Suction catheter assemblies and valves

摘要

A closed system suction catheter assembly has a valve 3 controlling suction applied at the patient end of the assembly. The valve 3 has a pinch tube 32 connected in line with the catheter 1 and secured at each end to the housing 30, 31 of the valve. An occluder bar 53 midway along a pivoted lever 50 is urged up by a spring 68 to pinch the tube 32 closed against a fixed occluder 81 and close the valve. The valve 3 has a button 71 protected by a rotatable guard 72, which bears on an end of the lever 50 so that the valve can be opened by pressing down on the button. A snap mechanism 60 engages a detent 59 on the occluder lever 50 to give the button 71 a snap action.