Development of a Novel Airway-Exchange Broncholaryngoscope

The purpose of this project was to develop a novel airway-exchange broncholaryngoscope (AEBLScope) to improve the efficiency and accuracy of airway-exchange procedures.

The AEBLScope was designed to combine a bronchoscope and airway-exchange catheter (AEC) into a single device and to reduce the blind placement of AECs. The prototype was constructed by modifying an existing distal-chip bronchoscope. A custom AEC was procured to fit concentrically over the flexible portion of the scope. The catheter was connected to the scope handpiece by a customized push-pull locking attachment. The AEBLScope was used to perform airway-exchange procedures with both tracheostomy and endotracheal tubes using two different airway models. Experimental procedures were recorded with still photography to evaluate the exchange of tubes and placement of AECs.

In two airway models using the AEBLScope, both tracheostomy and endotracheal tubes were successfully exchanged on first-pass attempt, and AECs were accurately placed under visual guidance.

The AEBLScope combines a bronchoscope and AEC into a single tool. Based on these first results, this novel scope has the potential to perform airway-exchange procedures more safely compared with standard procedures by increasing the accuracy of placement, decreasing procedural time, and reducing the morbidity and mortality that can occur from blind placement of AECs.

NA Laryngoscope, 134:4488-4493, 2024.