Oral suction device

Abstract

An oral suction device includes a suction catheter having a suction portion at a first end, a shell surrounding the suction portion, and a suction tubing connector on a second end opposite the first end. The shell includes a hydrogel.

1 . An oral suction device, comprising:
 a suction catheter having a suction portion at a first end,   a shell surrounding the suction portion, and   a suction tubing connector, on a second end opposite the first end,   wherein the shell comprises a hydrogel.   
     
     
         2 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sponge surrounding the suction portion, wherein the shell surrounds the sponge. 
     
     
         3 . The oral suction device of  claim 2 , wherein the sponge is radiopaque. 
     
     
         4 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises a polymer, water and a salt. 
     
     
         5 . The oral suction device of  claim 4 , wherein the salt is sodium chloride. 
     
     
         6 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the suction portion has a length of 2.5 to 30 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the oral suction device is sterile. 
     
     
         8 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a retention connector attached to the suction catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The oral suction device of  claim 8 , wherein the retention connector is a C-clip. 
     
     
         10 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide; agar-agar; polyvinyl pryrrolidone; silicone hydrogels; and polymers and copolymers of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, glyceryl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, ethoxyethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, agar-agar and water. 
     
     
         12 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel is impregnated with an antibiotic. 
     
     
         13 . The oral suction device of  claim 12 , wherein the antibiotic is at least one member selected from the group consisting of cephalosporines, fluoroquinolones, β-lactams, carbapenems, glycopeptides and aminoglycosides. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the shell has a length of 5 to 25 cm, a width at a widest point of 3 to 8 cm, a width at a narrowest point of 2 to 7 cm, and a height of 0.3 to 4 cm. 
     
     
         17 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum lock relief tube inside the suction catheter, wherein the vacuum lock relief tube creates a gas pathway from atmosphere outside the suction catheter into the sponge or shell. 
     
     
         18 . A method of removing fluids from a patient, comprising applying suction to the oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the oral suction device is within the oral cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the patient is intubated. 
     
     
         20 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , further comprising an esophageal stethoscope and an electronic temperature probe, wherein the esophageal stethoscope comprises a stethoscope tube having a listening end. 
     
     
         30 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein the stethoscope tube is located within the suction catheter. 
     
     
         31 . The oral suction device of  claim 1 , wherein a seal separates the listening end of the esophageal stethoscope from the suction portion. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled)