Suction control valve

A suction control valve is disclosed which includes a primary suction device access and an ancillary suction device access. The valve includes an actuator which is movable between a first position in which the primary access is closed against suction pressure therethrough, to a second position in which the primary access is open to suction pressure therethrough, or alternatively, to a third position in which the primary access port remains closed to suction pressure therethrough and the actuator becomes locked against movement into the second position. When the actuator is in the first position, atmospheric air can pass through the valve and into the suction pressure source in such a manner that a "hissing" auditory signal is generated, indicative of the presence of suction pressure within the valve. When the actuator is in the second or third positions, the "hissing" is prevented. The valve also includes an ancillary access port which allows the attachment of an ancillary suction device such as a Yankauer device to the valve without the necessity of removing the primary suction device from the primary device access port.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to fluid flow valving devices. More 
specifically, the present invention relates to a valving device for a 
suction catheter system. Even more specifically, the present invention 
relates to a suction control valve useable with suction catheters 
attachable to a respirator manifold of a respiratory system. 
2. Prior Art 
Respiratory systems used for the ventilation of critically ill patients are 
now commonly used in medical facilities. Typically, a prior art 
respiratory system includes a tracheal tube positioned either directly or 
through the nose or mouth into the trachea of a patient, a manifold 
connected to the tracheal tube at one port position thereof, a source of 
breathable gas connected at a second port thereof, and a third port for 
allowing exhausted gas to exit the manifold. The purpose of the 
respiration system is to assist the patient in maintaining adequate blood 
oxygenation levels without overtaxing the patient's heart and lungs. 
While a patient is attached to a respiration system, it is periodically 
necessary to remove fluid from the patient's trachea or lungs. In the 
past, it was necessary to disconnect the respirator system, either by 
removing the manifold or by opening a port thereof, and inserting a small 
diameter suction catheter down the tracheal tube and into the patient's 
trachea and lungs. The fluid was then suctioned from the patient and the 
suction catheter was removed and the respirator system reassembled. 
Because of the necessary interruption in respiratory support caused by 
this procedure, a patient's blood oxygen often dropped to an unacceptably 
low level during the suctioning, even when other previously known 
breathing assisting efforts were simultaneously provided. 
A known solution to the above problem has been to place a fourth port on 
the aspirator manifold which is adapted to receive a connector of a 
suctioning device. A suctioning device such as used with this type of 
aspirator manifold is adapted to allow a suction catheter to remain 
permanently positioned within the manifold without the necessity of 
attachment or removal thereof from the manifold in between uses, thereby 
avoiding substantial manifold pressure loss. The suction device includes 
an envelope which is sealed around the suction catheter in order to 
prevent contamination of the suction catheter surface which is repeatedly 
inserted into and removed from the patient's trachea and lungs. This type 
of suctioning device allows continuous respiratory support of the patient 
during suctioning of fluid from the patient's trachea and lungs, and is 
commonly controlled by means of a valve located in fluid flow connection 
between the catheter and the suction source therefore. A valve of this 
type which is generally exemplary of the prior art is shown in U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,872,579. The valve selectively communicates vacuum pressure into the 
interior of a catheter tube when it is desired to evacuate respiratory 
fluids. The valve is normally biased to a closed position to prevent 
vacuum flow until a user initiated manual displacement of a valve actuator 
opens the catheter tube to the vacuum source. The valve actuator is also 
designed to be rotatable relative to the remain of the valve between an 
open position and a closed position in which actuation for suctioning is 
prevented. 
There nevertheless remain several drawbacks associated with suction control 
valves of the prior art. For example, prior art suction control valves of 
the above described type fail to provide the user with an auditory 
indication of the continued availability of suction pressure for use. 
Further, when it becomes necessary to perform a suctioning procedure on 
the patient with other than the suction catheter to which the prior art 
valve is attached, as for example when a Yankauer device is required 
during a suctioning procedure in order to effect suctioning of the 
patient's mouth, it is necessary with the prior art suction control valves 
to disconnect the valve and suction catheter entirely from the suction 
source in order to replace them with the desired Yankauer device. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a fluid flow 
valving device which is designed to provide the user with an auditory 
signal corresponding to the availability of pressure, including vacuum 
pressure, from a pressure source. 
Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a fluid 
flow valving device designed with a locking and unlocking valve actuator 
which includes an auditory signaling means which informs the user of the 
locked or unlocked status of the valve. 
It is further an object of the present invention to provide a fluid flow 
valving device which allows attachment of ancillary devices thereto for 
accessing the pressure or vacuum source without the necessity of removing 
a primary device therefrom. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid flow valving 
device as part of a patient respiration system which can include a primary 
and/or ancillary device attached thereto such as a suction catheter and/or 
a Yankauer device, and allow access to the patient's mouth, trachea, or 
lungs, without interruption of continuous patient respiratory support. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid flow 
valving device which is designed to allow attachment thereto of primary 
and ancillary devices such as a primary suction catheter attached to a 
patient respiration system which allows complete closure of the primary 
device and isolation thereof from the ancillary device such as a Yankauer 
suctioning device, whereby the fluid flow valving device functions as a 
connector only for the ancillary device to the source of pressure or 
suction and thus avoids any necessity of removing the fluid flow valving 
device from the source of pressure or suction in order to attach the 
ancillary device thereto. 
These and other objects of the present invention are realized in a 
presently preferred embodiment thereof, described by way of example and 
not necessarily by way of limitation, which includes a fluid flow valving 
device for controlling suction through a preferred primary device, shown 
for purposes of description as a suction catheter device, and provides a 
connection port for an ancillary device such as a Yankauer suction wand. 
The valve includes a main body forming a fluid flow channel therethrough 
and including an actuator for opening and closing the fluid flow passage 
of main body. The actuator is normally biased to a position in which the 
fluid flow passage is closed to prevent fluid passage therethrough and can 
be actuated by the user against the biasing thereof in order to open the 
fluid flow passage. The actuator may also be rotated relative to the valve 
body to a locking position in which the actuator can no longer be 
actuated. On each end of the fluid flow channel through the valve body, a 
tubular extension for attachment of the valve to a suction source and to a 
primary device is included. 
The valve body also includes an ancillary device connection port positioned 
opposite the valve actuator which is normally closed with a flip top cap 
and can be opened to expose a connection port which is designed to receive 
an ancillary device such as a Yankauer suctioning wand therein. The port 
is in fluid flow connection with the fluid flow passage through the valve 
body which is in turn in fluid flow connection with the suction source to 
which the valve is attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in the exemplary drawings for the purposes of illustration, an 
embodiment of a fluid flow valving device made in accordance with the 
principals of the present invention, referred to generally by the 
reference numeral 10, is provided for attachment to a suction source and a 
primary suctioning device and, when desired, to an ancillary suctioning 
device. 
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the suction control valve 10 is 
shown attached to a suction catheter device 11 which is adapted to be used 
in conjunction with a patient respiratory support system through 
attachment to a respirator manifold such as the manifold 12. The valve 10 
is also shown attached to a source of suction by means of a suction tube 
13. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the valve 10 of the present invention is formed of a 
generally cylindrical valve body 14 with a primary device connector 15 
extending away therefrom in a radial direction and a suction source 
connector 16 extending away therefrom in a radial direction opposite the 
primary device connector 15. A lower cap 19 is formed to a cylindrical 
shape having the same diameter as the valve body 14 and covers the bottom 
of the valve body 14. An upper cap 17 is also formed into a generally 
cylindrical shape and is connected to the top of the valve body 14. A 
portion of the actuator 18, constituting the button 20, extends from the 
interior of the valve body 14 through the upper cap opening 21 and extends 
above the annular surface 22 of the upper cap 17. The positioning of the 
actuator 18 on the valve 10 is intended to allow for ease of manipulation 
thereof in a single hand of the user. The valve 10 is sized so as to be 
easily placeable within a user's palm such that the user's thumb may rest 
comfortably on the button 20 of the actuator, with the user's fingers 
curling about the lower cap 19 to support the valve 10 against the 
internal bias of the actuator 18 when the user presses on the button 20 to 
open a suction channel through the valve 10. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, the preferred internal structural arrangement of 
the valve 10 of the present invention will be explained, with the aid of 
FIGS. 4-6 which show various views of each individual component. 
Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve body 14 is formed 
generally of an exterior cylindrical member 23 and an interior cylindrical 
member 24 which are formed together at an annular base 25. The members 23 
and 24 are formed in the shown orientation with an identical longitudinal 
axis, and are separated by the annular cylindrical passage 26. The passage 
26 is formed to accept the semi-cylindrical actuator plate 28 (best shown 
in FIGS. 3 and 5) which is designed for translational and rotational 
movement there within for reasons which will be explained more fully 
below. A blocking member 27 is also located within the cylindrical passage 
26 so as to be in a juxta opposed position relative to the actuator plate 
bottom surface 29 (see FIG. 5) when the actuator 18 is rotated to its 
locked position (see FIG. 9) in the manner and for the purpose as will 
also be explained below. 
A fluid flow passage 30 is generally centrally formed within the valve body 
14 so as to intersect with the longitudinal axis thereof in a 
perpendicular orientation. The fluid flow passage 30 is formed within the 
interior cylindrical member 24 by the rigid tubular member 31, and passes 
from the exterior cylindrical member 23 to pass through the primary device 
connector 15 and suction source connector 16. As can be seen in FIG. 4, 
the rigid tubular member 31 opens at both ends thereof directly into the 
annular cylindrical passage 26 at positions directly adjacent the primary 
device connector 15 and suction source connector 16. The entire fluid flow 
passage 30 is therefor essentially an elongate linear channel of uniform 
diameter passing through the cylindrical passage 26 at two diametrically 
opposed locations. 
As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the actuator 18 includes the cylindrical 
button 20 which is surrounded by an annular shoulder 32. The 
semi-cylindrical actuator plate 28 extends from the annular shoulder 32 
and forms a generally circular actuator opening 33 therein. The actuator 
18 is positioned within the valve body 14 such that the actuator plate 28 
is located within the annular cylindrical passage 26. 
The supporting device 34 is positioned within the enlarged cylindrical 
channel 35 at the top of the interior cylindrical member 24 of the valve 
body 14 and the compression spring 36 is positioned between the supporting 
disks 34 and the interior 37 of the button 20 and operates to bias the 
actuator 18 upwardly. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the upper cap 17 
includes a shoulder 38 which contacts the actuator annular shoulder 32 to 
hold it within the annular cylindrical passage 26. The upper cap 17 is 
attached to the valve body 15 preferably by means of a snap fit connection 
59, but may be attached in any well known manner which is at least 
sufficiently strong to counteract the biasing force of the compression 
spring 36. 
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the actuator 18 can rotate within the cylindrical 
passage 26, and can translate along the longitudinal axis of the valve 
body 14 between a first position in which the annular shoulder 32 of the 
actuator 18 is in contact with the shoulder 38 of the upper cap 17, to a 
second position in which the actuator 18 is translated downwardly until 
the annular shoulder 32 thereof contacts the supporting disk 34. However, 
when the actuator 18 is rotated to the locked position such as is shown in 
FIG. 9, a portion of the actuator plate bottom surface 29 is located 
directly over an extension 58 of the blocking member 27 positioned in the 
bottom of the annular cylindrical passage 26. When rotated to the locked 
position, translational motion of the actuator 18 cannot occur. This 
aspect of the invention will be explained in more detail below in 
connection with the explanation of the operation of the valve 10. 
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the bottom of the valve body 14 is covered with 
a lower cap or "flip cap" 19. The lower cap 19 is formed of a generally 
cylindrical shape having a diameter equal to the diameter of the valve 
body 14 and includes a fixed member 39 which is hingeably attached to a 
cover member 40 by means of hinge 41 which may be of the "living hinge" 
type and formed of polymeric material. The fixed member 39 is preferably 
attached to the annular base 25 of the valve body by an ultrasonic weld, 
however any well known attachment means may be used. The fixed member 39 
includes a circular plate 42 which has an opening 43 formed centrally 
therein which is surrounded by an inwardly projecting boss 44. The cover 
member 40 of the lower cap 19 also includes a circular plate 45, on the 
interior surface of which a plug 46 is formed and sized so as to fit 
snugly within the fixed member opening 43 to form a fluid tight seal 
whenever the cover member 40 is closed over the fixed member 39. 
