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Pneumostylet - Team 1

Company: Third Thought

Major(s):
Primary: BME
Secondary: MATSE
Optional: ME

Non-Disclosure Agreement: YES

Intellectual Property: YES

Accurate and rapid placement of a breathing tube in the trachea is important. The pneumostylet will aid this process by enabling the medical practitioner to better guide the breathing tube into the correct location. There are two components to the single device. The first component, the handpiece, is held in the hand and, depending upon the strength of the grip compression, generates and removes pressure. The pressure is transmitted to the adjoined second component, the stylet, which is a 14 inch straight but flexible tubing with pockets over the bottom 5 inches. In practice, the stylet is first inserted inside the breathing tube (like the lead in a pencil), and when the handpiece is compressed, the pockets of the bottom inches of the stylet inflate, creating a more or less angled "J" shape. The tip of the breathing tube (which is overlying the stylet) is placed in the trachea, and the pneumostylet is removed. This polymer device must be 100% elegant, reliable, intuitive, and easy to use. Handpiece: create and remove pressure, deliver and remove 20 ml of air or fluid. Stylet: create "J" shape (and return to straight) overlying breathing tube with correct sequence of angulation. While the prototype creation is the centerpiece of the project, there are many other critically important features which need to be addressed such as how it will be manufactured, packaged, and FDA approved (510K process).