Ballooned ventilation tube cleaning device

Abstract

A cleaning device, system and method for use with an ETT or tracheostomy ventilation tube 60 , a ventilator machine 900 , a source(s) 602 of fluid (for example, pressurized or unpressurized) and a source(s) of suctioning 603 is disclosed. In some embodiments, the cleaning device is useful for cleaning an inner surface of the ventilation tube 60 and/or for preventing or hindering the accumulation of biofilm thereon. In some embodiments, it is possible to clean biofilm or any other material on the inner surface 201 by delivering fluid into an interior of the ventilation tube, wiping the tube interior with a width-expanded wiping element (e.g. an inflated balloon) by longitudinal motion of the wiping element, and suctioning material out of the ventilation tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for cleaning an inner surface of a ventilation tube, the device comprising:
 an elongate flexible main body having a proximal end and a distal end;   a suction lumen within the elongate flexible main body and extending from the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body toward the distal end of the elongate flexible main body;   an inflation lumen within the elongate flexible main body and extending from the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body toward the distal end of the elongate flexible main body;   one or more suction orifices on the elongate flexible main body in fluid communication with the suction lumen;   an inflatable balloon mounted to the elongate flexible main body, the inflatable balloon being expandable by fluid through the inflation lumen so that a surface of the inflatable balloon is brought into contact with an inner surface of the ventilation tube when the elongate flexible main body is inserted inside the ventilation tube;   a pliable sleeve around at least a portion of the elongate flexible main body to inhibit contamination; and   an input module assembly connected to the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body and to a proximal end of the pliable sleeve, the input module assembly having:
 (i) a fluid source located within the input module assembly, the fluid source comprising a gas delivered from a pressurized reservoir to the inflation lumen for inflation of the inflatable balloon, 
 (ii) a suction port connectable to a suction source, and 
 (iii) a switching assembly comprising a common switch to manually regulate both delivery of the gas from the fluid source in the input module assembly to the inflatable balloon and suction through the suction lumen. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the common switch in the switching assembly comprises:
 (ii) a first switch to regulate delivery of fluid from the fluid source to the inflatable balloon, and   (iii) a second switch to regulate suction between the suction port and the suction lumen.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first switch and the second switch can be simultaneously controlled. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first switch is biased to an off position such there is no fluid delivery for inflation of the inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second switch is biased to an off position such there is no suction through the suction lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first switch is biased to an off position such there is no fluid delivery for inflation of the inflatable balloon, and   wherein the second switch is biased to an off position such there is no suction through the suction lumen.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first switch and the second switch can be simultaneously controlled. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a ventilation tube connector assembly attached to a distal end of the pliable sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the ventilation tube connector assembly is sealingly connectable to the ventilation tube. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the ventilation tube connector assembly is connectable to a ventilator. 
     
     
         11 . A method for cleaning an inner surface of a ventilation tube, the method comprising:
 providing a device comprising:
 an elongate flexible main body having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a suction lumen within the elongate flexible main body and extending from the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body toward the distal end of the elongate flexible main body; 
 an inflation lumen within the elongate flexible main body and extending from the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body toward the distal end of the elongate flexible main body; 
 one or more suction orifices on the elongate flexible main body in fluid communication with the suction lumen; 
 an inflatable balloon mounted to the elongate flexible main body; 
 a pliable sleeve around at least a portion of the elongate flexible main body to inhibit contamination; and 
 an input module assembly connected to the proximal end of the elongate flexible main body and to a proximal end of the pliable sleeve, the input module assembly having:
 (i) a fluid source located within the input module assembly, the fluid source comprising a gas delivered from a pressurized reservoir to the inflation lumen for inflation of the inflatable balloon, 
 (ii) a suction port connectable to a suction source, and 
 (iii) a switching assembly comprising a common switch to manually regulate both delivery of the gas from the fluid source in the input module assembly to the inflatable balloon and suction through the suction lumen; 
 
   inserting the elongate flexible main body of the device into the ventilation tube so that the inflatable balloon of the device is inserted into the ventilation tube;   inflating the inflatable balloon by delivering the gas from the pressurized reservoir in the input module assembly to the inflation lumen so that a surface of the inflatable balloon is brought into contact with an inner surface of the ventilation tube;   wiping the inner surface of the ventilation tube with the inflated balloon; and   manually regulating, with the common switch, both delivery of the gas from the fluid source in the input module assembly to the inflatable balloon and suction through the suction lumen.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein common switch in the switching assembly comprises:
 (ii) a first switch to regulate delivery of fluid from the fluid source to the inflatable balloon, and   (iii) a second switch to regulate suction between the suction port and the suction lumen.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising simultaneously controlling the first switch and the second switch. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first switch is biased to an off position such there is no fluid delivery for inflation of the inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the second switch is biased to an off position such there is no suction through the suction lumen. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first switch is biased to an off position such there is no fluid delivery for inflation of the inflatable balloon, and   wherein the second switch is biased to an off position such there is no suction through the suction lumen.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising simultaneously controlling the first switch and the second switch. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a ventilation tube connector assembly attached to a distal end of the pliable sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the ventilation tube connector assembly is sealingly connectable to the ventilation tube. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the ventilation tube connector assembly is connectable to a ventilator.