Patent ID: 7878202

Claim:
A suction catheter assembly for connection to an endotracheal tube for treating a patient comprising: a suction control valve assembly; an elongated catheter tube connected at one end to said suction control valve assembly; a manifold including a first arm including a fitting for connection to said endotracheal tube and a second arm for connection to a ventilating device and a tubular boss having a circumferential groove formed therein and substantially aligned with said first arm and including a bore receiving one end of a seal support body releasably and rotatably connected to said manifold at said tubular boss, said seal support body connected to said manifold and including a catheter tube seal supported thereby, wherein said seal support body is connected to said manifold at said tubular boss by a removable lock ring having a segmented flange, said segmented flange being in registration with said tubular boss circumferential groove; and an elongated flexible sheath interconnecting said suction control valve assembly and said seal support body and forming an enclosed space for extension of said catheter tube therethrough, said sheath being flexible and collapsible for extending said suction control valve assembly toward said manifold to insert said catheter tube through said endotracheal tube, said sheath including opposed portions at opposite ends for connection with said seal support body and with a second boss formed on a valve housing of said suction control valve assembly, and said sheath being formed of polyurethane, wherein said catheter tube is one of coated and impregnated with an antimicrobial agent.