# US 10,500,360 B1 · Catheter for cleaning of tracheal ventilation tubes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,360 B1 - Document ID: US10500360B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/821,828 - Filed: 2015-08-10 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-29 - Assignees: Teleflex Life Sciences Unlimited Company - Applicants: Teleflex Life Sciences Unlimited Company - Inventors: Oron Zachar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500360B1 ## CPC - A61M 16/0463: {combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections} - A61B 90/70: Cleaning devices specially adapted for surgical instruments - A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00}) - A61B 2090/701: {for flexible tubular instruments, e.g. endoscopes} - A61M 2025/0019: {Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement} - A61M 2209/10: Equipment for cleaning - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract In embodiments of the present invention, a suction cleaning system component is provided for use in cleaning an interior of a tracheal ventilation tube when the suction cleaning system component is connected to the tracheal ventilation tube and a ventilator. Typically, the suction cleaning system component is used in a closed endotracheal suction system environment. The suction cleaning system component comprises a cleaning catheter and a manifold. The manifold comprises an obstruction element, which is moveable with respect to (i) the ventilator port and (ii) the expandable element. The obstruction element is configured to assume a plurality of states, including an obstruction state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for use with a tracheal ventilation tube and a ventilator, the apparatus comprising: a cleaning catheter, which comprises an elongate tube and an expandable element, which is mounted to the elongate tube, and is expandable into contact with an inner surface of the tracheal ventilation tube; and a manifold, which: is shaped so as to define (a) a tubular chamber, which is shaped so as to allow passage therethrough of the cleaning catheter, and which has an inlet for the cleaning catheter at a proximal end of the tubular chamber, (b) a ventilator port in a lateral wall of the tubular chamber, which ventilator port is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the ventilator, and (c) a tracheal ventilation tube port, which is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a proximal end of the tracheal ventilation tube, and comprises an obstruction element, which is (a) moveable with respect to (i) the ventilator port and (ii) the expandable element, and (b) configured to assume a plurality of states, including an obstruction state, in which state the obstruction element, at least during proximal withdrawal of the expandable element directly across the ventilator port while the expandable element is expanded, inhibits air flow between the ventilator port and at least a portion of a proximally-facing external surface of the expandable element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is configured such that the obstruction element, when in the obstruction state, inhibits air flow between the ventilator port and the tubular chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expandable element comprises an inflatable element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inflatable element comprises an inflatable balloon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expandable element is mounted to the elongate tube at a site along a distal-most portion of the elongate tube, which distal-most portion has a length equal to 30% of a total length of the elongate tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expandable element is mounted to the elongate tube at a site within 20 mm of a distal end of the elongate tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, for use with a suction source, wherein a distal portion of the cleaning catheter comprises one or more distal suction orifices, which are disposed proximally to the expandable element, and which are in fluid connection with the suction source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction element is shaped so as to define a lateral opening having a cross-sectional area of between 1 mm2 and 25 mm2. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is configured such that the plurality of states further includes an air-flow state, in which state the obstruction element, at least when the expandable element is disposed distally to the ventilator port while the expandable element is expanded, allows air flow between the ventilator port and the at least a portion of the proximal surface of the expandable element at a greater level than when the obstruction element is in the obstruction state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the obstruction element, when in the air-flow state, is configured to allow the air flow between the ventilator port and the at least a portion of the proximal surface of the expandable element at at least twice the level occurring when the obstruction element is in the obstruction state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the obstruction element, when in the air-flow, is configured to allow the air flow between the ventilator port and the at least a portion of the proximal surface of the expandable element at at least 5 times the level occurring when the obstruction element is in the obstruction state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is configured such that the plurality of states further includes an open state, in which state the obstruction element allows air flow between the ventilator port and the tracheal ventilation tube via the tubular chamber, at least when the expandable element is disposed proximally to the ventilator port. