US 12,239,786 B2
Systems and methods for treating an airway
Hoyt Nye, Sunfish Lake, MN (US)
Assigned to Hoyt Medical LLC, Sunfish Lake, MN (US)
Filed by Hoyt Medical LLC, Sunfish Lake, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/005,707.
Application 17/005,707 is a continuation of application No. 14/795,531, filed on Jul. 9, 2015, granted, now 10,758,694.
Prior Publication US 2021/0113799 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 16/04 (2006.01); A61M 16/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/0463 (2013.01) [A61M 16/0816 (2013.01); A61M 16/0409 (2014.02); A61M 2202/0208 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of removing blood or bodily secretions located in a throat region, the method comprising:
inserting a distal tube portion of an endotracheal tube through a patient's mouth to be positioned in a trachea or posterior pharynx of the patient;
connecting a breathable gas supply source to a proximal connector port of the endotracheal tube to deliver breathable gas from the breathable gas supply source through the distal tube portion of the endotracheal tube;
disconnecting the proximal connector port of the endotracheal tube from the breathable gas supply source while the distal tube portion of the endotracheal tube remains inserted through the patient's mouth and positioned in the trachea or posterior pharynx;
after the disconnecting the proximal connector port of the endotracheal tube from the breathable gas supply source, releasably connecting a first end of a suction adapter device to the proximal connector port of the endotracheal tube by inserting the proximal connector port into a tapered lumen of the first end of the suction adapter device while the distal tube portion of the endotracheal tube remains positioned in the trachea or posterior pharynx;
releasably connecting a second end of the suction adapter device to a vacuum source while the distal tube portion of the endotracheal tube is positioned in the trachea or posterior pharynx so that at least the suction adapter device and the distal tube portion of the endotracheal tube define a suction path to remove the blood or bodily secretions in the throat region, the suction adapter device comprising a continuous sealed passage between the first end and the second end of the suction adapter device; and
removing the blood or bodily secretions in the throat region through the endotracheal tube and the suction adapter device while withdrawing the distal tube portion of the endotracheal tube from the patient's throat.