Method and apparatus for preventing occlusion of a tracheal tube suction lumen

Abstract

There is provided a medical tube lumen plug, comprising: a plug, comprising: a body configured to be mechanically coupled to a lumen of a medical tube; and a protrusion configured to extend external to the medical tube, wherein the protrusion is configured to prevent occlusion of an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to provide a pathway between the lumen and a region external to the medical tube.

1 . A tracheal tube comprising:
 a gas-conveying tube;   a lumen that extends along the gas-conveying tube and that terminates at a passageway for removal of fluids and gases from outside of the gas-conveying tube;   an inflatable cuff disposed on the gas-conveying tube that is configured to provide a seal against a tracheal wall; and   a protrusion coupled to the gas-conveying tube, wherein the protrusion extends externally from the gas-conveying tube, and wherein the protrusion is configured to hold the passageway away from the tracheal wall to prevent occlusion of the passageway by the tracheal wall, and wherein the plug is positioned relative to the passageway such that a flow path through the passageway in a direction generally perpendicular to a path of the lumen is unobstructed.   
     
     
         2 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises a bump. 
     
     
         3 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises an arch configured to span the passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises a ring, wherein the ring is configured to at least partially surround a periphery of the passageway, and wherein the ring comprises a channel configured to provide a pathway between the passageway and the region external to the medical tube. 
     
     
         5 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomers, rubbers, silicones, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or nylon. 
     
     
         6 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway comprises a circular or elliptical hole. 
     
     
         7 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway comprises a slot. 
     
     
         8 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is configured to be mechanically coupled to the gas-conveying tube. 
     
     
         9 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is configured to be mechanically coupled to the lumen. 
     
     
         10 . The tracheal tube of  claim 1 , wherein the tracheal tube is operatively connected to a ventilator. 
     
     
         11 . A tracheal tube comprising:
 a tubular body;   a lumen that extends along the tubular body and that terminates at a passageway for removal of fluids and gases from outside of the tubular body;   a sealing member on the tubular body that is configured to provide a seal against a tracheal wall; and   a protrusion configured to extend externally from the tubular body to hold the passageway away from the tracheal wall to prevent occlusion of the passageway, wherein the protrusion covers only a portion of the passageway.   
     
     
         12 . The tracheal tube of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion is configured to be disposed only in an upper portion of the passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The tracheal tube of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion comprises a bump. 
     
     
         14 . The tracheal tube of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion comprises an arch configured to span the passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The tracheal tube of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion comprises a ring, wherein the ring is configured to at least partially surround a periphery of the passageway, and wherein the ring comprises a channel configured to provide a pathway between the passageway and the region external to the medical tube. 
     
     
         16 . The tracheal tube of  claim 11 , wherein the passageway comprises a circular or elliptical hole. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a medical tube, comprising:
 providing:   a tubular body;   an inflatable cuff mounted on the tubular body; and   a lumen that extends along the tubular body and that terminates at a passageway for removal of fluids and gases from outside of the tubular body; and   coupling a protrusion to the tubular body, wherein the protrusion is configured to extend externally from the tubular body such that the protrusion is configured to prevent occlusion of the passageway, and wherein the protrusion covers only a portion of the passageway.   
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing the medical tube of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the protrusion to the tubular body comprises a mechanical coupling. 
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing the medical tube of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the protrusion to the tubular body comprises an adhesive coupling. 
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing the medical tube of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the protrusion to the tubular body comprises substantially surrounding the passageway with the protrusion.