Airway Stabilization System Resisting Multidirectional Forces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current airway stabilization systems fail to effectively prevent clinically significant movement of airway devices in response to multidirectional forces, leading to unplanned extubation, which is costly and hazardous due to inadequate resistance and potential for airway occlusion or constriction.
Innovation Solution
An airway stabilization system comprising an anatomically shaped airway device with a retention collar and a securing device formed from a single continuous piece of material, providing a stable interlocking fit to resist movement and protect the balloon inflation system, while maintaining optimal balloon pressure and preventing pinching or crushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional airway stabilization systems are used, then the airway device can be inserted into the patient's trachea, but the system fails to effectively prevent clinically significant movement in response to multidirectional forces
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing device is divided into multiple functional components including a retention collar with restraints on the airway device, and a separate stabilizing device with a bite block and disc member. This segmentation allows each component to address specific forces independently, providing comprehensive resistance to multidirectional forces while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the retention collar with restraints directly on the airway device with the stabilizing device featuring bite block and disc member. This combination creates an integrated stabilization system that simultaneously addresses longitudinal, lateral, and rotational forces, effectively preventing clinically significant movement while enhancing overall strength.
2Reliability
If the airway device is secured tightly to prevent movement, then stability is improved, but the balloon inflation system may become pinched or constricted
Solution Approach 1:
The retention collar acts as an intermediary component between the airway device and the stabilizing device. It provides a structured interface with restraints that secure the airway device without creating direct pinching forces on the balloon inflation system, thus maintaining stability while preventing harmful constriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraints on the retention collar are positioned and configured to apply stabilization forces at specific locations on the airway device, away from the balloon inflation system. This localized application of restraint forces provides necessary stability while avoiding pinching or constriction of the balloon inflation components.
3Reliability
If a complex securing mechanism is used to resist multidirectional forces, then prevention of movement is improved, but the application and removal process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The retention collar with restraints is pre-attached to the airway device before insertion, and the stabilizing device is designed with pre-configured bite block and disc member components. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid application and removal during clinical procedures while maintaining the complex stabilization structure needed to resist multidirectional forces.
Data Source
AI summary
An airway stabilization system attachable to any airway device to maintain an airway in a patient and which prevents clinically significant movement of the airway device with respect to the patient's vocal cords in response to the application of significant forces in any direction to the device, be they longitudinal, torsional/rotational or bending. The system includes an improved airway device and an improved securing device having interactive components that cooperate integrally with and engage one another to provide unparalleled strength and stability against movement. The securing device includes a unique stabilizer configured to releaseably engage a retention structure on the airway device with a simple twist. A connector device connects the system to a source of ventilatory air without constricting the airway device.