I-Corps: Next Generation Device for Airway Clearance

这个i-Corps的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种供民事和军事急救人员使用的用于呼吸道清理的医疗设备。拟议的技术是一种便携式吸引器。在创伤患者中，呼吸道管理是至关重要的，而呼吸道受损是战场上潜在可存活死亡的第二大原因。有效的便携吸气是急救人员呼吸道清洁的关键组成部分；然而，目前可用的设备要么过于笨重而无法携带(例如电子设备)，要么动力不足(例如手动动力)而无法使用。许多战斗医务人员和平民急救人员决定不携带吸引器，因为它们的效果很差，而且无法证明他们工具箱中的重量和空间是合理的。目前，没有一种可用的产品满足战斗医务人员照顾大规模受伤人员的功能需求，也没有一种产品具有机动和灵活的军事力量所需的坚固的设计和后勤考虑。此外，呼吸道清理可能在民用急诊科和重症监护病房具有重要的适用性。这个i-Corps项目是基于开发一种用于呼吸道清理的医疗设备。拟议的战场准备吸引箱是为战斗伤员护理提供者或他们的平民同行设计的。这项拟议的技术基于内部流动回路的创新，减少了流动阻力，实现了更高的吸入压力和疏散流量。此外，该设备被设计为能够在使用期间在任何物理方向上操作。拟议的内部流动回路还可以允许更轻、更紧凑的设计，与市场上目前的电动便携式吸入器相比，减小了尺寸和重量，这对便携式设备来说是一个关键的改进。已经开发了一个原型，结果表明，拟议的呼吸道管理设备可能适用于急诊科和重症监护病房的创伤患者。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.