Patent ID: 6935339

Claim:
A secretion suctioning device for an intubated or tracheostomized patient, which comprises: (a) a suctioning valve comprising: (i) a main body defining an elongated internal chamber therein; (ii) a hollow connection having a first end disposed outside the main body, and a second end disposed inside the main body and communicating with the internal chamber; (iii) an internal channel having a first end communicating with the internal chamber, and a second end; (iv) an on/off button; (v) a selecting obstruction device disposed in the internal chamber and having an upper end attached to the on/off button, a lower end, and a passage opening therebetween, and wherein the selecting obstruction device is operable to be moved reversibly from a first position where the passage opening provides a communication between the connection and the internal channel to a second position where the selecting obstruction device blocks the communication between the connection and the internal channel; and (iv) a rim connector attached to the second end of the internal channel and disposed outside the main body; (b) a hollow interconnection component having a first end releasably attached to the rim connector, and a second end; (c) a hollow terminal having a first end, and a second end; (d) a hollow, elongated probe having a first end received within an inside wall of the interconnection component, and a second end slidably received within the terminal; (e) a sheathing for the probe and having a first end attached to the second end of the interconnection component, and a second end attached to the first end of the terminal; (f) a sphere valve having a first end releasably attached to the second end of the terminal, and a second end; and (g) a hollow patient/ventilator connection attached to the second end of the sphere valve.