Sinonasal suction apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
- at least one hollow suction tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, wherein about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube, said suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end, and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract, wherein the suction tube is substantially linear, the suction tube having a trigger means on the upper outer surface of the tube, wherein activation of the trigger means causes the about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube including and adjacent to the insertion end to angle upwards at least into the nasopharynx.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract of a subject, wherein at least one suction tube is passed through the oral cavity into the nasal tract, to extend at least as far as the nasopharynx.
276 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
at least one hollow suction tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, wherein about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube, said suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end, and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract, wherein the suction tube is substantially linear, the suction tube having a trigger means on the upper outer surface of the tube, wherein activation of the trigger means causes the about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube including and adjacent to the insertion end to angle upwards at least into the nasopharynx.
-
2. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
at least one hollow suction tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, wherein about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube, said suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end, and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract, wherein a sump tube passes through the wall of the suction tube and is disposed in the lumen of the suction tube, the sump tube having one end which is open to atmospheric air and a second end which opens into the lumen of the suction tube close to the insertion end of the suction tube.
-
3. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
at least one hollow suction tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, wherein about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube, said suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end, and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract, wherein the suction tube has a sponge attached to the outer surface of the suction tube, which, when placed in the subject, is positioned in the vicinity of the oropharynx and the nasopharynx.
-
4. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
at least one hollow suction tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, wherein about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube, said suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end, and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract, wherein the insertion end of the suction tube is expanded so that the diameter of the suction tube at the insertion end is greater than the diameter of the remainder of the suction tube, and wherein a cover is disposed over the insertion end, the cover being attached at its periphery to the wall of the suction tube, the cover having several openings.
-
5. A method for suctioning the sinonasal tract, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) inserting at least one tube via the oral cavity into the nasal tract at least as far as the nasopharynx, the tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract via the oral cavity so that the insertion end is inserted at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, said tube withstanding acute bends without kinking and about 1-5 centimeters of the tube adjacent to and including the insertion end being directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the tube, said tube having at least one opening near the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end; (b) attaching the suction end of the at least one suction tube to a suction means, and (c) suctioning the nasal cavity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
6. A method for suctioning the sinonasal tract, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a suction tube having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract via the oral cavity so that the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx, and a suction end for attachment to a suction means, said tube withstanding acute bends without kinking and about 1-5 centimeters of the tube adjacent to and including the insertion end being directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the tube, said tube having at least one opening near the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end; (b) providing a nasal catheter which has (1) a first end for inserting into a nose of a patient via a nares and a second end for remaining outside the body and (2) an external diameter that is smaller than the internal diameter of the suction tube for the patient; (c) inserting the first end of the via a nares into the nose of the patient nasal catheter until the first end passes into the oral cavity at least as far as the oropharynx; (d) introducing a forceps or a finger of a user into the oropharynx of the patient and withdrawing the first end into the mouth and through the lips to the exterior; (e) threading the insertion end of the suction tube over the first end of the nasal catheter so that the insertion end of the suction tube is disposed in the nasal tract at least as far as the nasopharynx; (f) pulling on the second end of the nasal catheter until the first end is withdrawn out of the nose through the nares; (g) attaching the suction end of the suction tube to a suction means, and (h) suctioning the sinonasal tract.
-
-
27. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
-
at least two hollow suction tubes, each having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx and a suction end for attachment to a suction means; wherein the insertion end of the first suction tube being inserted into a left nasal choana and the insertion end of the second suction tube being inserted into a right nasal choana; wherein about 1-5 centimeters of each suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube; each suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract; the suction ends of the first and second suction tubes being connected to the suction means; and wherein each suction tube is substantially linear and has a trigger means on the upper outer surface of the suction tube, wherein activation of the trigger means causes the about 1-5 centimeters of the suction tube including and adjacent to the insertion end to angle upwards at least into the nasopharynx.
-
-
28. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
-
at least two hollow suction tubes, each having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that, when placed in the subject, the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx and a suction end for attachment to a suction means; wherein the insertion end of the first suction tube being inserted into a left nasal choana and the insertion end of the second suction tube being inserted into a right nasal choana; wherein about 1-5 centimeters of each suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube; each suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract; the suction ends of the first and second suction tubes being connected to the suction means; and wherein a sump tube passes through the wall of each suction tube and is disposed in the lumen of the suction tube, the sump tube having one end which is open to atmospheric air and a second end which opens into the lumen of the suction tube close to the insertion end of the suction tube.
-
-
29. A suction apparatus for suctioning the sinonasal tract comprising:
-
at least two hollow suction tubes, each having an insertion end for insertion into the nasal tract of a subject via the oral cavity so that the insertion end extends at least as far as the nasopharynx and a suction end for attachment to a suction means; wherein the insertion end of the first suction tube being inserted into a left nasal choana and the insertion end of the second suction tube being inserted into a right nasal choana; wherein about 1-5 centimeters of each suction tube adjacent to and including the insertion end is directed upward at an angle in relation to the remainder of the suction tube; each suction tube having at least one opening at the insertion end and at least one opening at the suction end and a lumen between the insertion end and the suction end which allows the suctioning of the sinonasal tract; the suction ends of the first and second suction tubes being connected to the suction means; and wherein each suction tube has a sponge attached to the outer surface of the suction tube in the vicinity of the oropharynx and the nasopharynx.
-
Specification