Pulmonary suction catheter

• US 5,496,287 A
• Filed: 07/05/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Walter J. Jinotti
• Inventors: Jinotti, Walter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knights, Laird J.
• Application Number:
  US08/270,768
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 604/31, 604/33, 604/246, 604/249, 604/256, 251/149.3, 251/149.6, 251/321-323, 251/337, 137/625.48
• US Class Current: 604/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00

Abstract

The disclosure is of a suction catheter having a valve body including a vertical plunger in a vertical bore and two horizontal tubes, one for connection to a source of suction and one for connection to a patient. In one position of the plunger, the two tubes are aligned with a path through the plunger to provide suction to the patient. In another position of the plunger, the tube connected to the suction is led to the atmosphere whereby suction is completely removed from the patient.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in treating a pulmonary patient comprising

a valve having a valve body,

a first horizontal path through said valve body having a first end and a second end, said first end having means foe coupling to a patient and said second end having means for coupling to a source of suction,

a source of suction coupled to said second end of said first horizontal path,

a second vertical path through said valve body having an upper end and a lower end,

a solid slidable plunger in said vertical path in said valve body, said plunger having an upper end and a lower end and a through hole between its upper and its lower end which can be aligned with said horizontal path through said valve body in one position thereof and can be moved out of alignment with said valve body in a second position thereof, and in sais second position, the solid lower end of said plunger blocking said first end of said first horizontal path through said valve body which goes to a patient,

the solid lower end of said plunger having an auxiliary opening which is aligned with and communicates with said second end of said first horizontal path through said valve body and with said source of suction connected thereto when said plunger is in said second position whereby said source of suction communicates with said auxiliary opening in said lower end of said plunger and with the atmosphere with which it communicates, and

means coupled to said plunger for sliding it up and down, said means being positioned in and blocking said upper end of said vertical path through said valve body.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger is made of relatively flexible material and forms a tight fit in said vertical bore to prevent leakage therefrom.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger includes a cap and said spring means comprises first and second leaf springs which are secured at one end to said cap and the other ends thereof contact said horizontal tubes.

4. Apparatus for use in treating a pulmonary patient comprising

a valve having a hollow tubular valve body,

a first generally horizontal patient tube secured to said valve body and communicating with the interior thereof, said patient tube adapted to be coupled to a patient to apply suction thereto,

a second suction supply tube secured to said valve body and communicating with the interior thereof, said suction supply tube being generally axially aligned with said patient tube so that a suction path is provided from said suction supply tube, through said valve body into said patient tube,

a source of suction coupled to said suction supply tube,

said valve body having an open upper end and an open lower end,

a slidable plunger in said valve body, said plunger being slidable from a first upper position to a second lower position, a wall portion extending from said lower end of said plunger, said wall portion being aligned with and blocking said patient tube when said plunger is in its first upper position and at the same time there is an air flow path from the open lower end of said valve body along the lower end of said plunger and into said suction tube,

a generally horizontal passageway through said plunger positioned between its upper end and its lower end and positioned so that when said plunger is in its second lower position, said passageway is aligned with said patient tube and said suction tube and suction can be administered to a patient, and

a spring-biased push button at the upper end of said plunger.