Dual Lumen Clearing Stem for Endotracheal Tube Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for clearing occlusive materials from endotracheal tubes are inefficient, often requiring frequent interruptions to ventilation, causing lung mechanics issues, and risking infection or injury, especially in patients with narrow tubes.
Innovation Solution
A dual lumen occlusion clearing device with a clearing stem and irrigation conduit that allows for continuous aspiration and irrigation within a closed system, maintaining ventilation and minimizing lung impact, using gentle oscillation to break up and remove secretions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard suction catheter methods are used to clear ETT occlusions, then secretions can be removed from the tube, but ventilation must be interrupted and lung mechanics are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing stem is inserted through the existing ETT lumen, nesting the clearing device within the tube to be cleared. This allows secretion removal without removing or replacing the ETT, maintaining ventilation continuity while enabling thorough internal cleaning of the tube.
Solution Approach 2:
Irrigation fluid is delivered ahead of the aspiration element to pre-soften and loosen occlusive secretions before they are aspirated. This preliminary action reduces the force and time needed for effective clearance, minimizing ventilation interruption.
2Reliability
If frequent suctioning is performed to maintain ETT patency, then secretions are removed, but cumulative exposure to suctioning side effects harms long term respiratory health
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous or near-continuous irrigation and aspiration without the need to disconnect or interrupt ventilation, maintaining ETT patency through sustained gentle cleaning action rather than repeated aggressive suctioning episodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses fluid dynamics with irrigation fluid delivery and aspiration to remove secretions, replacing mechanical suction with a hydraulic approach that is gentler on lung tissues while maintaining effectiveness in clearing the ETT lumen.
3Productivity
If larger diameter suction catheters are used to improve secretion aspiration effectiveness, then more secretions can be removed, but insertion becomes difficult in narrow ETTs
Solution Approach 1:
The clearing stem is divided into functional segments: an outer aspiration conduit and an inner irrigation conduit. This segmentation allows the device to fit through narrow ETTs while providing both irrigation and aspiration functions simultaneously, overcoming the limitation of single-function catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation conduit is nested within the aspiration conduit, creating a compact dual-function device that can pass through narrow ETTs. The nested structure allows both functions in a space-efficient configuration that accommodates small tube diameters.
4Productivity
If saline instillation is used to hydrate and thin secretions, then secretion removal may be facilitated, but excess fluid may enter the lungs causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation conduit acts as an intermediary channel that delivers fluid precisely to the occlusion site within the ETT lumen. The system controls fluid delivery and aspiration to prevent overflow into the patient's airway, using the conduit as a contained pathway for the irrigation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts or removes excess irrigation fluid along with the secretions through the aspiration conduit, preventing fluid accumulation and potential leakage into the patient's lungs. The aspiration function continuously removes fluid and debris from the system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick, thorough, and safe clearance of occlusive materials from endotracheal tubes without interrupting ventilation, reducing lung mechanics stress and minimizing the risk of infection or injury.
Implementation Method 1
the suction catheter is fed into the ETT with the opposite hand until the end is reached, being careful to not over-insert the catheter beyond the tip of the ETT. While retracting the suction catheter, a valve is pressed enabling the negative pressure source to apply a vacuum to the inner lumen of the suction catheter to aspirate out secretions
Implementation Method 2
an irrigation conduit within the aspiration conduit that delivers a fluid to the distal end of the clearing stem
Implementation Method 3
Gentle oscillation motion may be applied to assist in the clearing of the secretions or other material
Data Source
AI summary
An occlusion clearing device and system for removing material from an artificial tube in situ includes a clearing stem having aspiration and irrigation conduits, where the irrigation conduit is disposed interior to, and terminates within the aspiration conduit. Material enters the clearing stem through aspiration, and irrigation is provided within the aspiration conduit to assist in aspiration through the clearing stem. A handset includes aspiration and irrigation tubing connecting to sources therefor, and further includes valves to control the flow through the tubing and conduits. These valves may be operated simultaneously with an actuator located on the handset, which may be done with one hand. A coupler at the operative end allows the clearing stem to gain access to the artificial tube for clearing while maintaining a closed system with a ventilator. Reciprocating motion may be generated and provided to the clearing stem to aid in occlusion removal.