I-Corps: Next Generation Device for Airway Clearance

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The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps is the development of a medical device for airway clearance to be used by civilian and military first-responders. The proposed technology is a portable suction device. Airway management is critically important in trauma patients, and airway compromise is the second leading cause of potentially survivable death on the battlefield. Effective portable suction is a key component of airway clearance for first responders; however, currently available devices are either too heavy and bulky to be carried (e.g., electrical units) or insufficiently powered (e.g., manually powered) to be useful. Many combat medics and civilian first responders decide against carrying suction units due to their poor efficacy and cannot justify the weight and space in their kits. Currently, none of the available products meet the functional needs of combat medics caring for massively injured casualties, and none have a robust design and logistical considerations needed by a mobile and agile military force. In addition, airway clearance may have important applicability in civilian emergency departments and intensive care units.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a medical device for airway clearance. The proposed battlefield-ready suction kit is designed for combat casualty care providers or their civilian counterparts. The proposed technology is based on innovations in the interior flow loop that reduce resistance to flow, enabling higher suction pressures and evacuation flowrates. In addition, the device is designed to be capable of operating in any physical orientation during usage. The proposed interior flow loop also may permit a lighter, more compact design, reducing the size and weight as compared with current electrically powered portable suction units on the market, which represents a critical improvement for a portable device. A prototype has been developed and results demonstrate the proposed airway management device may have applicability in trauma patients in emergency departments and intensive care units.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.