Tracheostomy length single use suction catheter

Claim 2

A single use open suction catheter comprising: a flexible tube having an outer wall with a cross section geometry, at any selected location along said flexible tube, selected from the group consisting of circular, oval and elliptical, defining outside dimensions which outside dimensions are suitable for insertion into a tracheostomy tube and an inner wall surface defining a lumen running interiorly therethrough said flexible tube, said flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end; means for connecting said lumen to a vacuum source, said means for connecting securely affixed at said proximal end of said flexible tube; means for regulating an amount of negative pressure in said lumen relative to a pressure within a patient's tracheobronchial tree region when said means for connecting is connected to a vacuum source, said means for regulating located substantially at said proximal end; means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure created in said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region; and a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said negative pressure, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) and said maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); wherein said means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure comprises at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region; wherein said single use open suction catheter further comprising a distal tip portion at said distal end, said distal tip portion having a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured as a flange extending radially from said distal end and positioned substantially between said radially directed apertures and each said at least one axially directed aperture.

Claim 3

A single use open suction catheter comprising: a flexible tube having an outer wall with a cross section geometry, at any selected location along said flexible tube, selected from the group consisting of circular, oval and elliptical, defining outside dimensions which outside dimensions are suitable for insertion into a tracheostomy tube and an inner wall surface defining a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube, said flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end; means for connecting said lumen to a vacuum source, said means for connecting securely affixed at said proximal end of said flexible tube; means for regulating an amount of negative pressure in said lumen relative to a pressure within a patient's tracheobronchial tree region when said means for connecting is connected to a vacuum source, said means for regulating located substantially at said proximal end; means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure created in said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region; a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said negative pressure, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) and said maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); wherein said means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure comprises at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region and wherein said single use open suction catheter further comprising a distal tip portion at said distal end, said distal tip portion having a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and wherein said distal end has affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured to create a plurality of reverse vacuum flow paths by causing vacuum flow and secretions flow into said axially directed aperture in said tip end and providing secretion flow and air flow over an outer surface of said tip element and into each of a plurality of reverse directing apertures, each said plurality of reverse directing apertures being axially configured to cause vacuum air flow toward said distal end and subsequently into said lumen.

Claim 4

A single use open suction catheter comprising: a flexible tube having an outer wall with a cross section geometry, at any selected location along said flexible tube, selected from the group consisting of circular, oval and elliptical, defining outside dimensions which outside dimensions are suitable for insertion into a tracheostomy tube and an inner wall surface defining a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube, said flexible tube having a proximal end and a distal end; means for connecting said lumen to a vacuum source, said means for connecting securely affixed at said proximal end of said flexible tube; means for regulating an amount of negative pressure in said lumen relative to a pressure within a patient's tracheobronchial tree region when said means for connecting is connected to a vacuum source, said means for regulating located substantially at said proximal end; means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure created in said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region; a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said negative pressure, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) and said maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); wherein said means for communicating, at said distal end of said flexible tube, said regulated negative pressure comprises at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region and wherein said single use open suction catheter further comprising a distal tip portion at said distal end, said distal tip portion having a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and wherein said distal end has affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured to create a plurality of reverse vacuum flow paths by causing vacuum flow and secretions flow into said axially directed aperture in said tip end and providing secretion flow and air flow over an outer surface of said tip element and into each of a plurality of reverse directing apertures, each said plurality of reverse directing apertures being axially configured to cause vacuum air flow toward said distal end and subsequently into said lumen.

Claim 5

In an improved single use open suction catheter for use in suctioning of excess and undesirable tracheobronchial secretions from the tracheobronchial tree region of a patient having a tracheostomy tube in place said catheter structure comprising a flexible tube having a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having means for connecting to a source of vacuum and means for regulating amount of vacuum created within said lumen, said distal end in vacuum flow communication with said lumen and having a distal tip portion, said distal tip portion having at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, said improvement comprising: a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said amount of vacuum and a maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); wherein said distal tip portion has a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured as a flange extending radially from said distal end and between said radially directed aperture and each said axially directed aperture.

Claim 6

In an improved single use open suction catheter for use in suctioning of excess and undesirable tracheobronchial secretions from the tracheobronchial tree region of a patient having a tracheostomy tube in place said catheter structure comprising a flexible tube having a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having means for connecting to a source of vacuum and means for regulating amount of vacuum created within said lumen, said distal end in vacuum flow communication with said lumen and having a distal tip portion, said distal tip portion having at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, said improvement comprising: a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said amount of vacuum and a maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); wherein said distal tip portion has a plurality of apertures substantially radially directed from said lumen to a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, each aperture of said plurality of apertures proximate to said distal tip portion; and wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured as a flange extending radially from said distal end and between said radially directed aperture and each said axially directed aperture.

Claim 7

In an improved single use open suction catheter for use in suctioning of excess and undesirable tracheobronchial secretions from the tracheobronchial tree region of a patient having a tracheostomy tube in place said catheter structure comprising a flexible tube having a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having means for connecting to a source of vacuum and means for regulating amount of vacuum created within said lumen, said distal end in vacuum flow communication with said lumen and having a distal tip portion, said distal tip portion having at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, said improvement comprising: a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said amount of vacuum and a maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); and wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured to create a plurality of reverse vacuum flow paths by causing vacuum flow and secretions flow into said axially directed aperture in said tip end and providing secretion flow and vacuum air flow over an outer surface of said tip element and into each of a plurality of reverse directing apertures, each said plurality of reverse directing apertures being axially configured to cause vacuum air flow toward said distal end and subsequently into said lumen.

Claim 8

In an improved single use open suction catheter for use in suctioning of excess and undesirable tracheobronchial secretions from the tracheobronchial tree region of a patient having a tracheostomy tube in place said catheter structure comprising a flexible tube having a lumen running interiorly there through said flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said proximal end having means for connecting to a source of vacuum and means for regulating amount of vacuum created within said lumen, said distal end in vacuum flow communication with said lumen and having a distal tip portion, said distal tip portion having at least one axially directed aperture in axial vacuum flow communication with said lumen and a patient's tracheobronchial tree region, said improvement comprising: a tracheostomy length dimension of said flexible tube defined between a minimum length and a maximum length, said minimum length defined substantially by about a distance, about fourteen centimeters (14 cm) from a patient's tracheobronchial tree region to said means for regulating said amount of vacuum and a maximum length less than about thirty five and six tenths centimeters (35.6 cm); and wherein said distal tip portion has formed thereon and affixed thereto a tip element, said tip element configured to create a plurality of reverse vacuum flow paths by causing vacuum flow and secretions flow into said axially directed aperture in said tip end and providing secretion flow and vacuum air flow over an outer surface of said tip element and into each of a plurality of reverse directing apertures, each said plurality of reverse directing apertures being axially configured to cause vacuum air flow toward said distal end and subsequently into said lumen.