Granted Patent B2

US 8,231,606 · App. 12/048,575 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

a dual-track guidance rail having an exterior track and an interior track;

a pair of guidance rail connectors connected to the dual-track guidance rail and attached to the endotracheal tube;

a suction catheter;

a retention connector attaching the suction catheter slidably to the endotracheal tube;

a slider positioned slidably between the exterior track and interior track, and attached to an end of the suction catheter to move the suction catheter; and

a suction guide attached to the slider for moving the slider along a trajectory between the exterior track and the interior track.

2. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance rail connectors each comprise a C-ring.

3. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 2 , wherein the C-rings are pre-sized to fit a variety of endotracheal tube diameters.

4. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 1 , wherein an insertion aid is attached to an upper terminal end of the suction guide.

5. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 4 , wherein the insertion aid is a wire.

6. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 1 , wherein the guidance rail connectors each have a plurality of apertures for receiving upper and lower terminal ends of the exterior and interior tracks.

7. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 6 , wherein the guidance rail connectors are a first guidance rail connector and a second guidance rail connector.

8. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 7 , wherein the first guidance rail connector has an aperture for receiving the suction guide such that the suction guide passes inside the aperture on its trajectory atop the second guidance rail.

9. A tracheal fluid removal device for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

a guidance track having an external guide rail and an internal guide rail, wherein each guide rail has an upper and lower end;

first and second C-rings having first and second segments, such that the first segment is connected to the guide rails and the second segment is encircled around the endotracheal tube;

a suction guide having upper and lower terminal ends and positioned slidably between exterior and interior guide rails;

an insertion aid attached to the suction guide, wherein said insertion aid is a wire; and

a suction catheter attached to the suction guide proximate the lower terminal end thereof and positioned alongside the endotracheal tube such that a trajectory of the suction catheter alongside the endotracheal tube corresponds to movement of the suction guide.

10. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second C-rings attach to the endotracheal tube at upper and lower ends of said guide rails, respectively.

11. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 9 , wherein the lower terminal end of the suction guide comprises a slider that connects the suction guide to the suction catheter and wherein the slider is slidable along the guidance rail.

12. The tracheal fluid removal device of claim 11 , wherein the slider comprises a C-ring suction catheter retention connector.

13. A method for removing accumulated secretions from an endotracheal tube, comprising:

guiding a suction catheter along a path adjacent the endotracheal tube using a guidance rail attached to the endotracheal tube and a suction guide attached to the suction catheter by sliding the suction guide along the rail in response to manipulation of an insertion aid wire coupled with the suction guide; and

positioning an end of the suction catheter near a lower end of the endotracheal tube.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the suction catheter along the path using part of the suction guide as a handle.

Assignments (14)