SUCTION CATHETER WITH DETACHABLE CONNECTOR AND METHODS THEREOF

1 . A system, comprising:

a catheter shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal lumen therebetween; and

a suction connector comprising a first end, a second end and a lumen therebetween, wherein the suction connector is configured to be attachable to the catheter shaft at the first end and the second end of the suction connector.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the suction connector has a different configuration than the second end of the suction connector.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second end comprises a metal and the first end does not comprise a metal.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter shaft comprises one or more interference openings spaced apart from a proximal end of the catheter shaft configured to attach to the suction connector.

5 . (canceled)

6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second end of the suction connector comprises a helically threaded interface complementary to the helically threaded interface of the catheter shaft.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second end of the suction connector comprises a radially inward protrusion within the lumen and in the second end of the suction connector.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the radially inward protrusion comprises a height orthogonal to the lumen, a leading surface and a trailing surface, where the leading surface is closer to a second opening of the second end than the trailing surface.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the leading surface is angled away from the second opening.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the leading surface comprises a first open angle that is greater than a second open angle of the trailing surface.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the radially inward protrusion comprises a truncated shape, comprising a tip surface between the leading and trailing surfaces, wherein the tip surface comprises an angular orientation that is different from the leading surface and the trailing surface.

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the suction catheter further comprises a suction control opening in communication with the lumen.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the suction catheter further comprises a closure structure configured to reversibly close communication through the suction control opening and into the lumen.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a suction guide comprising a lumen and configured to slidably couple to an endotracheal tube, wherein the lumen is configured to removably receive the catheter shaft.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the catheter shaft further comprises a tongue reinforcement member, the tongue reinforcement member comprising a proximal end, a distal end and an elongate body therebetween.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein the proximal end of the catheter shaft comprises a threaded metal annular body, and the proximal end of the tongue reinforcement member is attached to threaded metal annular body.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the distal end of the tongue reinforcement member is located in the longitudinal lumen of the catheter shaft and is unattached to the catheter shaft.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . (canceled)

27 . (canceled)

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

30 . (canceled)

31 . (canceled)

32 . (canceled)

33 . A method of providing suction to an airway of a patient, comprising:

placing a suction guide device along an endotracheal tube inserted into an airway of a patient, wherein the endotracheal tube comprises a distal end and a proximal end;

advancing the suction guide along the endotracheal tube towards the distal end of the endotracheal tube;

positioning a catheter shaft at a location using the suction guide;

withdrawing the suction guide from the airway while maintaining the catheter shaft at the location; and

attaching a suction connector to the catheter shaft after withdrawing the delivery device from the airway.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the suction connector is pre-attached to the catheter shaft and the method further comprises removing the suction connector from the catheter shaft before withdrawing the suction guide from the airway.

35 . The method of claim 33 , further comprising securing the catheter shaft to the endotracheal tube to resist displacement of the catheter shaft from the location after withdrawing the suction guide from the airway.

36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein securing the catheter shaft comprises coupling the suction catheter and endotracheal tube using a coupling member.

37 . (canceled)

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . (canceled)

41 . (canceled)

42 . (canceled)