Suction catheter adaptor

Abstract

An exemplary suction catheter adaptor includes an adaptor body having a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the adaptor body. The proximal end of the adaptor body receives an instrument and, when coupled with an airway adaptor having a valve within a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the airway adaptor, the distal end of the adaptor body deflects the valve to permit the instrument to be advanced or retracted through the valve. A seal within the passageway of the adaptor body is biased to engage the valve during advancement of an instrument toward the valve, and the seal is disengaged when the instrument is retracted away from the valve. The valve, when not engaged, occludes the passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the airway adaptor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction catheter adaptor assembly comprising:
 an adaptor body having a seal, the adaptor body comprising an inner surface defining a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the adaptor body, the seal comprising a flexible radial flange and a plunger, the radial flange intersecting the passageway and having an access aperture therethrough, and the plunger comprising an elongate shaft extending distally from the radial flange toward the distal end of the adaptor body; and   an airway adaptor comprising an inner surface defining a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the airway adaptor, and a valve configured to occlude the passageway;   wherein, when the adaptor body is coupled with the proximal end of the airway adaptor, deflection of the radial flange toward the distal end of the adaptor body moves the plunger, relative to the adaptor body, to engage the plunger against the valve, such that a portion of the valve is deflected toward the distal end of the airway adaptor to fluidly couple the airway adaptor passageway and adaptor body passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft comprises a proximal end portion coupled to the radial flange and a distal end portion having an annular head that extends beyond the distal end of the adaptor body. 
     
     
         3 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 2 , wherein the annular head comprising a cross-sectional thickness that is equal to or greater than a cross-sectional thickness of a wall of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft comprises a cylindrical cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         5 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a passageway extending through the access aperture and the plunger. 
     
     
         6 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 5 , wherein a fluid aperture extends through a wall of the elongate shaft to fluidly couple the passageway through the seal to an outer surface of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the elongate shaft comprises concave channel about a circumference of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor body comprises a radial port between the flexible radial flange and the distal end of the adaptor body, the radial port having a passageway fluidly coupled to the passageway of the adaptor body. 
     
     
         9 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein deflection of the radial flange toward the proximal end of the adaptor body retracts the plunger toward the proximal end of the adaptor body. 
     
     
         10 . A suction catheter adaptor assembly comprising:
 an adaptor body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface defining a passageway between a proximal and distal ends; and   a seal comprising a flexible radial flange and a plunger, the radial flange having an access aperture therethrough, and the plunger comprising an elongate shaft, wherein the seal is coupled with the adaptor body such that the radial flange intersects the passageway and the elongate shaft extends from the radial flange toward the distal end of the adaptor body;   wherein deflection of the radial flange toward the distal end of the adaptor body moves the plunger, relative to the adaptor body, toward the distal end of the adaptor body.   
     
     
         11 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein the elongate shaft comprises a proximal end portion coupled to the radial flange and a distal end portion having an annular head that extends beyond the distal end of the adaptor body. 
     
     
         12 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 11 , wherein the annular head comprising a cross-sectional thickness that is equal to or greater than a cross-sectional thickness of a wall of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein the elongate shaft comprises a cylindrical cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         14 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein the seal comprises a passageway extending through the access aperture and the plunger. 
     
     
         15 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 14 , wherein a fluid aperture extends through a wall of the elongate shaft to fluidly couple the passageway through the seal to an outer surface of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the elongate shaft comprises concave channel about a circumference of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 10 , further comprising an airway adaptor comprising an inner surface defining a passageway between a proximal end and a distal end of the airway adaptor, and a valve configured to occlude the passageway, the valve comprising a resiliently flexible annular member and a plurality of valve segments separated by a slit, wherein the proximal end of the airway adaptor is configured to couple with the adaptor body. 
     
     
         18 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 17 , wherein, when the adaptor body is coupled with the proximal end of the airway adaptor, deflection of the radial flange toward the distal end of the adaptor body engages the plunger against the valve of the airway adaptor, such that a portion of the valve is deflected toward the distal end of the airway adaptor to fluidly couple the airway adaptor passageway and adaptor body passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 17 , wherein the adaptor body comprises a radial port between the flexible radial flange and the distal end of the adaptor body, the radial port having a passageway fluidly coupled to the passageway of the adaptor body. 
     
     
         20 . The suction catheter adaptor of  claim 10 , wherein deflection of the radial flange toward the proximal end of the adaptor body retracts the plunger toward the proximal end of the adaptor body.