Bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus

Abstract

A bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus. The valve is characterized in that the rotation of a second member in a given direction with respect to a first member moves the valve from a configuration in which a conduit communicates hydraulically with a sleeve, to a configuration in which the conduit communicates hydraulically with a flush conduit via a duct and a channel to flush an end portion of a catheter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 removing a catheter from within a patient through a patient conduit;   rotating a first member of a bronchotracheal access valve in a first direction with respect to a second member of the bronchotracheal access valve such that a catheter insertion conduit and a flush conduit of the bronchotracheal access valve are communicatively coupled to one another, and are not coupled to the patient conduit; and   flushing a distal end of the catheter in the catheter insertion conduit with a fluid flowing through the flushing conduit and a duct, wherein the duct is configured to create selective fluid communication between the catheter insertion conduit and the flush conduit, and wherein a surface of the first member closes the patient conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, the first member comprises the catheter insertion conduit and the flush conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises the patient conduit and at least partially defines the duct that communicatively couples the catheter insertion conduit and the flush conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the duct is substantially semicircular. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the duct comprises a channel integrated in an inner wall of the catheter insertion conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bronchotracheal access valve comprises a seal between the first member and the second member 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the seal comprises a first region that seals the duct in communication with the flush conduit from the patient conduit when the first member is rotated in a second direction and that seals the flush conduit and the catheter insertion conduit in fluid communication with one another from the patient conduit when the first member is rotated in the first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising; rotating the first member in a second direction with respect to the second member, such that the patient conduit and the catheter insertion conduit are aligned and in fluid communication with each other but not the flush conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bronchotracheal valve comprises a stopping feature that limits the rotation of the first member in the first direction and a second direction with respect to the second member, such that the catheter conduit is aligned with the duct and in fluid communication with the flush conduit when the first member is rotated in the first direction, and wherein the catheter conduit is aligned with the patient conduit when the first member is rotated in the second direction. 
     
     
         11 . A bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus, the bronchotracheal access valve comprising:
 a first member comprising a patient conduit; and   a second member comprising a catheter insertion conduit and a flush conduit, wherein an inner wall of the insertion conduit comprises a channel;   a first duct formed in the first member, wherein the first duct creates selective fluid communication between the flush conduit and the insertion conduit, but not the patient conduit; and   a stopping feature configured to stop rotation of the second member with respect to the first member at a first position such that the flush conduit and the channel are superposed on the first duct creating selective fluid communication between the insertion conduit and the flush conduit; and wherein the stopping feature is configured to stop rotation of the second member with respect to the first member at a second position such that a surface of the first member closes the channel to prevent fluid communication between the flush conduit and the insertion conduit.   
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein a seal is disposed between the first member and the second member 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein the first member comprises a plurality of ducts for housing the seal. 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein, in the second position, the flush conduit is sealed by the seal and the patient conduit is open. 
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein the seal comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein a radial inner surface of the second member comprises a protrusion configured to engage a second duct formed on an edge of the surface of the first member. 
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion and the second duct define the stopping feature. 
     
     
         18 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the first duct and the second duct are semicircular. 
     
     
         19 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the second member comprises a protrusion that engages an opening centrally located on the first member such that the second member and the first member are properly aligned. 
     
     
         20 . The valve of  claim 11 , wherein the first member comprises a plurality of deformable tabs along an outer edge, wherein the deformable tabs snap onto the second member to connect the first member with the second member.