Abstract:
A multi-purpose medical suctioning device, comprising a first tubular body portion, a second tubular portion operatively connected to said first tubular body portion, said second tubular portion having a flexible tip portion which has an entrance of reduced area, there being a side inlet associated with at least one of said first and second portion, to be manually blocked and unblocked to control suctioning of fluid from said tip portion entrance and through said second and first tubular portion.

Description:
This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/294,982, filed Jun. 4, 2001. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to medical suctioning or aspiration devices and methods, and more particularly to an improved device and method characterized by increased overall utility, as well as ease and effectiveness of use and operation. 
   There is need for improvements in devices of the type referred to above. Also, there is need for devices and methods embodying the novel and unusual features of construction, modes of operation and results found in the device and methods of use embodying in the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved suctioning device and method of its use, as referred to. Basically, the device comprises:
         a) a first tubular body portion,   b) a second tubular portion operatively connected to said first tubular body portion,   c) the second tubular portion being easily maneuverable and having a flexible tip portion which is relatively soft and pliable,   d) there being a side inlet associated with at least one of said first and second portions, to be manually blocked and unblocked to control suctioning of fluid from the tip portion entrance and through the second and first tubular portions.       

   A further object is to provide such a device wherein the first tubular body portion consists of relatively hard plastic material, and said second tubular portion consists of relatively soft plastic material, the tip having an entrance of reduced suctioning area. 
   Yet another object is to provide the second tubular body portion with elongated flexible extent tapering toward its tip or entrance end. 
   Another object is to provide the second tubular portion with primary secondary and tertiary lengthwise extending sections, the primary section fitting telescopically to said first tubular body portion, said tertiary section being flexible and tapering toward its tip at a relatively lesser taper angle, and said secondary section extending between said primary and tertiary sections and at a relatively greater taper angle. 
   An additional object is to provide such secondary and tertiary sections to have respective lengths L 2  and L 3  wherein L 3  is elongated and L 3 &gt;&gt;L 2 , flexibility of said tertiary section thereby being enabled along its major elongated length, to facilitate suctioning usage of the tertiary section while the tertiary section is easily and variably bent in response to engagement with tissue of a patient, as for example nasal tissue. 
   A yet further object is to provide for use of such a multi-purpose medical suctioning device, by the method that includes
         i) providing the secondary and tertiary sections to have respective lengths L 2  and L 3  characterized in that L 3  is elongated relative to L 2 , and L 3 &gt;&gt;L 2 , and   ii) providing the tertiary section to have substantially reduced overall diameter along its length relative to the overall diameter of the primary section,   iii) and providing the tertiary section to have resiliently yieldable sideward bending flexibility along its length L 3 ,   iv) and operating said device to suction fluid from a patient via said entrance tip at said tertiary section, while relatively easily sidewardly bending said tertiary section in different directions in response to sideward engagement with different parts of a patient&#39;s tissue.       

   These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification an drawings, in which: 

