SureTube: A Semi-Autonomous Approach to Blind Endotracheal Intubation

Current solutions for definitive airway management during pre-hospital combat casualty care are limited, and surgical airways (cricothyrotomies) are frequently unsuccessful. The preferred approach, endotracheal intubation, is often not possible due to inadequate user skill/experience or limitations of the environment/clinical scenario. In multi-domain and prolonged field care environments, trained caregivers may quickly become overburdened, requiring less/untrained providers to assist. Accordingly, tools that decrease the skill and experience required to correctly perform critical patient care procedures will be valuable. Building on extensive experience with device development for combat medicine, InnoVital is developing a semi-autonomous system that enables blind endotracheal intubation – improving the success and ease of definitive airway management in military and civilian pre-hospital settings. The low-cost “SureTube” has similarities to common airway tools, increasing first-attempt success, usability, and provider confidence. A recent user study showed a 91% success rate. In the proposed effort, the “SureTube” system design will be finalized, transitioned to a product, and tested against current approaches (e.g., direct and video laryngoscopy). In addition to InnoVital Systems’ experience with developing procedural aids for combat/pre-hospital care, existing relationships with relevant industry partners puts InnoVital in a strong position for launching the “SureTube” as early as 2023.