Patient ventilating and aspirating system

A suction tube and connector for connecting to a catheter mount having a sealed passageway comprising:

• a tube having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a collapsible envelope surrounding said tube;
• a distal connector fitted to said distal end and adapted to allow said distal end of said suction tube to be connected to a suction means in use;
• and
• a proximal connector attached to said envelope that said proximal end of said tube is moveable through;
• said proximal connector adapted to releasably connect to said catheter mount and comprising an integrally formed piercing member, a proximal end of said piercing member defining a most proximal point of said proximal connector, said piercing member capable of piercing a seal located on an outer edge of said catheter mount;
• wherein said proximal connector is adapted such that when connected to said catheter mount a rim of said proximal connector directly contacts said seal and a chamber is formed, said chamber external to the catheter mount and abutting an outer surface of said seal and an outer surface of said piercing member and creating a dead space therein;
• said suction tube capable of passing through said piercing member and not contacting said seal;
• said suction tube fitting snugly within said piercing member.

A catheter mount comprising:

• at least three passageways;
• a first of said at least three passageways being adapted to be connected to a patient connector;
• a second of said at least three passageways being adapted to be connected to a gases transport means;
• a third of said at least three passageways being covered by a seal configured to provide a substantially airtight seal at normal operating pressures such that said catheter mount is sealed from atmosphere in use, said seal located on an outer edge of said third of said at least three passageways and including a re-sealing mechanism, and being adapted to receive an aspirating system;
• and
• said catheter mount being adapted to be fitted in use between said patient connector and said gases transport means, said catheter mount adapted to convey pressurized gases from said gases transport means to said patient connector and maintain PEEP;
• wherein said aspirating system is releasably connected to said third of said at least three passageways with a bayonet fitting.

A catheter tube connector for a suction system comprising:

• an outer cup-shaped fitting;
• an inner cup-shaped fitting nested within said outer cup-shaped fitting;
• and
• a piercing member nested within said inner cup-shaped fitting and integrally formed with said outer cup-shaped fitting, said piercing member adapted to pierce a seal;
• a rim of said outer cup-shaped fitting extending beyond a rim of said inner cup-shaped fitting;
• said piercing member extending beyond said rim of said outer cup-shaped fitting;
• a first end of said catheter tube connector being adapted to be in communication with a suction system;
• a second end of said catheter tube connector being adapted to be releasably connected to a catheter mount passageway covered by a seal located on an outer edge of said catheter mount passageway such that said rim of said inner cup-shaped fitting directly contacts said seal and such that said piercing member pierces said seal when said catheter tube connector and said catheter mount are connected;
• said piercing member adapted to allow a suction tube to pass through said piercing member and into said catheter mount passageway without said suction tube contacting said seal;
• and
• said suction tube fitting snugly within said piercing member.