Materials Properties

1
Novel Design for Endotracheal Tubes

• Endotracheal Tubes
• Closed system of pulmonary ventilation in
  critical care situations
• Provides mechanical assistance in breathing
• Protects lungs from foreign material
• Estimated 200 million intubations per year
• Over 1 billion dollar market dominated by 2-3
  companies
• Polymeric conduit PVC Plasticizer

Poly(vinyl) chloride
Di-octyl phthalate
Problems with Endotracheal Tubes

• Materials Properties
• Contains vinyl monomer which is dangerous to
  manufacture
• Short term headache, vertigo, loss of
  consciousness, fatigue
• Long term
• liver, lung, brain and stomach damage leading to
  cancer
• nervous, circulatory and reproductive system
  damage
• impaired circulation in fingers and/or toes
  (Raynards syndrome)
• bone pain in fingers (aerosteolysis)
• skin hardening (scleroderma)
• Phthalate plasticizers
• potential carcinogen
• irritation to mucous membranes
• Physical Properties
• High cuff pressure against tracheal wall
• Length of intubation
• Shape of tube (C vs. S shape)
• May cause
• Blistering
• Irritation and mild laryngeal edema

http//www.mallinckrodt.com/Respiratory/resp/Produ
ct/HiLoEvac/HiLoMini.html
Note After 3 days of intubation, you will be at
high risk for nosocomial pneumonia because the
PVC/plasticizer attract bacteria.

• Objective for Design That Matters 2003
• Improve upon proposed cuff design
• Investigate use of synthetic and biopolymeric
  materials
• Build and test prototype
• Write new patent for proposed design improvement