Method of removing undesirable fluid from respiration passages by suction catheter assemblies

• US 5,779,687 A
• Filed: 02/16/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
• Original Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
• Inventors: Bell, Craig J., Hollister, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US08/601,347
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 604/265, 604/266, 604/27, 604/28, 604/29, 604/52, 604/53, 604/119, 604/171, 604/163, 604/184, 604/101, 604/103, 604/43, 604/45, 604/280, 604/283, 604/35, 128/DIG. 21, 128/207.14, 128/207.16, 427/2.1, 427/2.12, 427/2.24, 427/2.25, 427/2.27, 427/2.28, 427/2.3
• US Class Current: 604/265
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/104 Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/206 Biguanides, e.g. chlorohexidine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• 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 2025/0056 provided with an antibacterial agent, e.g. by coating, residing in the polymer matrix or releasing an agent out of a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0111 Aseptic insertion devices

Abstract

A method of removing undesirable fluid from the respiration passages of a patient uses a closed system suction catheter assembly having a protective sleeve enclosing an aspirating catheter extending through a sliding seal in a patient coupling. The catheter has an antimicrobial surface such as formed by silver sulfadiazine which reduces the accumulation of bacteria while the catheter is within the protective sleeve and prolongs the useful life of the assembly.

Claims

1. A method of removing undesirable fluid from the respiration passages of a patient by a suction catheter assembly including an aspirating catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being suitable for insertion into a patient;

a vacuum connecting member located in the vicinity of the proximal end of the aspirating catheter;

a patient connecting member mounted to surround the aspirating catheter in the vicinity of the distal end of the aspirating catheter;

a flexible protective sleeve extending along the aspirating catheter where it extends between the patient connecting member and the vacuum connecting member, the patient connecting member having a sliding seal with the external surface of the aspirating catheter, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) providing an antimicrobial substance of a solid material on at least one component of said suction catheter assembly that reduces transfer of bacteria from the external surface of the aspirating catheter to the patient, wherein the antimicrobial substance includes a silver compound with a binder selected from the group comprising alumino-silicate and hydroxyapatite;

(b) advancing the aspirating catheter through the patient connecting member into the trachea of the patient to effect suctioning of the respiration passages;

(c) withdrawing the aspirating catheter into the protective sleeve through the patient connecting member after suctioning such that the catheter is wiped by the sliding seal;

(d) maintaining the aspirating catheter within the protective sleeve except for the periods when the suctioning is being effected, with said antimicrobial substance at least substantially reducing accumulation of bacteria on said catheter when in the protective sleeve;

(e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) each time the suctioning of the respiration passages is indicated,

wherein said antimicrobial substance of said solid material remains effective to reduce transfer of bacteria from the external surface of the aspirating catheter to the patient despite repeated movement of said aspirating catheter through said sliding seal, and

whereby said substantially reduced accumulation of bacteria allows repeated, periodical insertion of said aspirating catheter into the patient'"'"'s trachea.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein an antimicrobial surface is provided by an antimicrobial substance incorporated into the material forming the catheter.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said external surface having antimicrobial properties is provided by coating the external surface of the catheter with a material having antimicrobial properties.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said substance having antimicrobial properties includes a silver compound.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial substance includes silver sulfadiazine.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial substance includes a silver compound with a polymer attachment substance.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial substance includes chlorhexidene.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the aspirating catheter is substantially of polyvinyl chloride.