Patent ID: 8256422

Claim:
A respiratory access assembly, comprising: a distal plate having a port, the port adapted to be positioned in operable communication with an artificial airway of a patient; a proximal plate including a first port and a second port, the distal plate positioned against the proximal plate in a stacked configuration, each plate configured to move; and an actuator positioned adjacent to at least one plate, the actuator cooperating with both plates to substantially prevent movement of the plates when the port of the distal plate is positioned in an alignment with at least one port of the proximal plate and an object is positioned through the aligned ports of the plates, the actuator cooperating with at least one plate to permit movement of at least one plate when (a) no object is positioned through aligned ports, and (b) when no ports are aligned, wherein the actuator is activated only when an object is positioned through the aligned ports to substantially prevent movement of the plates, thereby providing a passive lock; and, wherein at least a portion of the actuator is coupled to one plate and includes a pawl with teeth, a portion of the pawl positioned adjacent at least one port, such that when an object is positioned through the port, the object moves the portion of the pawl such that at least a portion of the teeth of the pawl engage at least a portion of teeth on another plate, thereby substantially preventing movement of the plates in at least one direction until the object is withdrawn so that the portion of the pawl moves back to its initial position adjacent the port and the teeth of the pawl disengage from the teeth of the plate.