Scavenger suction device

Details Scavenger suction device Scavenger suction device

1999-06-01

2001-07-03

Kennedy, Sharon (Department: 3763)

Surgery

Means or method for facilitating removal of non therapeutic...

Surgical drain

C128S207140

Reexamination Certificate

active

06254591

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a suction device, and more particularly, to a scavenger suction device for use during surgery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A patient must be provided with respiratory assistance during surgery under general anaesthesia. It is common practice during such surgical procedures to insert an endotracheal tube into the patient's mouth, through the larynx and into the trachea. The endotracheal tube is then connected to a ventilator to assist breathing. In practice, the endotracheal tube may be used to deliver oxygen and/or anaesthetic gas to the patient. Typically, these endotracheal tubes have at one end a radially expansible cuff, such as an inflatable balloon, which helps to secure and seal the endotracheal tube in the throat.
Cuffless endotracheal tubes are often used in pediatric surgical procedures (e.g., tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies) due to the smaller tracheas of children. Use of the cuffless endotracheal tube can result in retrograde gas leak through the larynx and into the oropharynx. Such gases may include oxygen and nitrous oxide, both of which support combustion. The combination of these gases leaking into the oropharynx may create an environment where combustion is possible, especially when electrocautery procedures are used.
Since electrocautery is used in most pediatric tonsillectomy procedures to seal or cauterize tissue, the use of electrocautery in an enriched oxygenated environment can lead to combustion and resulting catastrophic fires. In addition, electrocautery procedures can generate smoke and thus obscure the surgical field in which the surgeon is operating.
To minimize such dangers, a separate “scavenger” suction device is sometimes used during surgery to suction and exhaust any smoke and/or gas present as a result of retrograde leakage. This separate scavenger suction device must be inserted into the throat area by a nurse or surgeon, thus further crowding the limited area in which the surgeon must operate. Furthermore, if suctioning is not performed, or is not effective to remove all combustible gases, the risk of combustion remains.
It would thus be desirable to provide a device that removes leaking gases during surgery to prevent dangerous combustion and also removes any unwanted smoke produced during surgery without further cluttering the surgical area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A scavenger suction device is provided, and at least a portion of the device is adapted for insertion into a patient's oropharynx. The device includes a primary tube member having an open proximal end, a distal end and a generally cylindrical sidewall extending therebetween which defines a lumen. At least one, and preferably at least two, staggered primary tube extension members are provided which extend distally from the primary tube member. The primary tube extension members are preferably arranged in a staggered, spaced-apart fashion and each extension member is preferably of a different length. Each extension member has a generally cylindrical sidewall which defines a lumen with at least one suction port formed in the sidewall which is in communication with the lumen.
The tube assembly may be integrated directly into an endotracheal tube, or it may be formed integrally with a mouth gag device to provide for continual suction of gases and/or smoke during a surgical procedure. A one-way or backcheck valve may be disposed within the tube assembly to prevent backflow of exhausted gas and/or smoke.


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