Referring momentarily to FIG. 4, a boss 49 of the rigid tubular member 31 
surrounds an opening 50 therethrough which passes into the fluid flow 
passage 30 of the rigid tubular member 31. AS best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, 
a bushing 47 is located within the valve body 14 between the rigid tubular 
member 31 and the circular plate 42. The bushing forms a fluid flow 
channel 48 therethrough which is shaped on each end thereof to connect 
with bosses 44 and 49 on the circular plate 42 and rigid tubular member 31 
respectively in fluid tight relationship, thus allowing fluid flow 
connection of the bushing fluid flow channel 48 with the suction source 
through the fluid flow passage 30. 
Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 6, the bushing 47 also includes an enlarged 
flange 51 at the top surface thereof which assists in surrounding the 
exterior surface of the rigid tubular member 31 to ensure a fluid tight 
seal between the boss 49 and the bushing 47. The bushing 47 is preferably 
formed of a soft polymeric material which can be deformed to accept and 
hold a relatively rigid connector of an ancillary device, such as the end 
connector 52 of a Yankauer suctioning wand 53 as shown in FIG. 10. 
OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIG. 1, preparation for operation of the valve 10 of the 
present invention includes attaching the primary device connector 15 
thereof to the distal end of a primary device such as the suction catheter 
device 11, and attaching the suction source connector 16 to a suction tube 
13 from a suction pressure source. When it is desired to administer 
suction to a patient, the suction catheter of the suction catheter device 
11 is inserted into the patient's trachea or lungs, and the button 20 of 
the actuator 18 is rotated to the unlocked or opened position as best 
shown in FIG. 2 (referring to the annular surface 22 of the upper cap 17 
on which arrows may be included showing the proper direction of rotation 
of the button 20 for unlocking the actuator 18). 
When rotated to the unlocked position, the actuator 18 allows a bleed of 
suctioned atmospheric air to pass into the valve 10 through the upper cap 
opening 21. As best shown in FIG. 3, atmospheric air drawn into the upper 
cap opening 21 can move past the upper cap shoulder 38 and the actuator 
shoulder 32 into the annular cylindrical passage 26 of the valve body 14 
where it is then drawn through the actuator opening 33 in the actuator 
plate 28 and the interior cylindrical member bleed opening 54 and the 
tubular member bleed opening 55 into the fluid flow passage 30 where it 
can be drawn out of the valve 10 into the suction pressure source. 
Movement of atmospheric air through the valve 10 into the suction source 
when the actuator 18 is in the open position generates an auditory signal, 
being a very recognizable "hissing" sound, which is indicative of the 
operation of the suction pressure source and the presence of suction 
pressure within the fluid flow passage 30. The interior cylindrical member 
bleed opening 54 is positioned on the interior cylindrical member 24 so 
that it will be oriented directly in line with the actuator opening 33 
when the actuator 18 is rotated completely to its open position. 
Although not completely shown in the drawings, the blocking member 27 is so 
positioned within the annular cylindrical passage 26 that rotation of the 
actuator 18 to the open position in which the actuator opening 33 thereof 
is aligned with the interior cylindrical member bleed opening 54 causes 
the side surface 56 (see FIG. 5) of the actuator plate 28 to abut against 
the blocking member 27. In this manner, when the user rotates the actuator 
18 in the opened or unlocked direction until further rotation thereof is 
prevented by the blocking member 27, he or she is assured that the 
actuator opening 33 is properly aligned with the interior cylindrical 
member bleed opening 54. 
