Mechanical user control elements for fluid input module

Abstract

A cleaning catheter includes an inflatable element and an input module, which includes an inflation chamber coupled in fluid communication with the inflatable element. A flow regulator defines a suction port coupleable in fluid communication with a suction source. A mechanical suction-control button is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions. A mechanical inflation-control button is configured to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in the interior of the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical inflation-control button from a first spatial position to a second spatial position; and a reversibly-engageable linking element, which is moveable with respect to the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button, and is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions.

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 lumen, and (c) an inflation lumen; and 
 (ii) an inflatable element, which is mounted to the catheter main body; and 
   (B) an input module, which is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises:
 (i) an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber, wherein the inflation lumen couples an interior of the inflation chamber in fluid communication with an interior of the inflatable element; 
 (ii) a flow regulator, which is shaped so as to define a suction port coupleable in fluid communication with the suction source; 
 (iii) a mechanical suction-control button, which is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions; 
 (iv) a mechanical inflation-control button, which is configured to (a) assume at least first and second spatial positions, and (b) mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in the interior of the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical inflation-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position; and 
 (v) a reversibly-engageable linking element, which is moveable with respect to the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button, and is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions, 
   wherein the input module is arranged such that:
 at least when the mechanical suction-control button is in its first spatial position, the flow regulator blocks fluid communication between the suction source and the distal suction orifices, and at least when the mechanical suction control button is in its second spatial position, the flow regulator connects the suction source and the distal suction orifices in fluid communication via the suction lumen, 
 when (a) the linking element is in its first spatial position and (b) the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button are in their respective first spatial positions: depression of the linking element does not transition the mechanical inflation-control button to its second spatial position, and 
 when (a) the linking element is in its second spatial position and (b) the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button are in their respective first spatial positions: depression of the linking element transitions the mechanical inflation-control button to its second spatial position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the linking element is arranged to axially slide between its first and second spatial positions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second spatial positions of the linking element are first and second axial positions, and wherein the linking element is configured to assume at least the first and the second axial positions. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first and the second spatial positions of the mechanical suction-control button are first and second radial positions, and wherein the mechanical suction-control button is configured to assume at least the first and the second radial positions, and   wherein the first and the second spatial positions of the mechanical inflation control button are first and second radial positions, and wherein the mechanical inflation control button is configured to assume at least the first and the second radial positions.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the linking element is moveably attached to the mechanical suction-control button. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the input module is arranged such that the linking element, when in its first spatial position, does not engage the mechanical inflation-control button. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the input module is arranged such that the linking element, when in its second spatial position, engages the mechanical inflation-control button. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical suction-control button is disposed proximally to the mechanical inflation-control button. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction port is coupled in fluid communication with the suction source. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical suction-control button covers a portion of the reversibly-engageable linking element. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the mechanical suction-control button is shaped so as to define a suction control user interface surface, at least a portion of which is visible from outside the input module,   wherein the mechanical inflation-control button is not shaped so as to define a user interface surface,   wherein the input module is arranged such that when (a) the linking element is in its first spatial position and (b) the mechanical suction-control button is in its first spatial position: depression of the suction-control user interface surface transitions the mechanical suction-control button to its second spatial position, and   wherein the input module is arranged such that when (a) the linking element is in its second spatial position and (b) the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button are in their respective first spatial positions: depression of the suction-control user interface surface causes a first transition of the mechanical suction-control button to its second spatial position, which first transition, via the linking element, causes a second transition of the mechanical inflation-control button to its second spatial position.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein at least 1 cm2 of the suction-control user interface surface is visible from outside the input module. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the input module is arranged such that the second transition occurs simultaneously with the first transition. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button are biased toward their respective first spatial positions. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the input module comprises one or more springs that are arranged to bias the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button toward their respective first spatial positions. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the inflation chamber comprises (a) rigid lateral chamber walls, and (b) a moveable rigid compression wall that forms an airtight seal with the rigid lateral chamber walls, and   wherein the input module is configured such that the transition of the mechanical inflation-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position moves the moveable rigid compression wall with respect to the rigid lateral chamber walls, thereby mechanically and non-electrically increasing the pressure in the interior of the inflation chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the inflation chamber comprises an elastic compartment, and   wherein the input module is configured such that the transition of the mechanical inflation-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position compresses the elastic compartment, thereby mechanically and non-electrically increasing the pressure in an interior of the elastic compartment.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical inflation-control button is configured to increase 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-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position. 
     
     
         20 . A method for use with a tracheal ventilation tube and a suction source, the method comprising:
 providing 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 lumen, and (c) an inflation lumen; and (ii) an inflatable element, which is mounted to the catheter main body; providing an input module, which is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises (i) an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber, wherein the inflation lumen couples an interior of the inflation chamber in fluid communication with an interior of the inflatable element; (ii) a flow regulator, which is shaped so as to define a suction port coupleable in fluid communication with the suction source; (iii) a mechanical suction-control button, which is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions; (iv) a mechanical inflation-control button, which is configured to (a) assume at least first and second spatial positions, and (b) mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in the interior of the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical inflation-control button from its first spatial position to its second spatial position; and (v) a reversibly-engageable linking element, which is moveable with respect to the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button, and is configured to assume at least first and second spatial positions, wherein the input module is arranged such that: (A) at least when the mechanical suction-control button is in its first spatial position, the flow regulator blocks fluid communication between the suction source and the distal suction orifices, and at least when the mechanical suction-control button is in its second spatial position, the flow regulator connects the suction source and the distal suction orifices in fluid communication via the suction lumen, (B) when (a) the linking element is in its first spatial position and (b) the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button are in their respective first spatial positions: depression of the linking element does not transition the mechanical inflation-control button to its second spatial position, and (C) when (a) the linking element is in its second spatial position and (b) the mechanical suction-control button and the mechanical inflation-control button are in their respective first spatial positions: depression of the linking element transitions the mechanical inflation-control button to its second spatial position;   coupling the suction portion in fluid communication with the suction source; and   inserting the cleaning catheter, in a proximal to distal direction, into the ventilation tube inserted in a trachea of a patient, and advancing the cleaning catheter until a distal end of the catheter main body is axially disposed in the ventilation tube at a location more distal than an axial mid-point of the ventilation tube.