The Mucus Slurper: A Novel Device to Keep the Endotracheal Tube (ETT) Free of All Mucus, Without Suctioning
Description of Invention:
Available for licensing and commercial development is a mucus slurping device to remove all mucus, before mucus reaches the tip of the endotracheal tube (ETT); thus, no mucus ever enters the ETT, and the ETT remains always clean - without suctioning. A Mallinckrodt Hi-Lo® CASS (continuous aspiration of subglottic secretions) endotracheal tube is modified by appending to the distal-most tip of a cut-off CASS tube a molded, hollow, concentric plastic ring with 3 - 4 (or more) small (less than l mm in diameter) suction ports, the latter positioned in the most dependent part of the ETT (Figure 1). The CASS line was extended to the very tip of the ETT, and suction was activated for approximately 0.5 s, synchronized to the early part of expiration; and repeated once a minute, or as desired. All mucus was collected in a small in-line vial. Healthy, anesthetized and paralyzed sheep, were intubated with a modified 8 mm CASS ETT tube with attached “Mucus Slurper”; with sheep lying prone, trachea/neck oriented below horizontal. Never suctioned. At the end of the 72 h study, sheep were electively euthanized, and autopsied.
Figure 1. Normal arterial blood gases. No traces of mucus were
found along the entire length of the ETT. There were no gross abnormalities of
the tracheal mucosa; Bacterial cultures of the 5 lobes of the lungs were negative.
The Mucus Slurper represents a new concept that may significantly contribute to
improved care of patients intubated and mechanically ventilated; with no need
for suctioning/cleaning, and free of ventilator associated pneumonia.
Applications:
Prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia
Intubation
Mucus clearance
Market:
All patients intubated for longer than 18 hours
Development Status:
Pre-clinical data available from sheep
Inventors:
Theodor Kolobow (NHLBI) Gianluigi Li Bassi (NHLBI) Francesco Curto (NHLBI)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-074-2005/0 --
U.S. Patent Application No. 11/081,420 filed 15 Mar 2005
International Patent Application PCT/US2006/009166 filed 14 Mar 2006
Relevant Publication:
L Berra et al. Antibacterial-coated tracheal tubes cleaned with the Mucus Shaver: A novel method to retain long-term bactericidal activity of coated tracheal tubes. Intensive Care Med. 2006 Jun;32(6):888-893. [PubMed abs]
T Kolobow et al. Novel system for complete removal of secretions within the endotracheal tube: the Mucus Shaver. Anesthesiology. 2005 May;102(5):1063-1065. [PubMed abs]
L Berra et al. Evaluation of continuous aspiration of subglottic secretion in an in vivo study. Crit Care Med. 2004 Oct;32(10):2071-2078. [PubMed abs]
R Trawoger et al. Intratracheal pulmonary ventilation keeps tracheal tubes clean without impairing mucociliary transport. Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 2002;62(5):351-356. [PubMed abs]
Licensing Status: Available for non-exclusive or exclusive licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The NHLBI Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the endotracheal tube mucus cleaning device and related laboratory interests. Please contact Marianne Lynch at 301-594-4094 or lynchm@nhlbi.nih.gov for more information.
Portfolios: Devices/Instrumentation
Devices/Instrumentation-Therapeutics-Devices-Life Support (e.g. ventilation) Devices/Instrumentation-Therapeutics-Devices-Implants Devices/Instrumentation-Therapeutics-Devices-Methods of Using Devices Devices/Instrumentation-Therapeutics
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
