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US 2003/0196667 A1Published application
Meconium aspirator
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsKenneth S. Croteau, Philip N. Rogone
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsKenneth S. Croteau, Philip N. Rogone
Estimating the term…
An apparatus and associated method for using a meconium removal apparatus, including an endo-tracheal (ET) tube operably coupled to a meconium mover operably coupled to a suction tube. The meconium mover has a sloped portion having an inlet defined thereon. The method includes inserting one end of the ET tube into an infant's airway; applying suction to the meconium aspirator to draw air into the meconium mover through the side inlet, and controllably closing the inlet to increase suction application to controllably draw meconium fluid in the infant's airway into the ET tube, while withdrawing the ET tube from the infant's airway.
The method of using a meconium removal apparatus, comprising:
The method of using a meconium removal apparatus, comprising:
An apparatus for removal of meconium form an infant's airway comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Tracheal tubes: combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
With means for varying suction manually: by changing the size of a vent
Devices for delivering substances into the body: specially adapted for neonatal use
Devices for delivering substances into the body
Term end not estimated
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and associated method for the removal of meconium from infants.
2. Related Art
FIGS. 1A and 1B are simplified side views of the meconium aspirator of the present invention; and
FIGS. 2A-2C are simplified illustrations of the use of the meconium aspirator with a newborn infant in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are simplified side views of a meconium aspirator 100 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Meconium aspirator 100 is used for meconium removal from an infant's airway and lungs. Meconium aspirator 100 includes an endo-tracheal (ET) tube 102, a meconium mover 106 and a suction tube 120. Endo-tracheal tube 102 has a distal end 102a for insertion into an airway of an infant and a proximal end 102b disposed outside the airway.
An adaptor 104 is typically formed on proximal end 102b of ET tube 102 to facilitate the coupling of various aspirator type devices thereto. In this embodiment, adaptor 104 is a typically sized and shaped adaptor for operably receiving meconium mover 106 and coupling it to ET tube 102. Adaptor 104 also provides a means for grasping ET tube 102 so as to pull and remove ET tube 102 from its inserted position in the infant's airway, by manually gripping adapter 104 and pulling adapter 104 and ET tube 102 away from the infant patient.
In one embodiment, meconium mover 106 is a tubular shaped device of between about 6 cm to about 9 cm in length. Meconium mover 106 includes an inlet end 106a, having a first diameter, a sloped portion 114, and an outlet end 106b, having a second diameter. Meconium mover 106 also includes a strategically positioned side inlet 107 also referred to as a stylet hole, which provides a passageway to the internal lumen 108 of meconium mover 106.