When it is desired to initiate suctioning through the suction catheter 
device 11, the user forces the actuator button 20 downwardly into the 
valve body 14 against the bias of the compression spring 36. This linear 
translational movement of the actuator 18 relative to the valve body 14 
causes the actuator plate 28 to move downwardly within the annular 
cylindrical passage 26. Since the actuator 18 has been previously rotated 
to its completely opened position, the actuator opening 33 in the actuator 
plate 28 is so positioned as to move into alignment with the fluid flow 
channel 30. As can be seen, the actuator plate 28 blocks the fluid flow 
channel 30 between the rigid tubular member 31 and the primary device 
connector 15 whenever the actuator 18 is in its fully upwardly extended or 
"released" position, but gradually moves out of blocking position as the 
actuator opening 33 is moved into alignment position with the fluid flow 
channel 30 as the actuator button 20 is depressed. 
As can be seen, complete depression of the button 20 occurs when the 
actuator shoulder 32 contacts the supporting device 34. In the completely 
depressed position, the actuator opening 33 is completely aligned with the 
fluid flow channel 30 and presents no fluid flow obstacle therethrough. As 
is also readily evident, the amount of suction pressure allowed through 
the fluid flow channel 30 can be regulated from a "no flow" level when the 
button 20 is released, to gradually increasing flow levels as the actuator 
opening 33 is moved into alignment with the fluid flow channel 30 as the 
button 20 is depressed toward the support device 34. 
It should be noted that when the actuator 18 is rotated to its complete 
open or unlocked position and then completely depressed until the actuator 
shoulder 32 abuts the support device 34 causing complete alignment of the 
actuator opening 33 with the fluid flow channel 30, fluid flow caused by 
the suction pressure source is allowed to pass directly through the valve 
10 in a completely open and linear flow path, having no element of the 
valve 10 obstructing the passage of flow through the fluid flow channel 
30. This is especially useful in the preferred intended use of the valve 
10 of the present invention of suctioning fluids from a patient's mouth, 
trachea and lungs since it affords the clearest possible passageway 
through the valve 10 for fluids normally suctioned from the patient. Even 
clotted mucal material can pass easily through the valve 10 without the 
risk of clogging the fluid flow passage 30, since there are no obstructing 
valve elements anywhere therethrough. 
As is evident, movement of the actuator plate 28 downwardly caused by 
depression of the button 20 causes the actuator opening 33 to move 
downwardly past the interior cylindrical member bleed opening 54 and the 
actuator plate 28 to block the flow of atmospheric air therethrough. Thus, 
whenever the actuator button 20 is depressed, bleeding of atmospheric air 
into the fluid flow channel 30 through the openings 54 and 55 is 
prevented. This causes the "hissing" of the valve 10 to stop, thus 
providing the user with another audio indication of the proper operation 
of the valve 10. The user immediately recognizes the arresting of the 
"hissing" sound upon depression of the actuator button 20, which signals 
the user that the suction pressure has been diverted into the suction 
catheter device 11. In this way, the presence or absence of the "hissing" 
sound provided by the valve 10 of the present invention to the user 
assists in the user in confirming proper operation of the valve 10. 
When the actuator button 20 is released after suctioning through the 
suction catheter device 11 is completed, the actuator opening 33 moves 
upwardly, due to the bias of the compression spring 36, to again align 
with the interior cylindrical member bleed opening 54. The valve then 
again begins to generate the "hissing" auditory signal. Upward movement of 
the actuator 18 is arrested by the abutment of the actuator shoulder 32 
against the upper cap shoulder 38 of the upper cap 17. 
At times it is convenient, and even important from a safety consideration 
for a patient, to ensure that the actuator button 20 cannot be depressed 
to allow suction pressure through the suction catheter device 11. If it is 
desired to prevent suctioning through the suction catheter device 11, the 
user may rotate the actuator 18 (by rotating actuator button 20 in the 
direction shown on the upper cap surface 22 in the direction of the 
locking arrow) to lock the actuator 18 against depression. 
