to operatively control the flow of irrigation fluid through one of said lumens in said catheter and a second valve member movable independently of said first valve member between an open and a closed position to operatively control the flow of suction pressure through another of said lumens in said catheter, said first valve member movable independently of said second valve member; and

means for reversible mountings on said valve assembly in association with said first and second valve members to selectively lock said first and second valve members in either said open position or said closed position concurrently, wherein said reversible mounting means is a cover.

2. The catheter assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover is mountable in a first position on said valve assembly wherein said first and second valve members are maintained in said open position by contact with said cover to enable the flow of irrigation fluid and suction pressure through said lumens of said catheter.

3. The catheter assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover is mountable in a second position on said valve assembly wherein said first and second valve members are maintained in said closed position to prevent the flow of irrigation fluid and suction pressure through said lumens of said catheter.