U.S. patent application number 13/856311 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-22 for bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Covidien AG. The applicant listed for this patent is Covidien AG. Invention is credited to Daniele Resca.
Application Number | 20130218071 13/856311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37065496 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130218071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Resca; Daniele |
August 22, 2013 |
BRONCHOTRACHEAL ACCESS VALVE FOR A BRONCHOASPIRATION APPARATUS
Abstract
A bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration
apparatus. The valve is characterized in that the rotation of a
second member in a given direction with respect to a first member
moves the valve from a configuration in which a conduit
communicates hydraulically with a sleeve, to a configuration in
which the conduit communicates hydraulically with a flush conduit
via a duct and a channel to flush an end portion of a catheter.
Inventors: |
Resca; Daniele; (San Felice
sul Panaro, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Covidien AG; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Covidien AG
Neuhausen am Rheinfall
CH
|
Family ID: |
37065496 |
Appl. No.: |
13/856311 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11917339 |
Dec 12, 2007 |
8414544 |
|
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13856311 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 16/20 20130101;
A61M 16/0463 20130101; A61M 3/0279 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/32 |
International
Class: |
A61M 3/02 20060101
A61M003/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 15, 2005 |
IT |
BO2005A000404 |
Jun 12, 2006 |
EP |
PCT/EP06/05623 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: removing a catheter from within a patient
through a patient conduit; rotating a first member of a
bronchotracheal access valve in a first direction with respect to a
second member of the bronchotracheal access valve such that a
catheter insertion conduit and a flush conduit of the
bronchotracheal access valve are communicatively coupled to one
another, and are not coupled to the patient conduit; and flushing a
distal end of the catheter in the catheter insertion conduit with a
fluid flowing through the flushing conduit and a duct, wherein the
duct is configured to create selective fluid communication between
the catheter insertion conduit and the flush conduit, and wherein a
surface of the first member closes the patient conduit.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein, the first member comprises the
catheter insertion conduit and the flush conduit.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second member comprises the
patient conduit and at least partially defines the duct that
communicatively couples the catheter insertion conduit and the
flush conduit.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the duct is substantially
semicircular.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the duct comprises a channel
integrated in an inner wall of the catheter insertion conduit.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bronchotracheal access valve
comprises a seal between the first member and the second member
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the seal comprises a first region
that seals the duct in communication with the flush conduit from
the patient conduit when the first member is rotated in a second
direction and that seals the flush conduit and the catheter
insertion conduit in fluid communication with one another from the
patient conduit when the first member is rotated in the first
direction.
8. The method of claim 1 comprising; rotating the first member in a
second direction with respect to the second member, such that the
patient conduit and the catheter insertion conduit are aligned and
in fluid communication with each other but not the flush
conduit.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second direction is opposite
the first direction.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bronchotracheal valve
comprises a stopping feature that limits the rotation of the first
member in the first direction and a second direction with respect
to the second member, such that the catheter conduit is aligned
with the duct and in fluid communication with the flush conduit
when the first member is rotated in the first direction, and
wherein the catheter conduit is aligned with the patient conduit
when the first member is rotated in the second direction.
11. A bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration
apparatus, the bronchotracheal access valve comprising: a first
member comprising a patient conduit; and a second member comprising
a catheter insertion conduit and a flush conduit, wherein an inner
wall of the insertion conduit comprises a channel; a first duct
formed in the first member, wherein the first duct creates
selective fluid communication between the flush conduit and the
insertion conduit, but not the patient conduit; and a stopping
feature configured to stop rotation of the second member with
respect to the first member at a first position such that the flush
conduit and the channel are superposed on the first duct creating
selective fluid communication between the insertion conduit and the
flush conduit; and wherein the stopping feature is configured to
stop rotation of the second member with respect to the first member
at a second position such that a surface of the first member closes
the channel to prevent fluid communication between the flush
conduit and the insertion conduit.
12. The valve of claim 11, wherein a seal is disposed between the
first member and the second member
13. The valve of claim 12, wherein the first member comprises a
plurality of ducts for housing the seal.
14. The valve of claim 12, wherein, in the second position, the
flush conduit is sealed by the seal and the patient conduit is
open.
15. The valve of claim 12, wherein the seal comprises an
elastomeric material.
16. The valve of claim 11, wherein a radial inner surface of the
second member comprises a protrusion configured to engage a second
duct formed on an edge of the surface of the first member.
17. The valve of claim 16, wherein the protrusion and the second
duct define the stopping feature.
18. The valve of claim 16, wherein the first duct and the second
duct are semicircular.
19. The valve of claim 11, wherein the second member comprises a
protrusion that engages an opening centrally located on the first
member such that the second member and the first member are
properly aligned.
20. The valve of claim 11, wherein the first member comprises a
plurality of deformable tabs along an outer edge, wherein the
deformable tabs snap onto the second member to connect the first
member with the second member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/917,339 filed Dec. 12, 2007, which is a U.S. national stage
application of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/005623
filed Jun. 12, 2006, which designates the United States of America,
and claims priority to Italian application number BO2005A000404
filed Jun. 15, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated
by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a bronchotracheal access
valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus.
