Closed system combined suction and ventilation devices

Claim 1

In a closed system, combined suction and ventilation medico-surgical tube device that includes a suction catheter, a suction control valve positioned in the proximal end of said system and being connected to the suction catheter on one end and connectable to a source of suction on the other end, a multi-port coupling unit through which said catheter is fed for aspiration of a patient and a flexible tubular sheath providing a sterility protective enclosure for said catheter fixed at its distal end to the proximal end of said coupling unit and at its proximal end to the suction control valve, the improvements comprising: a multi-port coupling unit which comprises: a first member that includes a longitudinal tubular element having a proximal end, a distal end for connection to a patient and an integral side port for connection to a ventilator, a second member that includes: a tubular distal part having a proximal end, a distal end and a major lumen extending along a first longitudinal axis at the center-line of the tubular distal part, and a separate tubular proximal part with a cross-section approximately equal to said lumen of said tubular distal part having a proximal end and distal end, said distal end of said distal part being closed except for a hole substantially smaller in size than said lumen, the center of said hole being offset a radial distance from said first longitudinal axis, a second lumen approximating the size of said hole extending through said proximal part on a second longitudinal axis offset from said first longitudinal axis approximately equal to said radial distance, said tubular proximal part of said second member being arranged to fit into said proximal end of said tubular distal part, so said parts may rotate relative to each other about said first longitudinal axis, whereby said second lumen and said hole will coincide in one position of rotation of said tubular proximal part in said tubular distal part, the tubular distal part of said second member being connected to the proximal end of said first member, a suction control valve comprising: first and second substantially identical parts positioned in sliding engagement with each other for movement between an open and a closed position of said valve, said parts having: a longitudinal body portion, a flat surface extending along a side of said longitudinally extending body portion on which said sliding engagement occurs, a tapered connector element on a longitudinal end of said body portion, a lumen extending longitudinally through said connector element part way into said body portion, limit means to fix the distance of relative movement between said identical parts from said open to said closed position, a side port through said flat surface into said connector element lumen, said side port positioned so said port of said first identical part communicates with said port of said second identical part when said parts move in longitudinal directions into the open position, and elastic means positioned about said first and second substantially identical parts to connect the flat surfaces in engagement with each other and with the connector elements facing in opposite direction and for biasing said first and second substantially identical parts longitudinally towards each other into said closed position, and means fixing said distal end of said sheath to said coupling unit.