Tracheostomy length single use suction catheter

• US 5,653,231 A
• Filed: 11/28/1995
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medcare Medical Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medcare Medical Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Bell, Craig J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US08/563,572
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.16, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 604/21, 604/35, 604/119
• US Class Current: 128/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7411 by changing the size of a vent in combination with changing the cross-section of the line A61M1/7413
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0431 with a cross-sectional shape other than circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters

Abstract

A short, tracheostomy length, single use open suction catheter, made of relatively flexible plastic material such as natural or synthetic rubber, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon or like material having the flexibility and resilience necessary for use in the suctioning of the airway of tracheostomized patients in order to remove tracheobronchial secretions from such a patient with a tracheostomy tube in place. The tracheostomy length catheter has a fitting for connecting the proximal end (the end nearest the source of vacuum) to a source of vacuum. There is a valve, such as a thumb controlled valve, at the proximal end used for controlling the extent of the vacuum or low pressure at the distal end of the suction catheter (the end nearest the patient). The valve regulates the vacuum by covering or partially covering a vent port with the thumb of the clinician who is doing the suctioning of the patient. The overall length of the tracheostomy length suction catheter, including the standard thumb valve used to control vacuum (about 4.5 cm in length), is about one-half the length of known and commonly used single use suction catheters which are about about 50 cm to about 61 cm or 20 inches to 24 inches. The overall length of the tracheostomy length suction catheter with the standard thumb valve being about 18.50 cm-40.0 cm or about 7.25 inches-15.75 inches. Further the tracheostomy length suction catheter may incorporate one of a variety of tip designs or components at the distal end thereof to improve the effectiveness of the removal of the secretions and to reduce the mucosa damage.

Claims

1. A single use open suction catheter comprising:

a flexible tube having an outer wall with a cross section geometry, at any selected location along said flexible tube, selected from the group consisting of circular, oval and elliptical, defining outside dimensions which outside dimensions are suitable for insertion into a tracheostomy tube and an inner wall surface defining a lumen running interiorly therethrough said flexible tube, said flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

means for connecting said lumen to a vacuum source, said means for connecting securely affixed at said proximal end of said flexible tube;

means for regulating an amount of negative pressure in said lumen relative to a pressure within a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region when said means for connecting is connected to a vacuum source, said means for regulating located substantially at said proximal end;

means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure created in said lumen to a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region; and

a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance from a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said negative pressure, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) and said maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm);

wherein said means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure comprises at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region;

wherein said single use open suction catheter further comprising a distal tip portion at said distal end, said distal tip portion having a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and

wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured as a flange extending radially from said distal end and positioned substantially between said radially directed apertures and each said at least one axially directed aperture.

2. A single use open suction catheter comprising:

a flexible tube having an outer wall with a cross section geometry, at any selected location along said flexible tube, selected from the group consisting of circular, oval and elliptical, defining outside dimensions which outside dimensions are suitable for insertion into a tracheostomy tube and an inner wall surface defining a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube, said flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end;

means for connecting said lumen to a vacuum source, said means for connecting securely affixed at said proximal end of said flexible tube;

means for regulating an amount of negative pressure in said lumen relative to a pressure within a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region when said means for connecting is connected to a vacuum source, said means for regulating located substantially at said proximal end;

means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure created in said lumen to a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region;

a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, from a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said negative pressure, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) and said maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm);

wherein said means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure comprises at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region and wherein said single use open suction catheter further comprising a distal tip portion at said distal end, said distal tip portion having a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and

wherein said distal end has affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured to create a plurality of reverse vacuum flow paths by causing vacuum flow and secretions flow into said axially directed aperture in said tip end and providing secretion flow and air flow over an outer surface of said tip element and into each of a plurality of reverse directing apertures, each said plurality of reverse directing apertures being axially configured to cause vacuum air flow toward said distal end and subsequently into said lumen.

3. In an improved single use open suction catheter for use in suctioning of excess and undesirable tracheobronchial secretions from the tracheobronchial tree region of a patient having a tracheostomy tube in place said catheter structure comprising a flexible tube having a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having means for connecting to a source of vacuum and means for regulating amount of vacuum created within said lumen, said distal end in vacuum flow communication with said lumen and having a distal tip portion, said distal tip portion having at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region, said improvement comprising:

a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) from a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said amount of vacuum and a maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm);

wherein said distal tip portion has a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and

wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured as a flange extending radially from said distal end and between said radially directed aperture and each said axially directed aperture.

4. In an improved single use open suction catheter for use in suctioning of excess and undesirable tracheobronchial secretions from the tracheobronchial tree region of a patient having a tracheostomy tube in place said catheter structure comprising a flexible tube having a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having means for connecting to a source of vacuum and means for regulating amount of vacuum created within said lumen, said distal end in vacuum flow communication with said lumen and having a distal tip portion, said distal tip portion having at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region, said improvement comprising:

a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) from a patient'"'"'s tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said amount of vacuum and a maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); and

wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured to create a plurality of reverse vacuum flow paths by causing vacuum flow and secretions flow into said axially directed aperture in said tip end and providing secretion flow and vacuum air flow over an outer surface of said tip element and into each of a plurality of reverse directing apertures, each said plurality of reverse directing apertures being axially configured to cause vacuum air flow toward said distal end and subsequently into said lumen.