Artificial airway management devices, systems and methods
AssigneeEndoclear LLC
InventorsBrad Eugene Vazales, David Mark Chersky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for cleaning and maintaining artificial airways sized for insertion within pediatric or neonatal patients (e.g., external diameters of less than 5 mm) are disclosed. The system includes a multi-port ventilator manifold configured to couple to a ventilation source, thereby forming a ventilator circuit with the patient. The manifold includes an occluder configured to advantageously reduce an amount of dead space in the manifold so as to prevent loss of positive end expiratory pressure of the ventilator circuit and reduce the likelihood of broncho-pulmonary dysplasia of the patient, or even premature death.
Claims22
A system for maintenance of an endotracheal tube having an external diameter of less than 5 mm, the system comprising:
- a manifold comprising:
- a ventilation port configured to be removably coupled to a ventilator,
- an access port configured to be removably coupled to multiple modules adapted to access and/or treat the artificial airway through the manifold, and
- a distal port configured to be removably coupled to the artificial airway,
- wherein the ventilation port and the access port branch off from the manifold to form a Y shape;
- and
- an occluder positioned at or near a location along a length of the manifold at which the ventilation port and the access port branch off from a main body of the manifold,
- wherein the occluder is configured to transition between an open configuration and a closed configuration,
- wherein the occluder comprises an external knob and an internal barrier extending laterally from the external knob, wherein the internal barrier of the occluder is shaped and sized so as to effectively seal off the access port from the remainder of the manifold when the occluder is in the closed configuration, thereby reducing an amount of dead space of a ventilatory circuit within the manifold;
- a suction catheter module configured to be removably coupled to the access port of the manifold and comprising a suction catheter configured to be introduced into the artificial airway through the manifold and to suction out accumulated biofilm from the artificial airway;
- and
- an artificial airway cleaning device module configured to be removably coupled to the access port of the manifold and comprising a flexible catheter having a distal expandable cleaning member, the flexible catheter being configured to be introduced through the manifold into the artificial airway, wherein the distal expandable cleaning member is configured to be expanded into contact with an interior surface of the artificial airway, and wherein the flexible catheter is configured to be withdrawn from the artificial airway with the distal expandable member in an expanded configuration to remove additional biofilm from the artificial airway.
A method of cleaning an endotracheal tube inserted within a body of a pediatric or neonatal patient without disconnecting the patient from a ventilator and without removing the endotracheal tube from the body, the method comprising:
- coupling a distal port of a multi-port manifold to an endotracheal tube having an external diameter of less than 5 mm;
- coupling a first proximal port of the manifold to a ventilator;
- reversibly coupling a suction catheter cleaning module to a second proximal port of the manifold, the suction catheter cleaning module comprising a suction catheter sized to fit within the endotracheal tube;
- advancing a distal end of the suction catheter through the distal port of the manifold and into the endotracheal tube;
- activating a suction source so as to facilitate removal of biofilm from the endotracheal tube through one or more suction ports at the distal end of the suction catheter;
- decoupling the suction catheter cleaning module from the second proximal port of the manifold;
- reversibly coupling an endotracheal tube cleaning module to the second proximal port of the manifold,
- wherein the endotracheal tube cleaning module comprises a flexible catheter having an expandable cleaning member positioned along a distal end portion of the flexible catheter;
- performing a cleaning procedure within the endotracheal tube by expanding the expandable cleaning member into an expanded configuration such that at least a portion of the expandable cleaning member is in contact with an interior surface of the endotracheal tube and then withdrawing the flexible catheter proximally out of the endotracheal tube with the expandable cleaning member in the expanded configuration;
- and
- decoupling the endotracheal tube cleaning module from the second proximal port of the manifold.
A connector interface comprising:
- a distally-tapered outside end;
- a proximally-tapered conical inside end for collection and retention of debris removed from a tube by a catheter or other instrument inserted through the connector interface;
- and
- a side port positioned along a length of the connector interface between a proximal end and a distal end of the connector interface that is adapted for providing irrigation cleaning of the catheter or instrument.
A sterilization device adapted to removably couple to a catheter or other device, the device comprising:
- a proximal end having an ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light source;
- a coupling mechanism adapted to removably couple to the catheter or other device;
- a power switch adapted to prevent light emission when the sterilization device is not coupled to the catheter or other device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.