Closed catheter suction system

A method for rinsing a catheter suction system without interrupting a ventilation circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a catheter suction system comprising:
• a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter defining a lumen therethrough which communicates with a tip formed at said distal end of said catheter;
• an adapter assembly slidably engageable with said distal end of said catheter, said adapter assembly comprising a rinse chamber isolated from a ventilation circuit;
• and
• a suction control valve secured to said proximal end of said catheter and in communication with a vacuum source;
• (b) retracting said catheter suction system towards said proximal end until said tip is positioned within said rinse chamber;
• (c) instilling a rinse solution into said rinse chamber, wherein said rinse solution flows into said lumen and through said tip;
• and
• (d) activating said suction control valve, wherein said rinse solution is aspirated through said lumen and into said vacuum source without interrupting the ventilation circuit.

A method for aspirating secretions from a passageway of a patient with a catheter suction system and rinsing said catheter suction system without interrupting a ventilation circuit, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a catheter suction system comprising:
• a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter defining a lumen therethrough which communicates with a tip formed at said distal end of said catheter;
• an adapter assembly slidably engageable with said distal end of said catheter, said adapter assembly comprising a rinse port isolated from a ventilation circuit;
• a suction control valve secured to said proximal end of said catheter and in communication with a vacuum source;
• and
• a lavage port secured to said suction control valve and adjacent said proximal end of said catheter, said lavage port being in fluid communication with said lumen.
• (b) advancing said catheter suction system towards said distal end, wherein said catheter slides through said adapter assembly until said tip is positioned within a passageway of a patient having secretions;
• (c) instilling a lavage solution through said lavage port, wherein said lavage solution flows through said lumen to said tip within the passageway;
• (d) activating said suction control valve, wherein said lavage solution and said secretions are aspirated from the patient;
• (e) retracting said closed catheter suction system towards said proximal end until said tip is positioned within said rinse chamber;
• (f) instilling a rinse solution into said rinse chamber, wherein said rinse solution flows into said lumen through said tip;
• (g) activating said suction control valve, wherein said rinse solution is aspirated through said lumen and into said vacuum source without interrupting the ventilation circuit.