Ballooned ventilation tube cleaning device

A method for cleaning an inner surface of a ventilation tube, the method comprising:

• providing a device comprising:
• an elongate flexible main body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a suction lumen within the elongate flexible main body and extending from the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body toward the distal end of the elongate flexible main body;
• an inflation lumen within the elongate flexible main body and extending from the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body toward the distal end of the elongate flexible main body;
• one or more suction orifices on the elongate flexible main body in fluid communication with the suction lumen;
• an inflatable balloon mounted to the elongate flexible main body;
• a pliable sleeve around at least a portion of the elongate flexible main body to inhibit contamination;
• and
• an input module assembly connected to the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body and to a proximal end of the pliable sleeve, the input module assembly having:
• (i) a fluid source located within the input module assembly, the fluid source comprising a gas delivered from a pressurized reservoir to the inflation lumen for inflation of the inflatable balloon,
• (ii) a suction port connectable to a suction source, and
• (iii) a switching assembly comprising a common switch to manually regulate both delivery of the gas from the fluid source in the input module assembly to the inflatable balloon and suction through the suction lumen;
• inserting the elongate flexible main body of the device into the ventilation tube so that the inflatable balloon of the device is inserted into the ventilation tube;
• inflating the inflatable balloon by delivering the gas from the pressurized reservoir in the input module assembly to the inflation lumen so that a surface of the inflatable balloon is brought into contact with an inner surface of the ventilation tube;
• wiping the inner surface of the ventilation tube with the inflated balloon;
• and
• manually regulating, with the common switch, both delivery of the gas from the fluid source in the input module assembly to the inflatable balloon and suction through the suction lumen.