ENDOTRACHEAL CATHETER AND MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED VALVE

The present invention relates to an improved flap valve (232) or other internal component for use with respiratory suction catheter (208) and manifold (204) assemblies. This flap valve (232) or other internal component provides the assembly with an improved mechanism for cleaning the tip of the catheter (208) without drawing an excessive amount of air from the respiration circuit (214) to which the endotracheal catheter is attached. More specifically, the present invention relates principally to a closed suction endotracheal catheter syst em which provides improved cleaning of the catheter (208) while minimizing air drawn from the patient's ventilation circuit (214) by providing at least one protrusion (280) on at least one surface of the flap valve (232) or other internal component. By using a flap valve (232) or other internal component with at least one protrusion (280), the flap valve (232) or other internal component is strengthened and designed to prevent the flap from scraping mucus or other secretions from the catheter (208) onto the distal surface of the flap during retraction. Moreover, when multiple protrusions (280) are formed therein, the formation of a bridge (981) betwee n each protrusion (280) will improve the ability of the protrusion (280) to improve cleaning of the assembly by scraping mucus and secretions from the retracting catheter (208) while strengthening the flap valve (232) so it will not deform as the catheter (20 8) translates through the assembly.