US5349950A — Suction catheter assemblies

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

A suction catheter assembly for use in removing undesirable fluid from a patient, said catheter assembly comprising: an aspirating catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being suitable for insertion into a patient; a vacuum connecting member located in the vicinity of the proximal end of the aspirating catheter; a patient connecting member mounted to surround the aspirating catheter in the vicinity of the distal end of the aspirating catheter, said patient connecting member housing a wiper/seal member sealingly engaging with the outside surface of the aspirating catheter; a protective sleeve surrounding at least the majority of the length of the catheter and extending between said vacuum connecting member and said patient connecting member, said protective sleeve being adapted to permit the distal end of said catheter to be extended from said protective sleeve into the patient and to be withdrawn from the patient; and a separate one-way valve means also provided within the patient connecting member, wherein said one-way valve means permits gas flow therethrough from inside the sleeve and into the patient connecting member but prevent any substantial gas flow through the one-way valve means into the sleeve such that any gas trapped in the sleeve can escape into the patient connecting member through the one-way valve means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 215 words

A suction catheter assembly for use in removing undesirable fluid from a patient, said catheter assembly comprising: an aspirating catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being suitable for insertion into a patient; a vacuum connecting member located in the vicinity of the proximal end of the aspirating catheter; a patient connecting member mounted to surround the aspirating catheter in the vicinity of the distal end of the aspirating catheter, said patient connecting member housing a wiper/seal member sealingly engaging with the outside surface of the aspirating catheter; a protective sleeve surrounding at least the majority of the length of the catheter and extending between said vacuum connecting member and said patient connecting member, said protective sleeve being adapted to permit the distal end of said catheter to be extended from said protective sleeve into the patient and to be withdrawn from the patient; and a separate one-way valve means also provided within the patient connecting member, wherein said one-way valve means permits gas flow therethrough from inside the sleeve and into the patient connecting member but prevent any substantial gas flow through the one-way valve means into the sleeve such that any gas trapped in the sleeve can escape into the patient connecting member through the one-way valve means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

A suction catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said one-way valve means is a "duck bill" valve.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

A suction catheter assembly according to claim 1 wherein said patient connecting member includes a main passage through which the aspirating catheter is advanced and a by-pass channel, wherein said one-way valve means is located in said by-pass channel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

A suction catheter assembly according to claim 3 wherein said by-pass channel substantially coaxial with said main passage.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

A suction catheter assembly according to claim 4 wherein said by-pass channel communicates with said main passage at one end at a location facing said sleeve and a rear end of said wiper/seal means and at a second end at a location facing a front end of said wiper/seal means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

A suction catheter assembly according to claim 4 wherein said wiper/seal means and said one-way valve means are substantially parallel to each other.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 164 words

A method of suctioning undesirable fluid from a patient comprising the steps of: providing a suction catheter assembly comprising a patient connecting member at one end, a stationary wiper/seal means and a separate one-way valve means, both within the patient connecting member, an aspirating catheter, a vacuum connecting member, and a protective sleeve extending between the vacuum connecting member and the patient connecting member; attaching the patient connecting member to a tracheal tube; connecting the vacuum connecting member to a suction source, ventilating the patient via the patient connecting member such that the one-way valve means and the wiper/seal means prevent any substantial gas flow into the sleeve; advancing the aspirating catheter through the wiper/seal means so as to aspirate the patient without interruption of ventilation, and such that the one-way valve means allows any trapped air in the sleeve to be forced into the patient connecting member as the aspirating catheter is advanced; and subsequently withdrawing the aspirating catheter through the wiper/seal means.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 164 words

A method of suctioning undesirable fluid from a patient comprising the steps of: providing a suction catheter assembly comprising a patient connecting member at one end, a stationary wiper/seal means and a separate one-way valve means, both within the patient connecting member, an aspirating catheter, a vacuum connecting member, and a protective sleeve extending between the vacuum connecting member and the patient connecting member; attaching the patient connecting member to a tracheal tube; connecting the vacuum connecting member to a suction source, ventilating the patient via the patient connecting member such that the one-way valve means and the wiper/seal means prevent any substantial gas flow into the sleeve; advancing the aspirating catheter through the wiper/seal means so as to aspirate the patient without interruption of ventilation, and such that the one-way valve means allows any trapped air in the sleeve to be forced into the patient connecting member as the aspirating catheter is advanced; and subsequently withdrawing the aspirating catheter through the wiper/seal means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method of suctioning according to claim 7 wherein said catheter is advanced through a main passage formed in said patient connecting member and said air from said sleeve is forced into said patient connecting member along a by-pass channel formed in said patient connecting member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method of suctioning according to claim 8 wherein said one-way valve means is a "duck-bill" valve.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method of suctioning according to claim 8 whereto said main passage and said by-pass channel are coaxial.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-09-26	1998-03-28	1998-09-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-09-26	2002-03-28	2002-09-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-09-26	2006-03-28	2006-09-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Suction catheter assemblies

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