Mucus slurping endotracheal tube
First Claim
1. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising:
- an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end;
a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube;
said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more distally or inwardly facing holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and
a cap with a proximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal cap end has an annular space into which the distal end of said endotracheal tube is received and wherein said distal cap end is perforated with a plurality of holes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endotracheal tube assembly (10) is disclosed which suctions away bacteria multiplying mucus before such mucus can accumulate on the inside walls of the endotracheal tube (14). In the preferred embodiment, one or more suctioning tubes (20, 21) are formed into the walls of an endotracheal tube so that they extend along length of the endotracheal tube. A plurality of mucus slurping holes (34) are then formed at or near the distal end of the endotracheal tube and connected to the suctioning tubes. In operation, suctioning through the mucus slurping holes is preferably performed intermittently during patient expiration. By timing this intermittent suctioning with patient expiration, the suctioning flow will be in the same direction as patient breathing. While the mucus slurper of the present invention has been found to be effective at keeping the inner walls of the endotracheal tube free of mucus deposits, it can nonetheless be combined with other cleaning and disinfectant techniques for greater assurance of cleanliness.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. A mucus cleaning endotracheal tube apparatus comprising:
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an endotracheal tube having tubular walls, a proximal end and a distal end; a suctioning tube within said endotracheal tube walls extending from approximately said proximal end to approximately said distal end of said endotracheal tube; said suctioning tube being connectable to a vacuum source from the proximal end of said endotracheal tube, said suctioning tube terminating at one or more distally or inwardly facing holes located at or near the distal end of said endotracheal tube through which mucus can be suctioned before said mucus migrates up the inside walls of said endotracheal tube; and a cap with a proximal end and a distal end wherein said proximal cap end has an annular space into which the distal end of said endotracheal tube is received and wherein said distal cap end is perforated with a plurality of holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification