Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter for cleaning an inner surface of a tracheal ventilation tube is provided, which enables single-handed simultaneous activation of inflation of an inflatable element and suctioning in a closed suction system for use with the tracheal ventilation tube. The closed suction system allows catheters to be used repeatedly without being detached from the tube system including the ventilation air supply. The cleaning catheter is insertable into the tracheal ventilation tube, and is shaped so as to define one or more distal suction orifices. The cleaning catheter comprises an elongate, flexible, tubular catheter main body, and an inflatable element, which is mounted to the catheter main body. An input module is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber separate from a suction source.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter (200) insertable into a tracheal ventilation tube (160) and an input module (156) are provided for use with a suction source (601), the input module (156) coupled to the cleaning catheter (200) and including (i) an inflation module (330), including an inflation chamber (335) separate from the suction source (601); (ii) a flow regulator (700), configured to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element (320), which is configured (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber (335) during a transition of the mechanical user control element (320) from the first configuration to the second configuration.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter insertable into a tracheal ventilation tube and an input module are provided for use with a suction source, the input module coupled to the cleaning catheter and including (i) an inflation module, including an inflation chamber separate from the suction source; (ii) a flow regulator, configured to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element, which is configured (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration. The flow regulator, when in the first fluid-control state connects the suction source and an interior of an inflatable element of the cleaning catheter in fluid communication to deflate the inflatable element.

Abstract: A pressure-sensing device (900, 1100) is provided that includes a user-activatable power-ON element, and a pressure sensor (143), which is in fluid communication with a connector port (122) configured to be coupled in fluid communication with an inflatable cuff (11) of an airway ventilation device (10), and is configured to sense an air pressure. Circuitry (141, 1141) is electrically coupled to the pressure sensor (143) and a relative-pressure display (140, 1140), and is configured to: (i) be activated by activation of the user-activatable power-ON element to (a) turn on the pressure-sensing device (900, 1100) and (b) perform a calibration procedure by setting a baseline pressure equal to a current air pressure sensed by the pressure sensor (143), and (ii) after setting the baseline pressure, periodically drive the relative-pressure display (140, 1140) to display the difference between (a) the air pressure currently sensed by the pressure sensor (143) and (b) the baseline pressure.

Abstract: A cuff pressure stabilizer (100, 200, 300, 500, 600, 800) is provided that includes an inflation lumen proximal port connector (134), which is shaped to form an air-tight seal with an inflation lumen proximal port (15) of a catheter (10) additionally having an inflatable cuff (11) and an inflation lumen (13); a fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624); a liquid column container (118, 518, 618), which is (a) open to the atmosphere (99) at at least one site along the liquid column container, (b) in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624), and (c) in communication with the inflation lumen proximal port connector (134) via the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624); and a liquid (121), which is contained (a) in the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624), (b) in the liquid column container (118, 518, 618), or (c) partially in the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624) and partially in the liquid column container (118, 518, 618), and which has a density of between 1.5 and 5 g/cm3 at 4 degrees Celsius at 1 atm.

Abstract: A cuff pressure stabilizer includes a substantially rigid protective housing and a balloon disposed therein. The balloon has a base low pressure of 10 cm H2O when it contains a base low-pressure volume of air. When the balloon contains a first medium-pressure volume of air, the balloon has a first medium pressure of 25 cm H2O. When the balloon contains a second medium-pressure volume of air, the balloon has a second medium pressure of 40 cm H2O, and at least 20% of an outer surface of the balloon touches a portion of the inner surface of the housing. The second medium-pressure volume of air equals the base low-pressure volume of air plus a second incremental quantity of air that is less than 60 cc. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter insertable into a ventilation tube and an input module are provided, the input module coupled to the cleaning catheter and including (i) an inflation module including an inflation chamber; (ii) a flow regulator operable to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element operable (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the first and second fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber of the cleaning catheter during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration. The inflation chamber is disposed within the mechanical user control element.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter insertable into a tracheal ventilation tube and an input module are provided for use with a suction source, the input module coupled to the cleaning catheter and including (i) an inflation module, including an inflation chamber separate from the suction source; (ii) a flow regulator, configured to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element, which is configured (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration. The flow regulator, when in the first fluid-control state connects the suction source and an interior of an inflatable element of the cleaning catheter in fluid communication to deflate the inflatable element.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter insertable into a ventilation tube and an input module are provided, the input module coupled to the cleaning catheter and including (i) an inflation module, including an inflation chamber and a one-way air inlet valve; (ii) a flow regulator operable to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element operable (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber of the cleaning catheter during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration. The one-way air inlet valve is arranged to allow air to flow into the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the second configuration to the first configuration.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter for cleaning an inner surface of a tracheal ventilation tube is provided, which enables single-handed simultaneous activation of inflation of an inflatable element and suctioning in a closed suction system for use with the in tracheal ventilation tube. The closed suction system allows catheters to be used repeatedly without being detached from the tube system including the ventilation air supply. The cleaning catheter is insertable into the tracheal ventilation tube, and is shaped so as to define one or more distal suction orifices. The cleaning catheter comprises an elongate, flexible, tubular catheter main body, and an inflatable element, which is mounted to the catheter main body. An input module is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber separate from a suction source.

Abstract: A cuff pressure stabilizer includes a substantially rigid protective housing and a balloon disposed therein. The balloon has a base low pressure of 10 cm H2O when it contains a base low-pressure volume of air. When the balloon contains a first medium-pressure volume of air, the balloon has a first medium pressure of 25 cm H2O. When the balloon contains a second medium-pressure volume of air, the balloon has a second medium pressure of 40 cm H2O, and at least 20% of an outer surface of the balloon touches a portion of the inner surface of the housing. The second medium-pressure volume of air equals the base low-pressure volume of air plus a second incremental quantity of air that is less than 60 cc. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A catheter body (210) defines a distal-most suction orifice (444) and an outer lateral wall (592), which defines a lateral opening (448) therethrough into a suction lumen (530). An inflatable-element outer wall (590) of an inflatable element (588) is mounted to the catheter body (210). An inner membrane (589) is positioned within the inflatable element (588) and is mounted to the catheter body (210) around the lateral opening (448) along a seal perimeter (583) around the lateral opening (448), so as to define a collapsible membrane portion (596) that (a) covers the lateral opening (448), and (b) together with the inflatable-element outer wall (590), defines an inflatable chamber (587) between the inflatable-element outer wall (590) and the collapsible membrane portion (596). The inner membrane (589) entirely surrounds the catheter body (210).

Abstract: A kit comprising a base module, a plurality of rodded oral care devices, a hanger, a support element that hangs from the hanger, and a non-electronic multi-input multi-display counter is disclosed herein. The support element for supporting each rodded oral care device of the plurality of devices. Embodiments relate to fluid loading/unloading mechanism involving elements of the base module. The non-electronic multi-input multi-display counter may be used to track different types of oral care operations, e.g. at least some of which are performed using the base module and/or a rodded oral care device. Related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A cuff pressure stabilizer includes a substantially rigid protective housing and a balloon disposed therein. The balloon has a base low pressure of 10 cm H2O when it contains a base low-pressure volume of air. When the balloon contains a first medium-pressure volume of air, the balloon has a first medium pressure of 25 cm H2O, and less than 10% of an outer surface of the balloon touches an inner surface of the housing. When the balloon contains a second medium-pressure volume of air, the balloon has a second medium pressure of 40 cm H2O, and at least 20% of the outer surface of the balloon touches a portion of the inner surface of the housing. The second medium-pressure volume of air equals the base low-pressure volume of air plus a second incremental quantity of air that is between 10 cc and 60 cc. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A cleaning catheter insertable into a ventilation tube and an input module are provided, the input module coupled to the cleaning catheter and including (i) an inflation module, including an inflation chamber and a one-way air inlet valve; (ii) a flow regulator operable to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element operable (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber of the cleaning catheter during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration. The one-way air inlet valve is arranged to allow air to flow into the inflation chamber during a transition of the mechanical user control element from the second configuration to the first configuration.

Abstract: An oral care system for a defined oral care cleaning cycle comprising a base module 100, a head module 150 comprising a toothbrush-bristle brush 165 disposed on a bristle-retaining surface of the head module, and a tail module 151. A multi-input/multi-display counter 149 is disposed on a base-module main body 110 of the main body 100. The multi-input/multi-display counter 149 independently displays first and second count-states, and includes first and second independently-operable user inputs that are respectively associated with the first and second count-states such that: (a) in response to user engagement of the first user input, the first count state is incremented or decremented; and (b) in response to user engagement of the second user input, the second count state is incremented or decremented.

Abstract: A cuff pressure stabilizer (100, 200, 300, 500, 600, 800) is provided that includes an inflation lumen proximal port connector (134), which is shaped to form an airtight seal with an inflation lumen proximal port (15) of a catheter (10) additionally having an inflatable cuff (11) and an inflation lumen (13); a fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624); a liquid column container (118, 518, 618), which is (a) open to the atmosphere (99) at least one site along the liquid column container, (b) in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624), and (c) in communication with the inflation lumen proximal port connector (134) via the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624); and a liquid (121), which is contained (a) in the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624), (b) in the liquid column container (118, 518, 618), or (c) partially in the fluid reservoir (120, 524, 624) and partially in the liquid column container (118, 518, 618), and which has a density of between 1.5 and 5 g/cm3 at 4 degrees Celsius at 1 atm.

Abstract: A cuff pressure stabilizer includes two or more columnar units, which include respective input columns and respective output columns disposed at least partially alongside the respective input columns. The input column of an upstream-most columnar unit is shaped so as to define an upstream-most input port, which is coupleable in fluid communication with an inflation lumen proximal port of a catheter. The output column of a downstream-most columnar unit is shaped so as to define an atmosphere port that is open to the atmosphere. The columnar units include a measurement columnar unit, which includes a plurality of pressure indicia markings distributed along the measurement columnar unit for measuring a height difference between a surface level of the liquid in the measurement output column of the measurement columnar unit and a surface level of the liquid in the measurement input column of the measurement columnar unit.