초록

Filtration and closure barriers are disclosed which prevent passage of gas-carried contamination between the atmosphere and a collapsible sheath, which surrounds a catheter tube, during insertion and/or removal of the catheter tube from the respiratory tract of a medical patient.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A catheter assembly for delivery respiratory therapy by way of aspiration of or delivery of fluids to a respiratory tract of an intubated patient, said catheter assembly comprising:catheter means adapted for insertion into a res

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A catheter assembly for delivery respiratory therapy by way of aspiration of or delivery of fluids to a respiratory tract of an intubated patient, said catheter assembly comprising:catheter means adapted for insertion into a respiratory tract of an intubated patient so as to be able to either aspirate the respiratory tract or deliver fluids to the respiratory tract;a distal fitting slidably joined to said catheter means at one end thereof;a proximal fitting non-slidably joined to said catheter means at an end opposite to said one end;sheath means, having a distal end joined in a fluid tight fit to the distal fitting, and a proximal end joined in a fluid tight fit to the proximal fitting, for forming a single enclosed area that concentrically surrounds the catheter means between the distal and proximal fittings, said sheath means being collapsible in an accordion-like fashion when said catheter means is advanced through the distal fitting as the proximal and distal fittings slide toward one another;means for forming a slidable seal around said catheter means at the distal fitting so as to prevent substantially any fluid from entering or exiting through said means from the enclosed area formed by said sheath means; andfilter means for forming a gas permeable filter at said proximal fitting so as to prevent contaminants from entering or exiting the enclosed area through said filter means, said filter means accommodating the exit of gaseous fluids from the enclosed area as said sheath means collapses by moving the proximal end of the sheath means toward the distal end of the sheath means, and the reentry of gaseous fluids when gas is drawn into the enclosed area as said sheath means unfolds by moving the proximal end of the sheath means away from the distal end of the sheath means, said enclosed area being thereby protected from the passage of contaminating fluids into or out of the enclosed area by the combination of said slidable seal means and said filter means.