Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Avent, Inc.

Cassandra E Morris

John A Brewer

John Brewer

Joe Gordon

Jennifer Elizabeth Pozniak

Stephen Gianelis

Robert Eugene Vogt

Dave Zitnick

Thomas Harold Roessler

Timothy James Blenke

Jody Dorothy Suprise

Joseph A Cesa

David Allen Zitnick

Thomas Walter Odorzynski

Paul Joseph Datta

Ilona F Weart

Emily A Reichart

A respiratory access assembly includes a distal plate having a port, the port adapted to be positioned in operable communication with an artificial airway of a patient. The assembly also includes a proximal plate including a first port and a second port and, when the distal plate is positioned against the proximal plate in a stacked configuration, each plate is configured to move relative to the other. There is a clutch positioned between the plates, the clutch cooperating with both plates to substantially prevent movement of the plates when the port of the distal plate is positioned in an alignment with at least one port of the proximal plate and an object is positioned through the aligned ports of the plates.

Clutch brake assembly for a respiratory access port

A respiratory access assembly includes a distal plate having one port and cuff and an axially aligned proximal plate including a first port and first cuff and a second port and second cuff. The distal plate is configured to move relative to the proximal plate. The respiratory access assembly includes an actuator, which has a plurality of predetermined positions. The actuator can lock the plates together such that the distal port is aligned with either port of the proximal plate or so that the distal port is not aligned with either port of the proximal plate. A method of using a respiratory access assembly is provided.

Respiratory access port assembly with push button lock and method of use

There is provided a suction catheter having a tubular body with a lumen formed therethrough. The catheter has a plurality of spaced elongated apertures positioned near its distal tip. The catheter may have a fourth round opening positioned proximally to the three openings. The catheter has reduced impact force compared to similar suction catheters without the plurality of apertures near the distal tip.

Atraumatic suction catheter

There is provided a looped tether to prevent the over-withdrawal of a suction catheter from a connecting fitting in a closed suction catheter respiratory device. The looped tether is made from a single thread or strand that is looped or doubled in length with the two loose ends connected together to produce the loop. The looped tether provides better distribution of the forces at the ends of the device and is relatively simple to assemble. Also provided is a system for preventing the over-withdrawal of a suction catheter from a connecting fitting in a closed suction catheter respiratory device.

Looped tether for medical ventilating and aspirating devices

A respiratory access assembly includes a distal plate having one port and cuff and an axially aligned proximal plate including a first port and first cuff and a second port and second cuff. The distal plate is configured to move relative to the proximal plate. The respiratory access assembly includes an actuator, which has a plurality of predetermined positions. The actuator includes a blocking portion that controls the movement of the plates. The blocking portion moves slidably within an O-ring that prevents loss of pressure from the artificial airway system. The O-ring may be molded in place using an injection molding process, thus ensuring good adhesion to the disk.

Overmolded manifold O-ring

A respiratory manifold is provided which has a base port that is coupled to a central body. The central body has at least one laterally-positioned arm having a port. The base port includes a bridge to guide an object moved through one port into the body of the manifold and through the base port to a tracheal tube without folding, twisting, bunching or buckling of any portion of the object within the manifold.

Respiratory manifold with bridge

A respiratory access assembly includes a movable manifold and a closed suction catheter assembly with a shuttle movable by actuator between the manifold and the closed suction catheter assembly. The assembly includes a flap positioned adjacent the shuttle and the closed suction catheter assembly which is moveable between an open position which permits passage of a suction catheter therethrough and a closed position, which prevents a passage of a suction catheter. The respiratory access assembly permits operable communication with the artificial airway to permit suctioning when in an un-locked position, and prevents the entrance of a suction catheter when in the locked position. A method for using a respiratory access assembly.

Respiratory access assembly with rotating lock and method

A respiratory access assembly includes a distal plate having a port, which is adapted to be positioned in operable communication with an artificial airway of a patient. The assembly includes a distal plate having a port and a proximal plate which has a first port and a second port. The distal plate is positioned against the proximal plate in a stacked configuration, and each plate is configured to move relative to the other. The assembly has an actuator which is positioned adjacent to at least one plate. The actuator cooperates with both plates to substantially prevent movement of the plates when the port of the distal plate is positioned in an alignment with at least one port of the proximal plate and an object, such as a suction catheter, is positioned through the aligned ports of the plates. The actuator cooperates with at least one plate to permit movement of at least one plate when (a) no object is positioned through aligned ports, and (b) when no ports are aligned. The assembly desirably has predetermined positions, which include a first open position, a second open position, and a third closed position.

