Opening the discussion on a closed intubation box.

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Infection Control
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• COVID-19 airway management presents significant infection risks to healthcare providers.
• The "COVID intubation box" is a barrier device used to mitigate these risks.
• While existing intubation boxes have limitations, they show promise in protecting clinicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history, evidence, and limitations of current intubation box designs.
• To introduce a novel, modified intubation box.
• To report on airway simulation experiences with the new design.

Main Methods:

• Iterative design and prototyping of a modified intubation box.
• Validation through airway simulation using mannequins.
• Feedback collection from an expert panel including anesthesiologists and infection control specialists.

Main Results:

• The modified intubation box features a dome shape, increased height, wider arm ports, an additional side port, and drapes.
• Simulations indicated positive user feedback, particularly regarding improved arm mobility.
• The dome shape was favored by infection control for ease of disinfection.

Conclusions:

• The redesigned intubation box addresses limitations of previous models.
• This enhanced device serves as a crucial tool for reducing harm to clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.