[0003] As is know, a bronchoaspiration apparatus, connectable to a
ventilation circuit, comprises" [0004] a vacuum generating and
regulating device, [0005] a catheter body comprising a transparent
sleeve and a catheter; and [0006] a bronchotracheal access valve
connected mechanically to a connecting member for connection to a
patient's body.
[0007] A bronchoaspiration apparatus must ensure complete isolation
of the suction catheter from the environment, to prevent
contamination of the patient by the environment and vice versa,
i.e. contamination of the environment by the patient.
[0008] In operation, after a first suction stage, the end portion
of the catheter is normally flushed by injecting sterilized water
or a saline solution through a passage provided for that
purpose.
[0009] The flushing operation is potentially hazardous to the
patient, particularly in the case of babies. That is, the operator
may inadvertently inject the flush fluid without activating the
flush fluid suction means; in which case, the flush fluid would
flow directly into the patient's trachea, thus resulting in obvious
damage, which is particularly serious in the treatment of
babies.
SUMMARY
[0010] It is therefore a main object of the present invention to
provide a bronchotracheal access valve (for a bronchoaspiration
apparatus) designed to only permit flushing of the end of the
catheter in given patient safety conditions. Consequently, any
inadvertent action possibly resulting in flush fluid being injected
into the patient's trachea is prevented, even if the
bronchotracheal access valve is in the open position.
[0011] It is therefore a main object of the present invention to
provide a bronchotracheal access valve designed to eliminate the
aforementioned drawbacks, and which is intrinsically safe.
[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided a
bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus, as
claimed in the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional assembly drawing of a
bronchoaspiration apparatus;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows an exploded three-dimensional assembly drawing
of the FIG. 1 bronchoaspiration apparatus;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged three-dimensional view of a
bronchotracheal access valve in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention and forming part of the FIGS. 1 and 2
bronchoaspiration apparatus;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the FIG. 3 bronchotracheal
access valve;
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a first configuration of FIGS. 3
and 4 bronchotracheal access valve;
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a second configuration of FIGS.
3 and 4 bronchotracheal access valve;
[0020] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the first configuration of
the bronchotracheal access valve in FIG. 5; and
[0021] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the second configuration of
the bronchotracheal access valve in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Number 10 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a bronchoaspiration
apparatus connectable to a ventilation circuit (not shown).
[0023] Apparatus 10 comprises a vacuum control valve 11 connected
mechanically to a catheter body 12.
[0024] Apparatus 10 also comprises a bronchotracheal access valve
13 representing the innovative part of apparatus 10 (see
below).
[0025] A connecting member 14 completes apparatus 10.
[0026] More specifically, connecting member 14 comprises a conduit
14a for connection to a patient (not shown); a conduit 14b for
connection to bronchotracheal access valve 13; and a conduit 14c
for connecting apparatus 10 to a ventilation circuit (not
shown).
[0027] In the following description, only the details necessary for
a clear understanding of the present invention will be described in
detail, but hose of skill in the art will appreciate that the
present invention will be described in detail, but hose of skill in
the art will appreciate that the present invention encompasses
variants not specifically discussed in detail herein.
[0028] Vacuum control valve 11 and connecting member 14 are known.
Therefore, suffice it to say that vacuum control valve 11 comprises
a cover 11a marked with an arrow 11b (indicated in the closed
position in FIG. 1). When necessary, the operator applies finger
pressure on cover 11a and rotates it to set arrow 11b to a vacuum
source (not shown) to aspirate bronchial mucus. Only with arrow 11b
set to this position, can secretion be aspirated; in any other
position of arrow 11b, aspiration is prevented.
[0029] As shown in detail in FIG. 2, catheter body 12 comprises a
transparent sleeve 15 made of easily deformable, tear-proof plastic
material, and which protects a catheter 16 from contamination to
and from an external environment. In know manner, catheter 16
comprises a number of depth marks 17 to enable the user to monitor
insertion of suction catheter 16 (of minimum 5 Ch size) inside the
tracheal/tracheostomic tube.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, between catheter body 12 and
bronchotracheal access valve 13 are inserted a fitting 18 for
guiding catheter 16, and a bushing 19 for securing transparent
sleeve 15 to fitting 18.
[0031] As stated, the innovative part is defined by bronchotracheal
access valve 13, which is shown in detail in the exploded views in
FIGS. 2, 7, and 8.
[0032] All the component parts of bronchotracheal access valve 13
are made of transparent plastic material.
[0033] With reference to the accompanying drawings, bronchotracheal
access valve 13 comprises a substantially disk-shaped first member
20, and a substantially cup-shaped second member 21 (FIGS. 2, 7,
and 8).
[0034] Second member 21 in turn comprises a cup-shaped main body
22, from a surface 22a (FIG. 4) from which projects a through
conduit 23 (e.g. insertion means), for passage of a catheter 16.
