Endotracheal Tube for Ventilator Patients

An improved endotracheal tube (ETT) for patients placed on ventilators for intermediate and extended-duration life support can remove secretions that might cause ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), the leading cause of death among hospital-acquired infections.

The CorEvacT ETT utilizes a balloon and suction catheter to remove infectious secretions at the seal. The unit's innovative design removes the secretions regardless of patient position and utilizes an engineered coughing-seal countermeasure when the patient coughs. The ETT was developed by Christopher Grey, RN, a trauma intensive care unit nurse in the Ryder Trauma Center at the University of Miami (FL, USA), with assistance from a Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP).

A big flaw of current ETTs is that they allow saliva and bacteria from the mouth and throat to collect on top of a balloon seal. When a patient moves or coughs, the infectious fluid seeps past the seal and into the lungs, producing VAP.

Design changes reduced the complexity of the new breathing tube while increasing clinical utility. The design has now been finalized so that a functional prototype can be built and testing can begin. "My objective with the CorEvac is to revolutionize the methodology of medicine from expensive treatment to inexpensive prevention, saving millions of dollars and, more importantly, people's lives,” said Nurse Grey. "In order to market the design, it must be as easy to use and manufacture as possible.”





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