System for in vivo sterilization of a respiratory circuit

• US 6,470,888 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freya LLC
• Original Assignee: Freya LLC
• Inventors: Matter, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EREZO, DARWIN P
• Application Number:
  US09/435,966
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.16, 128/204.18, 128/912, 422/22, 250/455.11, 250/492
• US Class Current: 128/207.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/042 with separate conduits for in-and expiration gas, e.g. for limited dead volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0413 with detectors of CO2 in exhaled gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 Equipment for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/912 Connections and closures for tubes delivering fluids to or from the body

Abstract

A system and method in vivo sterilization of a respiratory circuit. A breathing tube has a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a respirator and a synchronization mechanism. One or more light sources capable of emitting ultraviolet radiation irradiates at least a portion of the respiratory circuit, such as the breathing tube, thereby sterilizing the respiratory circuit. The synchronization mechanism controls the light sources to synchronize the sterilization relative to the patient'"'"'s breathing cycle. Several mechanisms to irradiate the respiratory circuit and control ultraviolet radiation are included.

Claims

1. A breathing tube system comprising:

a) a breathing tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, said breathing tube being operative to define at least a portion of a respiratory circuit for a patient having a breathing cycle;

b) a respirator in fluid communication with the breathing tube and being capable of monitoring the breathing cycle of the patient;

c) one or more ultraviolet light sources in optical communication with at least a portion of the inner surface of the breathing tube, said one or more light sources emitting ultraviolet radiation for sterilizing an irradiated portion of the inner surface while connected to a patient; and

d) a synchronization mechanism in communication with the respirator and capable of controlling the one or more ultraviolet light sources, said synchronization mechanism being operative to intermittently activate the ultraviolet light sources relative to the breathing cycle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing ultraviolet radiation from exiting the distal end of the breathing tube.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the preventing means is in communication with the synchronization mechanism, and the synchronization mechanism being further operative to control the preventing means relative to the breathing cycle.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the preventing means comprises one or more inflatable portions positioned in the lumen of the breathing tube and dimensioned such that when inflated ultraviolet radiation is prevented from exiting the distal end of the breathing tube.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the preventing means comprises a shutter having an opened position and a closed position, said shutter being positioned in the lumen of the breathing tube and dimensioned to inhibit ultraviolet radiation from exiting the distal end of the breathing tube when the shutter is in the closed position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the synchronization mechanism comprises a programmable computer unit connected to the respirator unit, the programmable computer unit being programmed to activate the ultraviolet light sources.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for detecting ultraviolet radiation exiting from the distal end of the breathing tube.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the synchronization mechanism is further operative to terminate the ultraviolet light sources when ultraviolet radiation is detected exiting the distal end of the breathing tube.

9. A breathing tube apparatus comprising:

a) a breathing tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends through which a patient can breath;

b) a respiratory circuit junction having two or more openings, at least one of said openings being dimensioned to connect with the proximal end of the breathing tube;

c) a detachable housing defining a cavity and being configured to enclose a substantial portion of the respiratory circuit junction when the respiratory circuit junction is connected to the breathing tube, said detachable housing being substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation; and

d) a source of ultraviolet radiation in the cavity of the detachable housing and being positioned so as to irradiate the lumen of the breathing tube and sterilize the lumen.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the detachable housing comprises two hinged halves.

11. The method of in vivo sterilization of a breathing tube, comprising the steps of:

a) connection a breathing tube to a patient, the breathing tube having a flow passage through which the patient can breath;

b) monitoring the breathing cycle of a patient, said breathing cycle having a plurality of inhalation portions, a plurality of exhalation portions, and a transitional period between each exhalation and inhalation portion;

c) providing one or more ultraviolet radiation sources;

d) obstructing the flow passage of the breathing tube during a transitional period of the breathing cycle between an exhalation portion and an inhalation portion;

e) activating at least one of the ultraviolet radiation sources while the flow passage is obstructed, such that the ultraviolet radiation sterilizes the flow passage of the breathing tube and the obstruction in the flow passage prevents ultraviolet radiation from exiting the breathing tube;

f) deactivating the ultraviolet radiation sources; and

g) unobstructing the flow passage of the breathing tube during the transitional period before the inhalation portion of the breathing cycle starts.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the monitoring comprises visual monitoring.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of monitoring is performed by a respirator.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of programming a schedule for the in vivo sterilization of a breathing tube.

15. A system for in vivo sterilization of at least a portion of a respiratory circuit, the system comprising:

a) a breathing tube adapted to be connected to a patient, said breathing tube comprising an inner surface defining a flow passage through which the patient can breath;

b) a ventilator tube in fluid communication with the breathing tube and a ventilator, said ventilator tube comprising an inner surface defining a flow passage through which the patient can breath;

c) one or more ultraviolet radiation sources positioned so as to irradiate at least a portion of the inner surface of the ventilator tube such that the irradiated portions of the inner surface of the ventilator tube are sterilized;

d) a jacket surrounding a substantial portion of the ventilator tube and having an inner surface facing the ventilator tube, said jacket being opaque to ultraviolet radiation and being positioned relative to the ultraviolet radiation sources such that the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet radiation sources is prevented from exiting the jacket.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a junction positioned between the breathing tube and the ventilator tube, said junction being surrounded by the jacket.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the inner surface of the jacket is reflective to ultraviolet radiation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the jacket is transparent to at least a portion of the visible range of light.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the jacket is a flexible shroud.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the flexible shroud is removable from the ventilator tube.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for biasing the flexible shroud to engage the ventilator tube.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the ventilator tube has an inspiration portion and an expiration portion, the jacket being dimensioned to surround the inspiration and expiration portions.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the jacket surrounds one or more additional respiratory circuit components.