As best shown in FIG. 9, rotation of the actuator 18 causes the actuator 
plate 28 to rotate within the annular cylindrical passage 26. Rotation is 
allowed to continue until the side surface 57 of the actuator plate 28 
abuts against the blocking member 27. In this position, the actuator plate 
bottom surface 29 is positioned directly above a blocking member extension 
58. Any attempt to depress the actuator button 20 when in the locked 
position will fail to allow fluid flow through the fluid flow passage 30 
since linear downward translational movement of the actuator 18 is 
prevented by the extension 58 of the blocking member 27, and the actuator 
plate 28 completely blocks the fluid flow passage 30 between the rigid 
tubular member 31 and the primary device connector 15. 
Further, whenever the actuator 18 has been rotated to the locking position, 
the actuator opening 33 is rotated out of alignment with the interior 
cylindrical member bleed opening 54. Therefore, bleed of atmospheric air 
into the fluid flow passage 30 is prevented and the user is aware of such 
by the absence of the "hissing" auditory signal. 
This feature of the present invention allows a user to lock the actuator 18 
against accidental actuation by a patient such as may accidentally occur 
if the valve 10 and suction catheter device 11 are left attached to a 
respiration manifold 12 providing respiratory support to a patient. 
Although a patient may inadvertently attempt to depress the actuator 18, 
for example by accidentally rolling over on top of the valve 10, the 
suctioning of fluid through the suction catheter device 11 will not occur 
when the actuator 18 is in the locked position. Further, the medical 
personnel or other users of the valve 10 will be provided an auditory 
signal (absence of hissing) whenever the valve 10 is locked against 
actuation, and a different auditory signal (the presence of hissing) 
whenever the valve 10 is unlocked or opened. This can be extremely 
convenient and add an additional safety factor to the use of the valve 10 
in that it is not necessary for the user to see directly whether or not 
the valve 10 is locked against actuation, because an auditory hissing 
signal is generated whenever the valve 10 is open, which signals the user 
that the valve 10 must be attended to or locked in order to avoid possible 
injury to the patient. 
The valve 10 of the present invention may also operate as a connector for 
an ancillary suctioning device such as a Yankauer 53 if desired. As shown 
in FIG. 10, when it is desired to attach an ancillary device to the valve 
10 of the present invention, the user merely rotates the cover member 40 
of the lower cap 19 to an open position. The end connector 52 of a 
Yankauer suction wand 53 or other ancillary device may then be inserted 
through the fixed member circular plate opening 43 and into the bushing 
fluid flow channel 48 which is designed to generate a friction fit 
therewith to hold the Yankauer 53 in connection with the valve 10. As can 
be seen, attachment of a Yankauer 53 in this manner provides immediate 
connection thereof with the suction pressure source attached to the valve 
10 through the bushing fluid flow channel 48 and the valve body fluid flow 
passage 30. 
Attachment of an ancillary device to the valve 10 without requiring 
detachment of the primary device 11 therefrom can be very important in 
many procedures involving suctioning of fluids from a patient attached to 
a respiratory support system. Since serious detriment to the patient can 
occur whenever it is necessary to breach the integrity of the respiratory 
support system, the avoidance of disassembly of any equipment, or 
detachment of the suction source, becomes a positive procedural 
improvement. 
As can be seen with the present invention, the ability to attach a Yankauer 
53 to the valve 10 to allow suctioning of the patient's oral cavity 
without the necessity of disassembling any part of the system in place for 
primary suctioning of the patient's trachea and lungs is an important 
improvement over the prior art. 
When the Yankauer 53 is no longer needed, it can be detached from the valve 
10 and the cover member 40 can again be closed to block the bushing fluid 
flow channel 48 and seal it against fluid flow therethrough. It should be 
noted that suctioning through the ancillary port connection of the valve 
10 can be accomplished regardless of the positioning of the actuator 18. 
However, it is preferable that the actuator 18 be rotated to the locked 
position prior to use of the ancillary device port in order to prevent 
bleed-by of atmospheric air into the fluid flow passage 30 which would 
tend to weaken the suction pressure through the Yankauer 53. 
It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while a particular embodiment 
of the present invention has been illustrated and described, various 
modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention 
be limited, except as by the appended claims.