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UCSD Medical - Laryngotracheal Stylet and Cannula
UCSD Medical - Laryngotracheal Stylet and Cannula
Background
Background
During an endotracheal intubation procedure, a set of assistance devices including a laryngotracheal cannula, a malleable guiding stylet, and an endotracheal tube are used in quick succession for a successful procedure. However, the use of separate devices increases the clinical time and the possibility of patient decompensation during intubation. Hence, a re-imagined combination of these devices would possibly help to save patients' lives and allow medical professionals to do their job more efficiently. An achievement of such a device as the MAE156 project can enhance the performance during intubation in terms of fast procedure, safety purpose, and a financial benefit.
During an endotracheal intubation procedure, a set of assistance devices including a laryngotracheal cannula, a malleable guiding stylet, and an endotracheal tube are used in quick succession for a successful procedure. However, the use of separate devices increases the clinical time and the possibility of patient decompensation during intubation. Hence, a re-imagined combination of these devices would possibly help to save patients' lives and allow medical professionals to do their job more efficiently. An achievement of such a device as the MAE156 project can enhance the performance during intubation in terms of fast procedure, safety purpose, and a financial benefit.
Limitation of the preexisting device:
Multiple devices lead to aversion of anesthesiologist’s attention and increase the time of operation, creating unnecessary risk
can only connect to one type of anesthetic, lidocaine
can only spray out through apertures in streamline
Additional risk from parts shearing and introducing a foreign object into body
Objective: The primary objective of this project was to design and build a sleek and easily manufactured combination of existing medical devices, namely the cannula and guiding stylet.
Final Design: The final design from top to bottom is a barbed connector connected to a plastic tube with a 316 stainless steel rod running through the middle. On the bottom is an atomizer tip connected with another barbed connector. The connector at the top allows the device to be compatible with any luer lock syringe while the atomizer at the bottom allows for full coverage of the trachea as well as better absorption of the anesthesia. Tests for the minimum bending radius before tube kinking ensured that most of the medication would reach the patient. Pull tests ensured that the atomizer at the bottom would never pop off during the middle of an intubation process.
CAD Figures
Practical View
Overview of Components
There are four major parts to this device: Luer lock, polyethylene tubing, internal malleable stylet, and atomizer. The flow of anesthetic occurs in the order stated previously.
A Luer lock, also known as a Luer taper, is a standard connection method used in the medical field. This was chosen in order to allow for the laryngotracheal stylet and cannula to connect to any syringe, therefore allowing for any anesthetic type to be used.
Hollow Polyethylene tubing is used as the main shaft of the device. It is hollow in order to allow for free flow of the anesthetic. Polyethylene is a low friction plastic that allows for easy maneuverability within an endotracheal tube.
The internal malleable stylet, made of medical-grade Stainless steel 316, is placed within the Polyethylene tube. At a substantially smaller radius than the tube, the stylet does not block the anesthetic flow, but accomplishes its purpose of providing a rigid guide for an endotracheal tube.
An atomizer is placed at the bottom of the laryngotracheal stylet and cannula, and it’s function is to turn the chosen anesthetic into a fine mist. The atomizer’s purpose is to more efficiently apply anesthetic to the patient’s throat. The length of an atomizer is relatively small in order to avoid harm to the patient's throat.
Design Performance
Here's a video comparing the procedure using the existing solutions with our design.
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