Suction catheter device and method

1. A device for removing material from inside a lumen of a tube, comprising:

a catheter having a tubular body and defining an inner lumen and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion defining a distal end of the tubular body, the distal end of the tubular body having a perimeter which defines a distal opening of the inner lumen, the proximal end portion of the catheter being configured to couple the inner lumen to a source of suction;

the tubular body further defining one or more apertures on a sidewall of the tubular body, the apertures allowing fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter from outside the catheter, the apertures being disposed on the tubular body proximal to the distal opening of the inner lumen;

an expandable member attached to the distal end portion of the catheter tubular body distal to the one or more apertures,

the expandable member being capable of having

a first unexpanded condition such that the distal opening is open to allow fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, and

a second expanded condition such that the distal opening is occluded to prevent fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, the second expanded condition of the expandable member having a maximum transverse diameter larger than a diameter of the catheter tubular body proximal to the expandable member;

wherein the expandable member is an inflatable member; and

wherein the inflatable member in an inflated condition is configured to contact and seal against an annular surface of an inner wall of the lumen of the tube into which the device can be inserted, to prevent fluid communication between (i) a proximal region of the lumen proximal to the inflatable member, and (ii) a distal region of the lumen distal to the inflatable member; and

wherein the inflatable member in a deflated condition does not occlude the distal opening of the catheter tubular body, such that the inner lumen of the catheter is in fluid communication with the distal region of the lumen of the tube; and

wherein the inflatable member in the inflated condition occludes the distal opening of the catheter tubular body, such that the inner lumen of the catheter is not in fluid communication with the distal region of the lumen of the tube,

wherein the inflatable member defines a sealed expandable inner volume, the inner volume being inflatable by an inflation lumen defined by the device communicating with said inner volume,

wherein the inflatable member is circumferentially attached to the tubular body around an annular region of the sidewall on the distal end portion of tubular body, wherein the perimeter defining the distal opening of the distal end of the tubular body is disposed inside the sealed expandable inner volume, the inflatable member being attached to the tubular body only proximal to said perimeter defining said distal opening, and

wherein the inflatable member is at least partially expanded within the inner lumen of the tubular body in the inflated condition.

2. A method of removing material from inside a lumen of a tube, comprising:

providing a device for removing material from inside a lumen of a tube, the device comprising

a catheter having a tubular body and defining an inner lumen and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion defining a distal end of the tubular body, the distal end of the tubular body having a perimeter which defines a distal opening of the inner lumen, the proximal end portion of the catheter being configured to couple the inner lumen to a source of suction;

the tubular body further defining one or more apertures on a sidewall of the tubular body, the apertures allowing fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter from outside the catheter, the apertures being disposed on the tubular body proximal to the distal opening of the inner lumen;

an expandable member attached to the distal end portion of the catheter tubular body distal to the one or more apertures,

the expandable member being capable of having

a first unexpanded condition such that the distal opening is open to allow fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, and

a second expanded condition such that the distal opening is occluded to prevent fluid communication with the inner lumen of the catheter through said distal opening, the second expanded condition of the expandable member having a maximum transverse diameter larger than a diameter of the catheter tubular body proximal to the expandable member;

inserting the catheter into the lumen of the tube,

expanding or inflating the expandable member to contact and seal against an annular surface of the inner wall of the lumen of the tube, and to occlude the distal opening of the tubular body; and

suctioning through the inner lumen and the one or more apertures to remove material from a region of the lumen of the tube between the catheter and the tube proximal to the expandable member;

wherein the inflatable member in an inflated condition is configured to contact and seal against an annular surface of an inner wall of the lumen of the tube into which the device can be inserted, to prevent fluid communication between (i) a proximal region of the lumen proximal to the inflatable member, and (ii) a distal region of the lumen distal to the inflatable member; and

wherein the inflatable member in a deflated condition does not occlude the distal opening of the catheter tubular body, such that the inner lumen of the catheter is in fluid communication with the distal region of the lumen of the tube; and

wherein the inflatable member in the inflated condition occludes the distal opening of the catheter tubular body, such that the inner lumen of the catheter is not in fluid communication with the distal region of the lumen of the tube;

wherein the inflatable member defines a sealed expandable inner volume, the inner volume being inflatable by an inflation lumen defined by the device communicating with said inner volume;

wherein the inflatable member is circumferentially attached to the tubular body around an annular region of the sidewall on the distal end portion of tubular body, wherein the perimeter defining the distal opening of the distal end of the tubular body is disposed inside the sealed expandable inner volume, the inflatable member being attached to the tubular body only proximal to said perimeter defining said distal opening, and

wherein the inflatable member is at least partially expanded within the inner lumen of the tubular body in the inflated condition.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising suctioning through the distal opening of the tubular body into the inner lumen before expanding or inflating the expandable member or after contracting or deflating the expandable member, to remove material from a region of the lumen of the tube distal to the expandable member.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tube is an endotracheal tube, a tracheostomy tube, or a laryngeal mask airway tube.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising pulling the catheter in a proximal direction to move the expandable member in the second expanded condition proximally and in contact along the inner wall of the lumen of the tube to wipe off and/or remove material accumulated on said inner wall.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising suctioning through the distal opening of the tubular body into the inner lumen before inflating the expandable member or after contracting or deflating the expandable member, to remove material from a region of the lumen of the tube distal to the expandable member.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the tube is an endotracheal tube, a tracheostomy tube, or a laryngeal mask airway tube.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

injecting saline into the catheter to exit through the apertures to provide lubrication to the region of the lumen of the tube between the catheter and the tube proximal to the expandable member.