RESPIRATORY ACCESS PORT ASSEMBLY WITH PASSIVE LOCK AND METHOD OF USE

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. In the first open position, the port of the distal plate and the first port of the proximal plate are aligned. In the second open position, the port of the distal plate and the second port of the proximal plate are aligned. In the third closed position, the port of the distal plate, and the first and second ports of the proximal plates are blocked to prevent an object from being passed therethrough. A method of using the respiratory access assembly is provided. L'invention porte sur un ensemble d'accès respiratoire comprenant une plaque distale comportant un orifice pouvant être positionné dans un fonctionnement de communication avec un passage artificiel d'air d'un patient. L'ensemble comprend une plaque distale comportant un orifice et une plaque proximale comportant un premier orifice et un second orifice. La plaque distale est positionnée contre la plaque proximale selon une configuration d'empilage, et chaque plaque est configurée de façon à se déplacer par rapport à l'autre. L'ensemble comporte un actionneur en positionnement adjacent à au moins une plaque. L'actionneur coopère avec les deux plaques pour empêcher sensiblement un déplacement des plaques lorsque l'orifice de la plaque distale est positionné en alignement avec au moins un orifice de la plaque proximale, et un objet, tel qu'un cathéter d'aspiration, est positionné à travers les ori