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AssigneeSmiths Medical ASD, Inc.
InventorsRichard McNary, Lawrence P. Hudon, Louis Woo, Roddi J. Simpson
Estimating the term…
By interposing an adapter between the endotracheal or tracheal tube inserted to a patient and the ventilation and suction systems that are connected to the endotracheal tube, a catheter could be inserted via an input port built into the adapter so as to enable a medical personnel to provide localized treatments in the lungs of a patient without having to disconnect either one of the systems connected to the endotracheal tube. The adapter is configured to have a securing mechanism that allows the medical personnel to secure the medication catheter in place. A one way valve fitted to the apertured arm that forms the input port of the adapter prevents any back flow of fluid from the input port. The catheter is manufactured with calibration markings, most likely equally spaced, and a radiopaque line along its length to enhance the maneuvering and the positioning thereof in the patient so that the distal tip of the catheter could be accurately positioned to the desired location of the patient's tracheal/bronchial tree. As a result, the localized treatment such as the injection of a medicament is accurately provided to the appropriate location where the need is the greatest.
An adapter for use with an endotracheal or tracheal tube to enable localized treatment to selected areas of the lungs of a patient through said tube, comprising:
In combination, an endotracheal or tracheal tube having a distal end insertable to a patient, connector means for connecting at least a suction line to said tube, an input port integrated to said connector means, a one way valve positioned within said input port, a catheter having a proximal and a distal end insertable to said input port of said connector means to open said one way valve, said catheter being guided by said input port to said tube so that its distal end is extendable through and beyond the distal end of said tube, the distal end of said catheter being movable to at least one selected location in the lungs of the patient, treatment means matable with the proximal end of said catheter, said catheter acting as a guide to provide localized treatment to said one selected location in the lungs of the patient.
A method of directing localized treatment to the lungs of a patient through an endotracheal or tracheal tube having a distal end inserted to the patient, said tube having communicatively connected thereto a suction line and a ventilation line via a connector means, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.