Medical device tube having a suction lumen and an associated suctioning system

Abstract

Various embodiments of a tracheal tube having a suction lumen are provided. For example, the suction lumen may be associated with two spaced apart pressure transducers, whereby a pressure drop between the transducers indicates that the suction lumen is free of blockages and a characteristic lack of pressure drop and/or particular pressure curve is indicative of a blockage. In addition, embodiments may include a tracheal tube with sensors configured to sense a buildup of secretions. The sensors may be located proximate to an opening in the suction lumen. In other embodiments, a blockage-clearing system for a suction lumen may be provided that blows air into the suction lumen to clear blockages. In particular, in certain embodiments, the blockage-clearing system may operate to create its own pressurized air source by utilizing the pressure change created in the suction line by a blockage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a tracheal tube configured to be inserted into a patient's airway, wherein the tracheal tube comprises:
 a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end;
 an inflatable cuff surrounding the conduit, wherein the inflatable cuff is configured to seal the airway; 
 a first suction lumen formed in a wall of the conduit and terminating in a first opening proximal to the inflatable cuff; 
 a first sensor disposed on the wall of the conduit between the inflatable cuff and the opening, wherein the first sensor is adjacent to the opening and configured to detect secretion build-up above the inflatable cuff; 
 a second sensor disposed on the wall of the conduit adjacent to the inflatable cuff and opposite the first sensor and the opening; and 
 
   a monitor communicatively coupled to the tracheal tube and comprising a processor configured to receive information from the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the processor controls a vacuum system configured to suction the secretions based on the information.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor at least partially surrounds the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a percentage of the first opening covered by the secretion build-up. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is configured to detect secretion leakage around the inflatable cuff. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a second suction lumen formed in the wall of the conduit and terminating in a second opening proximal to the inflatable cuff. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second opening is co-axially aligned with the first opening. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second opening is associated with the second sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second suction lumen removes the secretions when the first suction lumen is blocked with the secretion build-up. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is positioned on a ventral side when the tracheal tube is inserted into the patient's airway. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is positioned on a dorsal side when the tracheal tube is inserted into the patient's airway. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 determining a first pressure associated with a suction lumen formed in a wall of a tracheal tube configured to be inserted into a patient's airway, wherein the suction lumen is in fluid communication with a first pressure sensor configured to measure the first pressure;   measuring a second pressure associated with the suction lumen with a second pressure sensor spaced apart from the first sensor;   determining a pressure differential between the first pressure and the second pressure, wherein the pressure differential is indicative of secretion blockage in the suction lumen;   detecting a characteristic pressure drop between the first and second pressure sensors; and   applying a vacuum to the suction lumen based on the pressure differential and the characteristic pressure drop.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising removing the vacuum from the suction lumen when the characteristic pressure drop is detected. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the suction lumen is blocked when the first pressure and the second pressure are the same. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the suction lumen is clear when the pressure differential is equal to the characteristic pressure drop. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising positioning the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor on a suction tube fluidly coupled to the suction lumen, wherein the suction tube is exterior to the patient when the tracheal tube is inserted. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , displaying information associated with secretion blockage in the suction lumen on a monitor communicatively coupled to the tracheal tube. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 A monitor coupled to a tracheal tube inserted in a patient's airway and comprising:
 a processor configured to receive a first signal from a first pressure sensor and a second signal from a second pressure sensor fluidly coupled to a suction lumen formed in a wall of the tracheal tube, wherein the first and second signals are indicative of a pressure within the suction lumen, and wherein the processor comprises instructions configured to: 
 determine a pressure differential between the first and second signals, wherein the pressure differential is indicative of secretion blockage in the suction lumen; 
 compare the pressure differential with a characteristic pressure drop associated with an unblocked suction lumen; 
 control a vacuum source configured to remove the secretions through the suction lumen based on the pressure differential and the characteristic pressure drop. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suction lumen is clear when the pressure differential is equal to the characteristic pressure drop. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are external to the patient with the tracheal is inserted. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitor provides a graphical, visual, or audio representation of the secretion blockage in the suction lumen.