   
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a preferred device incorporating the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a section taken in elevation through a flexible tubular portion of the  FIG. 1  device; 
       FIG. 3  is an end view taken on lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged section taken through a tip of the  FIG. 2  flexible tubular portion, 
       FIG. 5  is a section taken in elevation through a tubular body portion of the  FIG. 1  device; 
       FIG. 6  is an end view taken on lines  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5 , and 
       FIG. 7  is a section showing a modification. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the drawings, the overall multi-purpose medical suctioning device is shown at  10 , in  FIG. 1 . That two-part device includes a first tubular body portion  11 , and a second tubular portion  12  operatively connected to, and in end alignment with the first tubular body portion. The second portion is in part sidewardly flexible, that is yieldably resistant to sideward bending, as for example would carry its tip  12   a  to various sidewardly deflected positions as indicated at  13   a ,  13   b . Tapered tubular tip  12   a , as seen in  FIG. 4 , is soft and pliable, so that it flexes easily and helps provide better access to nasal and oral cavities, with less trauma to body tissues at said orifices. Note smoothly curved or tapered annular surfaces at  14  and  15 . The tubular fluid entrance is indicated at  16 , which is substantially reduced in area relative to the cross sectional area at  17  of the portion  12 . 
   The first tubular body portion  11 , to which portion  12  is telescopically connected, consists of relatively hard non-deformable plastic material, whereas portion  12  flexibly and resiliently yieldably deformable, sidewardly, as referred to. Portion  11  which may be manually gripped in use, has a primary section  20  with relatively large bore  20   a , and a secondary section  21 , with a relatively reduced bore  20   b . Section  20  is adapted to fit into primary section  22  of the second tubular portion  12 , with outward projections  23  on  20  typically frictionally engaging the inner bore wall  22   a  of  22 , for axial retention, whereby bodies  11  and  12  retained in coaxial interfitting relation. 
   A side inlet  30  is provided on section  20 , as may be defined by a short tubular projection  33  from one side of  20 , and facilitating finger control of suctioning, as by closing or opening the inlet at its outer end  30   a . Another projection on section  20  is provided at  34 , at the opposite side of  20  from projection  33 , and these two projections provide stops, limiting telescopic endwise of  11  and  12 . 
   It will further be noted that the second tubular body portion  12  has primary, secondary and tertiary sections  36 ,  37  and  38 , in lengthwise axial sequence. Section  36  is sized to closely fit over section  20  as referred to, retaining section  36  against sideward bending, whereas tertiary section  38  has bending flexibility as referred to and tapers toward tip  12   a  at a relatively small or lesser tape angle α. Secondary section  37  extends between  36  and  38  at a relatively larger taper angle β. 
   Sections  37  and  38  have respective lengths L 2  and L 3 , wherein L 3  is elongated and
         L 3 &gt;&gt;&gt;L 2 .       

   Sideward bending flexibility of section  38  is thereby endless along its major elongated length L 3 , to facilitate suctioning usage as during tip flexing in response to sideward engagement with patient tissue, as at a nostril wall, or other body orifice wall. Thus, the device is enabled to be easily and comfortably operated to suction fluid from a patient via tip  12   a  and the tertiary section  38  while relatively easily sidewardly bending said tertiary section in different directions in response to sideward engagement with different parts of a patient&#39;s tissue. 
     FIG. 5  also shows barbs  45  projecting outwardly from wall section  21  of body  11 , to frictionally engage the bore  46   a  of a plastic tube  46 , fitted endwise over 21. A source of suction (reduced pressure as provided by a pump for example) is indicated at  50 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a modification of  12 , wherein a soft pliable flange  60  is molded onto the section  38 , near tip  12   a , for sideward positioning engagement with a nostril inner wall, and seal off (or partially seal off) the nostril, increasing suction in the nostril. 
   Additional features and advantages of the invention include the following:
         a) the relatively short length l 3  of the soft-tip or section  38  allows easy maneuvering in confined space, such as a neonatal incubator. Length l 3  is preferably between 1.5 and 3.5 inches.   b) One handed use procedure is enabled; i.e. with such a suction catheter control of the suction is by or with one hand, and the tip of the device is controlled with the other hand, i.e., tip location and bending.   c) The device is preferably translucent or transparent for easy visualization as during use. Prior devices are not transparent.   d) Preferably, only one orifice is provided at the tip, as at  16 . This unique feature allows sealing of the device against the nostril, for proper suctioning. Prior devices lack this feature.   e) The material of the device is neither too flexible (like vinyl tubing) nor too rigid (like polypropylene) whereby the device and especially section  38  is easily maneuverable.   f) The inside cross-section is typically smallest at the tip. Therefore, material that is sucked into the device encounters less resistance to flow once it enters the tip, due to highest flow velocity at lesser cross sectional area. Thus there will be no hang ups of, or blockages by, secretions, within the product.   g) The device consists of molded plastic material that excludes vinyl and latex.   h) Endwise assembly of the two parts  11  and  12  is mechanical, for or by frictional retention. Therefore, no adhesive or glue is required, and cost is reduced or minimized.   i) Tip  12   a  is rounded or convex, so that engagement with sensitive tissue as in a nostril is less traumatic to patients. There are no sharp edges at the tip.   j) Both oral and nasal suction can be achieved using this one device, due to its tip configuration.   k) There is no vagal response from a patient, because of the short length of the section  38 . For example, the hand-held device cannot penetrate too deeply (and uncomfortably) into the throat.   l) As compared to use of a bulb-syringe, the device does not harbor fluids or germs.   m) The devices can be easily cleaned, between uses, if re-use is necessary.