The through conduit 23 is fixed, in use, to fitting 18 (FIG. 1). A
flush conduit 24 (e.g. flush means) projects also from the surface
22a. Conduits 23, 24 are advantageously, though not necessarily,
formed in one piece with main body 22.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 8, a flush tube 25 is
inserted inside conduit 24, and has a cap 26 connected to it by a
tie 27.
[0036] As shown particularly in FIG. 7, main body 22 has 25 three
weight-reducing holes 28 located 120.degree. apart, and at each of
which a respective tab 29 is formed by conveniently cutting an edge
22b of main body 22.
[0037] The function of the three tabs 29 is explained below.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, a channel 30 is integrated
in the inner wall of conduit 23, originates at a point P1 at the
bottom of conduit 23, and terminates at a point P2 (FIGS. 3 and
4).
[0039] The functions of channel 30 are explained below, in the
section dealing with the operation of bronchotracheal access valve
13.
[0040] A surface 22c of main body 22 has a locating pin 31 (FIG. 2)
which fits inside a locating hole 32 formed in the center of first
member 20 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The inner surface of edge 22b has a pin
33, which, in use, engages a guide duct 34 (FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8)
formed on an edge 20a of first member 20, for the reasons explained
in detail below.
[0041] For the time being, suffice it to say that pin 33 and guide
duct 34 define a stop device.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8, a through sleeve 35
(e.g. connecting means) projects from a surface 20b of first member
20, and is connected, in use, to conduit 14b of connecting member
14.
[0043] In addition to locating hole 32 and guide duct 34, a surface
20c of first member 20 (FIGS. 7 and 8) also comprises a
substantially semicircular duct 36.
[0044] Surface 20c also comprises a number of ducts 37 for housing
an elastomer seal 38.
[0045] Seal 38 obviously provides for hydraulically sealing duct 36
from the mouth of sleeve 35.
[0046] That is, seal 38 (e.g., a selective communication means), as
will be seen, prevents the flush fluid from accidentally flowing
from duct 36 to the mouth of sleeve 35.
[0047] During assembly, first member 20, second member 21, and seal
38 (inserted inside ducts 37) are "packed" tightly (FIGS. 7 and 8)
together using the deformability of tabs 29 on second member 21,
which grip onto edge 20a of first member 20.
[0048] In other words, during assembly, main body 22 of second
member 21 "clicks" onto first member 20 using the deformability of
tabs 29 formed from edge 22b and therefore made of plastic
material.
[0049] In actual use, second member 21 can be rotated by the
operator with respect to first member 20 in the direction indicated
by arrow F1 (and about locating pin 31) to move bronchotracheal
access valve 13 from a first configuration, shown in FIG. 5, to a
second configuration, shown in FIG. 6. In the first configuration
in FIG. 5, pin 33, integral with second member 21, is set to a
limit position A along guide duct 34 in first member 20, and
conduit 23 is aligned with sleeve 35, with conduit 14b, with
fitting 18, and with busing 19, so that catheter 16 can fit through
conduit 23, sleeve 35, and conduit 14b to the desired areas of the
patient's body.
[0050] In the first configuration in FIG. 5, flush conduit 24
terminates at one end inside duct 36. However, since duct 36 in
this configuration does not communicate hydraulically with conduit
23 or channel 30, the flush fluid, even if injected by the operator
inadvertently into duct 36 through conduit 24, is also prevented by
seal 38 from reaching conduit 23 or channel 30.
[0051] To flush an end portion 16a (FIG. 2) of catheter 16, the
operator simply withdraws catheter 16 to pull end portion 16a out
of sleeve 35 (FIG. 4), and rotates second member 21 with respect to
first member 20 in the direction of arrow F1, so that pin 33 is set
to a limit position B (FIG. 6) along guide duct 34, and one end of
channel 30 is positioned on duct 36. Flush conduit 24 is also
rotated in the direction of arrow F1, but a free end of it is still
maintained contacting duct 36.
[0052] This therefore results in the FIG. 6 configuration, in
which, flush fluid injected by the operator into flush conduit 24
flows along duct 36 (arrow F2 in FIGS. 4 and 6) into channel 30 and
out at point P2 to flood conduit 23 and so flush end portion 16a of
catheter 16. It should be pointed out that, when second member 21
is rotated with respect to first member 20 in the direction of
arrow Fl, surface 20c of first member 20 (FIGS. 7 and 8) closes the
end of conduit 23, thus preventing accidental backflow of the flush
fluid from conduit 23 to the patient through sleeve 35 and conduit
14b.
[0053] Once flushing is completed, the flush fluid is drained from
conduit 23 by known drain systems.
[0054] Once end portion 16a is flushed, the operator simply rotates
second member 21 with respect to first member 20 in the opposite
direction to arrow F1, and then pushes catheter 16 back into sleeve
35 and conduit 14b to continue treatment of the patient.
[0055] As will be clear from the foregoing description, the main
advantage of the bronchotracheal access valve, which is the main
object of the present invention, lies in it being designed to only
permit flushing of the end of the catheter in conditions ensuring
the utmost safety of the patient.
* * * * *