Suction catheter

Claim 1

A suction catheter of a size suitable for insertion into a body cavity containing a gas such as the nose, mouth or larynxgotracheobronchial tree comprising an elongated tube formed of a flexible material having a lumen running interiorly thereof, said tube having an distal end with an opening for placing said lumen in communication with the interior of the body cavity and a proximal end adapted to place said lumen in communication with a source of pressure lower than that existing at the distal end of said tube, regulation means for controlling, from said proximal end, the suction applied at said distal end, said tube being defined by wall portions forming a main body portion and an integral distal end portion of limited length relative to said main body portion, said main body portion being of generally circular cross-section and said lumen being of constant diameter throughout said main body portion, said wall portions forming plural axially extending flanges spaced circumferentially about said distal end portion of said tube and defining alternate raised and depressed surface portions, said wall portions throughout said raised and depressed surface portions being of substantially constant thickness, and apertures in said depressed surface portions between said flanges extending through said wall portions of said tube into said lumen, the total cross-sectional area of all of said apertures being sufficient to permit only a nominal vacuum to be applied at said distal end opening upon application of suction to said catheter.