Aspirating device for patient ventilation apparatus

In an aspirating device adapted to remove undesirable secretions from the trachea of a patient during ventilation wherein a catheter tube is inserted into the trachea of a patient by longitudinal and rotational movement of the catheter, the improvement comprising a disposable catheter cartridge, said disposable cartridge comprising:

• A. a catheter tube suitable for longitudinal insertion of one end into the trachea of a patient and withdrawl therefrom;
• and,
• B. a protective housing, said protective housing including;
• 1. a patient coupling element mounted so as to surround said catheter tube nearest the end thereof suitable for insertion into the trachea of a patient, said patient coupling element including a seal surrounding said catheter tube and adapted to prevent fluid secretions located on the external suruface of said catheter from being withdrawn into said protective housing when said catheter tube is withdrawn into said protective housing and an irrigation port suitable for connection to a suitable irrigation source and in communication with the external surface of said catheter tube;
• 2. a vacuum coupling element located adjacent to the end of said catheter tube remote from the end thereof adapted to be inserted into the trachea of a patient;
• and,
• 3. a protective envelope extending between said patient coupling element and said vacuum coupling element and formed of a flexible plastic material that distorts and compresses when said vacuum coupling element and said patient coupling element are moved relatively toward one another, said movement causing said one end of said catheter tube to extend outwardly from said patient coupling element.