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the manifold is configured such that the plurality of states further includes a partially-open state, in which state the obstruction element allows a lower level of the air flow between the ventilator port and the tracheal ventilation tube than when the obstruction element is in the open state. ### Claim 14 Apparatus for use with a tracheal ventilation tube and a ventilator, the apparatus comprising: a cleaning catheter, which comprises an elongate tube and an expandable element, which is mounted to the elongate tube, and is expandable into contact with an inner surface of the tracheal ventilation tube; and a manifold, which: is shaped so as to define (a) a tubular chamber, which is shaped so as to allow passage therethrough of the cleaning catheter, and which has an inlet for the cleaning catheter at a proximal end of the tubular chamber, (b) a ventilator port in a lateral wall of the tubular chamber, which ventilator port is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the ventilator, and (c) a tracheal ventilation tube port, which is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a proximal end of the tracheal ventilation tube, and comprises an obstruction element, which is (a) moveable with respect to (i) the ventilator port and (ii) the expandable element, and (b) configured to assume a plurality of states, including an obstruction state, in which state the obstruction element, at least during proximal withdrawal of the expandable element past the ventilator port while the expandable element is expanded, inhibits air flow between the ventilator port and at least a portion of a proximally-facing external surface of the expandable element; and wherein the manifold is configured such that the proximal withdrawal of the expandable element, while the expandable element is expanded, automatically transitions the obstruction element out of the obstruction state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the manifold is configured such that: the plurality of states further includes an open state, in which state the obstruction element allows air flow between the ventilator port and the tracheal ventilation tube via the tubular chamber, at least when the expandable element is disposed proximally to the ventilator port, and the proximal withdrawal of the expandable element, while the expandable element is expanded, automatically transitions the obstruction element out of the obstruction state into the open state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is configured such that at least one site of the obstruction element is longitudinally fixed with respect to the tubular chamber. ### Claim 17 Apparatus for use with a tracheal ventilation tube and a ventilator, the apparatus comprising: a cleaning catheter, which comprises an elongate tube and an expandable element, which is mounted to the elongate tube, and is expandable into contact with an inner surface of the tracheal ventilation tube; and a manifold, which: is shaped so as to define (a) a tubular chamber, which is shaped so as to allow passage therethrough of the cleaning catheter, and which has an inlet for the cleaning catheter at a proximal end of the tubular chamber, (b) a ventilator port in a lateral wall of the tubular chamber, which ventilator port is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the ventilator, and (c) a tracheal ventilation tube port, which is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a proximal end of the tracheal ventilation tube, and comprises an obstruction element, which is (a) moveable with respect to (i) the ventilator port and (ii) the expandable element, and (b) configured to assume a plurality of states, including an obstruction state, in which state the obstruction element, at least during proximal withdrawal of the expandable element past the ventilator port while the expandable element is expanded, inhibits air flow between the ventilator port and at least a portion of a proximally-facing external surface of the expandable element; and wherein the obstruction element comprises a flap, which is disposed within the tubular chamber and is attached to the lateral wall of the tubular chamber, and wherein the manifold is configured such that when the flap is in the obstruction state, the flap covers the ventilator port and inhibits air flow between the ventilator port and the at least a portion of the proximally-facing external surface of the expandable element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the flap is attached to the lateral wall at or proximal to a proximal end of the ventilator port. ### Claim 19 Apparatus for use with a tracheal ventilation tube and a ventilator, the apparatus comprising: a cleaning catheter, which comprises an elongate tube and an expandable element, which is mounted to the elongate tube, and is expandable into contact with an inner surface of the tracheal ventilation tube; and a manifold, which: is shaped so as to define (a) a tubular chamber, which is shaped so to allow passage therethrough of the cleaning catheter, and which has an inlet for the cleaning catheter at a proximal end of the tubular chamber, (b) a ventilator port in a lateral wall of the tubular chamber, which ventilator port is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with the ventilator, and (c) a tracheal ventilation tube port, which is configured to be coupled in fluid communication with a proximal end of the tracheal ventilation tube, and comprises a flap which is (a) disposed within the tubular chamber, (b) attached to the lateral wall of the tubular chamber, and (c) configured to assume a plurality of states, including an obstruction state, in which state the flap covers the ventilator port and inhibits air flow between the ventilator port and at least a portion of a proximally-facing external surface of the expandable element.