Mechanical User Control Elements For Fluid Input Module

Abstract

A multi-lumen catheter for cleaning an inner surface of a tracheal ventilation tube is provided, which enables single-handed simultaneous activation of inflation of an inflatable element and suctioning in a closed suction system for use with the in tracheal ventilation tube. The closed suction system allows catheters to be used repeatedly without being detached from the tube system including the ventilation air supply. The cleaning catheter is insertable into the tracheal ventilation tube, and is shaped so as to define one or more distal suction orifices. The cleaning catheter comprises an elongate, flexible, tubular catheter main body, and an inflatable element, which is mounted to the catheter main body. An input module is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber separate from a suction source. The input module also comprises a flow regulator, which is shaped so as to define a suction port coupleable in fluid communication with the suction source.

1 . Apparatus for use with a tracheal ventilation tube and a suction source, the apparatus comprising:
 (A) a cleaning catheter, which is insertable into the ventilation tube and comprises:
 (i) an elongate, flexible, tubular catheter main body, which is shaped so as to define (a) one or more distal suction orifices, (b) a suction-orifice lumen, and (c) an inflatable-element lumen; and 
 (ii) an inflatable element, which is mounted to the catheter main body, and which is shaped so as to define an interior that is in fluid communication with the inflatable-element lumen; and 
   (B) an input module, which is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises:
 (i) an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber separate from the suction source; 
 (ii) a flow regulator, which is shaped so as to define a suction port coupleable in fluid communication with the suction source; and 
 (iii) one or more mechanical user-control buttons configured to (a) assume at least a first spatial position when not depressed, and a second spatial position when fully depressed, and (b) mechanically and non-electrically cause an increase in pressure in an interior of the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical user-control button from its first spatial position toward its second spatial position; 
   wherein the input module is arranged such that, if suction having a strength of 25 cm H2O and a flow rate of  4  cc/second is applied to the suction port:
 a pressure within the inflatable element is less than 25 cm H2O at two seconds after completing, and while maintaining, depression of the mechanical user-control button; and 
 wherein the inflatable element is mounted to the catheter main body at a location within 3 cm of at least one of the one or more distal suction orifices. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a volume of the inflation chamber when the mechanical inflation-chamber-control button is in its first spatial position is at least 25% greater than a volume of the interior of the inflatable element when the pressure within the inflatable element equals 25 cm H2O. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction port is coupled in fluid communication with the suction source. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation chamber has a volume of between 1 and 10 cc when the first mechanical control element is in its first spatial position. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical user-control button is biased toward its first spatial position. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the input module comprises one or more springs that are arranged to bias the mechanical user-control button toward its first spatial position. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the inflation chamber comprises an elastic compartment, and   wherein the input module is configured such that the transition of the mechanical user-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position compresses the elastic compartment, thereby mechanically and non-electrically causing the increase in the pressure in an interior of the elastic compartment.   
     
     
         10 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical user-control button is configured to cause the increase in the pressure in the interior of the inflation chamber by mechanically and non-electrically compressing the inflation chamber during the at least a portion of the transition of the mechanical inflation-chamber-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the inflation chamber transitions from a lower level of compression to a higher level of compression during the at least a portion of the transition of the mechanical user-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position, and wherein the input module is configured to elastically bias the inflation chamber toward the lower level of compression. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein the inflation module is elastically biased toward the lower level of compression. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the input module is arranged such that:
 when the user-control button is in its first spatial position, the flow regulator (a) blocks fluid communication between the suction source and the one or more distal suction orifices, and (b) enables fluid communication between the suction source and the interior of the inflatable element via the inflatable-element lumen, and 
 when the user-control button is in its second spatial position, the flow regulator blocks fluid communication between the suction source and the interior of the inflatable element. 
   
     
     
         30 .- 32 . (canceled)