Respiratory access port assembly with passive lock and method of use

A respiratory access assembly inctudes a distal pJate having one port and cuff and an axially aligned proximal plate including a first port and first cuff and a second port and second cuff. The distal plate is configured to move relative to the proximal plate. The respiratory access assembly includes an actuator, which has a plurality of predetermined positions. When the actuator is positioned in a movement-enabling position, it permits movement of the plates while simultaneously blocking the first port of the proximal plate. When the actuator is positioned in a first or second locked (open) position, it locks the plates together and aligns the port of the distal plate with the respective first or second port of the proximal plate and un-blocks the first port of the proximal plale so that an object, such as a suction catheter, may be positioned through the aligned ports. When the actuator is positioned in the third locked (closed) position, it locks the plates together such that the port of the distal plate is positioned between the first port and the second port or the proximal plate and all ports are out of alignment with each other, such that all ports are blocked by a portion of one plate so that no object is moveable through any of the ports. A method of using a respiratory access assembly is provided.

There is provided a novel fitting having male and female ends and a tapered internal luer-type seal. The male fitting end has a periphery upon which is mounted at least one boss. The female fitting end has a slot into which the boss may be inserted. At the bottom of the slot is a stop to limit the insertion depth of the boss. The male and female ends may then be rotated relative to each other to move the boss into a window on the female end. The window has a frame and the upper frame is angled slightly, corresponding to the boss, which serves to draw the male end farther in to the female end. The window has a side frame that stops the rotational movement of the boss. When the movement of the boss is stopped, the male and female tapers are in substantially leak-free contact. There is also provided a closed suction catheter using the novel fitting, such that the catheter may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

Quick connect fitting for respiratory devices

A respiratory triple swivel manifold is provided which has a base port, which is coupled to a central body. The central body has two laterally-positioned arms, and each arm has a lateral port. Each base port and each lateral port has an inner sleeve which is movable relative to its port. The manifold also has a proximal port coupled to the central body, which may or may not have a rotatable inner sleeve. At least one of the arms and its respective lateral port is positioned at an angle in a range of greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees relative to the central body. Desirably, the base port, the central body and its arms and their respective ports form a Y-shape. The proximal port may intersect the Y-shaped manifold. The base port includes a ramp to direct an object moved through one port into a passageway of the manifold and through the base port to an endotracheal tube without folding, twisting or bunching of any portion of the object within the manifold.

Respiratory triple swivel manifold

Locked valve body

Unlocked valve body

Prefastened absorbent articles () may include a singular fastening mechanism that includes an oversized fastener (), to provide stability between the front waist region and the back waist region and to maintain the prefastened configuration. The prefastened absorbent articles can include a multiple property fastener () that has at least one engagement zone () and at least one non-abrasive zone ().

Pre-fastened absorbent article having simplified fastening features

A pant-like, refastenable, disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent chassis, a pair of opposed side panels, a pair of releasable joints and a pair of proportional fasteners. The absorbent chassis defines a pair of laterally opposed side edges and a pair of longitudinally opposed waist edges. The side panels extend between and connect the side edges of the absorbent chassis to define a waist opening and a pair of leg openings in the pant-like disposable absorbent article. Each of the opposed side panels defines a first side margin which is permanently attached to the side edge of the absorbent chassis in one waist region of the absorbent article to provide a permanent joint. Each of the opposed side panels further defines a second side margin opposite the first side margin which is releasably attached to the side edges of the absorbent chassis in the other waist region of the absorbent article to provide the releasable joints. The proportional fasteners are located adjacent the releasable joints and are configured to be smaller in the longitudinal direction than the releasable joints. The fasteners are used to refastenably engage the second side margins of the side panels to the opposite waist region of the absorbent article.

Growing community of inventors

Roswell, GA, United States of America

Cassandra E Morris