Ventilating Push Rod

University of Nebraska System: University of Nebraska Medical Center
posted on 08/24/2010

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A significant factor of morbidities and mortalities in anesthesia is the difficulty of managing patients’ airways.(1) Endotracheal intubation is utilized to secure airways; however, the insertion of the tube requires skill and experience.(1) Laryngeal mask airways (LMA) are simple to use devices in awake or anesthetized patients, used when intubation is not desired or fails, and in emergent situations where the mark ventilation is not possible.(2) An LMA may be replaced by an endotracheal tube (ET tube) when more long-term ventilation is needed and when the patient is stabilized. Unfortunately during the process of inserting the ET tube and removing the LMA, the airway is not controlled or protected, which can lead to oxygen desaturation and hypoxia.(3) Thus, a device is needed to aid with the insertion of an ET tube while the LMA is still in place without interrupting the patient’s airflow.

UNeMed is currently offering licensing opportunities for a new device that will significantly reduce the difficulty of replacing a LMA with an ET tube. The Ventilating Push Rod is a tubular push rod, which aids in endotracheal intubation through a LMA, while maintaining patient ventilation. It consists of a tubular, hollow push rod with a tapered end that is adapted to couple with an ET tube. The tapered end has a frictional and snug fit with the ET tube allowing for the push rod to advance the ET tube smoothly and reliably through the guide tube of the LMA. An endoscope probe can be inserted inside the push rod, guiding it and the ET tube. Once the ET tube is in place, the laryngeal mask is deflated and removed, allowing for the ET cuff to be inflated. The Ventilating Push Rod can be removed leaving the ET tube.