Catheter system with pressure management device

Abstract

A system includes a catheter and a pressure management device. The catheter includes a cuff, a resilient device, an evacuation passage, and a first fitting. The cuff defines a chamber, and has a deflated state and an inflated state. The resilient device is positioned in the chamber, and has a compressed state and an expanded state. The resilient device is configured to expand from the compressed state to the expanded state to thereby cause the cuff to move from the deflated state to the inflated state. The evacuation passage extends from the cuff to an evacuation port. The first fitting is in fluid communication with the chamber. The pressure management device includes a second fitting engaged with the first fitting, and at least one check valve in fluid communication with the second fitting. In certain embodiments, the at least one check valve includes an inlet check valve in fluid communication with the second fitting, and an outlet check valve in fluid communication with the second fitting.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a catheter, comprising:
 a cuff defining a chamber, the cuff having a deflated state and an inflated state; 
 a resilient device positioned in the chamber, the resilient device having a compressed state corresponding to the deflated state and an expanded state corresponding to the inflated state, wherein the resilient device is configured to expand from the compressed state to the expanded state to thereby cause the cuff to move from the deflated state to the inflated state; 
 an evacuation passage extending from the cuff to an evacuation port; and 
 a first fitting in fluid communication with the chamber; and 
   a pressure management device, comprising:
 a second fitting engaged with the first fitting; and 
 at least one check valve in fluid communication with the second fitting. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure management device lacks a fluid-transfer damper. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one check valve comprises:
 an inlet check valve in fluid communication with the second fitting; and   an outlet check valve in fluid communication with the second fitting.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet check valve has a first cracking pressure and is configured to permit fluid flow from a first pressure source to the chamber when a pressure of the first pressure source exceeds a pressure within the chamber by at least the first cracking pressure; and
 wherein the outlet check valve has a second cracking pressure and is configured to permit fluid flow from the chamber to a second pressure source when the pressure within the chamber exceeds a pressure of the second pressure source by at least the second cracking pressure.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first pressure source and the second pressure source is ambient air. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the outlet check valve is configured to permit the cuff to move from the inflated state to the deflated state in two minutes or less. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient device comprises compressible foam. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure management device is configured to maintain a pressure within the chamber between a minimum pressure and a maximum pressure;
 wherein the minimum pressure is between atmospheric pressure and 12 mmHg below atmospheric pressure; and   wherein the maximum pressure is 20 mmHg above atmospheric pressure or less.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the maximum pressure is 10 mmHg above atmospheric pressure or less. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure within the chamber is a negative pressure between atmospheric pressure and 12 mmHg below atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the at least one check valve comprises an open vent. 
     
     
         14 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A pressure management device configured for use with a catheter comprising a catheter fitting in fluid communication with a chamber defined by a cuff, the pressure management device comprising:
 a fluid passageway;   a fitting in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and configured for mating engagement with the catheter fitting such that the fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the chamber when the fitting is matingly engaged with the catheter fitting;   an inlet check valve positioned between the fluid passageway and ambient air, the inlet check valve having a first cracking pressure, wherein the inlet check valve is configured to permit ambient air to flow into the fluid passageway when an ambient pressure exceeds a pressure in the fluid passageway by the first cracking pressure or more;   an outlet check valve positioned between the fluid passageway and ambient air, the outlet check valve having a second cracking pressure, wherein the outlet check valve is configured to permit air to flow out of the fluid passageway when the pressure in the fluid passageway exceeds the ambient pressure by the second cracking pressure or more.   
     
     
         24 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , further comprising a housing defining the fluid passageway, wherein each of the fitting, the inlet check valve, and the outlet check valve is mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , wherein the first cracking pressure is between 5 mmHg and 15 mmHg. 
     
     
         27 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , wherein the first cracking pressure is about 10 mmHg. 
     
     
         28 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , wherein the second cracking pressure is about 30 mmHg or less. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , wherein the second cracking pressure is about 10 mmHg or less. 
     
     
         31 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , wherein the second cracking pressure is between 4 mmHg and 6 mmHg. 
     
     
         32 . The pressure management device of  claim 23 , wherein the catheter fitting comprises one of a male Luer fitting or a female Luer fitting; and
 wherein the fitting comprises the other of the male Luer fitting or the female Luer fitting.   
     
     
         33 . A method of using the pressure management device of  claim 23 , the method comprising:
 with the cuff in a deflated state, matingly engaging the catheter fitting with the fitting, thereby placing the fluid passage in fluid communication with the chamber, wherein a compressed resilient member is positioned in the cuff;   in response to the ambient pressure exceeding the pressure within the fluid passageway by the first cracking pressure or more, permitting ambient air to flow into the chamber via the inlet check valve; and   in response to the pressure within the fluid passageway exceeding the ambient pressure by the second cracking pressure or more, permitting air to flow out of the chamber via the outlet check valve.