Suction catheter

Claim 1

A suction catheter suitable for use in removing undesirable fluid from a patient, said suction catheter comprising: a multilumen catheter tube suitable for insertion into a patient wherein said catheter tube contains a primary lumen having an inside diameter suitable for removing fluid from a patient upon application of a vacuum, and a secondary lumen contiguous with said lumen, having an inside diameter suitable for providing liquid for irrigation of the interior of said first lumen or for lavaging said patient and being defined by an interior wall of said catheter tube and an exterior wall of said primary lumen, the ratio of the interior cross-sectional area of said secondary lumen with respect to the interior cross-sectional area of said primary lumen being about 1:6 to about 1:8; a patient connecting member mounted so as to surround said multilumen catheter tube in the vicinity of the distal end of said multilumen catheter tube, and wherein said distal end is suitable for insertion into a patient; a vacuum connection member located in the vicinity of the proximal end of the multilumen catheter tube; a protective sleeve surrounding at least the majority of the length of said catheter tube and extending between said patient connecting member and said vacuum connection member, wherein said protective sleeve is adapted to permit the distal end of said catheter tube to be extended from said protective sleeve into a patient and to be withdrawn from the patient; and means for providing liquid to the interior of the said secondary lumen in the vicinity of the proximal end of said secondary lumen including a connecting tube having one end connected and in communication with said secondary lumen inside said protective sleeve.