Final Design

Handle

The handle is the main point of contact for the physician to control the BronchoMate during an intubation procedure. With this in mind, the handle is designed to ergonomically suit different physical capabilities and handling techniques. The geometry allows for ease of use for both male and female physicians. In addition to seamlessly connecting the blade and fastener, it contains a wide interior channel that is able to house more than one sized bronchoscope tube.

Blade

The purpose of the blade is functionally similar to the blade of a laryngoscope. The blade is to be placed in a patient's mouth to visualize the larynx utilizing the bronchoscope camera at the end of a channel embedded into the BronchoMate. The blade is a hyper-angulated style with a 98.9 degree face. The channel in the blade, it restricts to 6.1 mm in order to accommodate most adult sized bronchoscopes, ranging from 3.8 to 5.8 mm. There is an indicator for direction at the top of the blade.

Fastener

The fastener is designed to be able to accommodate bronchoscope insertion tubes of between 8.2 and 3mm OD, although the blade of the Bronchomate is only designed for 6.2 mm, 5.7mm, and 5.0mm. The fastener's purpose is to restrict translation and rotation of a bronchoscope insertion tube, holding it in place to ensure a steady visual during laryngoscopy. It is easy to operate with a single hand, allowing for quick insertion, fastening, and then release when the laryngoscopy is complete. It is not reccommended to be used with reusable bronchoscopes, as the material of the fastener can leave physical marks on the insertion tube if screwed too tightly.

Material

The material considered for this device included BioMed Amber, BioMed Clear, Nylon 12 and Nylon 11. These material considerations were made with 3D printing manufacturing being the main method of prototype fabrication. Given our current capabilities, Formlabs Clear, White, and Grey resins are being used to fabricate our final prototypes. Down the line, we are likely to consider biocompatible thermoplastics as the final material of which we would mass manufacture with through the injection molding process.

Project's Performance

Fastener

- Works with a wide range of bronchoscope sizes
- Depends on material and print cure time, grippers may be brittle or fracture after prolonged use

Handle

- Geometrically similar to current laryngoscopes handle dimensions
- May feel uncomfortable towards smaller hands

Blades

- Consistently withstands forces applied during intubation
- Provides sight picture with ~30% coverage

Material

- Formlabs resins clear, gray, black - SLA

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