Coaxial Endotracheal Tube for Single Lung Ventilation

Thoracic surgery and bronco-spirometry require single-lung ventilation to keep the patient alive. There are two current devices used to perform single-lung ventilation: the bronchial blocker and the double lumen endotracheal tube. Both devices have intricacies that complicate the surgical technique. The bronchial blocker requires the use of a guide loop while the double lumen tube requires swivel ports and a Y-connector to provide single-lung ventilation. This work will propose a new coaxial tube design that attempts to streamline the existing designs. The study will determine the feasibility of the coaxial tube design and whether it can provide proper ventilation while decreasing the overall endotracheal tube size. Initial tests have shown the design provides both an airtight seal and proper pressure values, required for single and double-lung ventilation. No significant fatigue in the internal balloon and the coaxial tubes were observed. All prototypes passed kinking as well as a ten hour air leak test. Further testing will confirm the results of the initial tests. Exact values will also be determined once thorough secondary testing is fully completed. These results indicate that the coaxial endotracheal tube design passes stability, reliability, and ventilation test protocols permitting proper single and double-lung ventilation. In addition to satisfying ventilation requirements, this design also simplifies the surgical technique compared to the current bronchial tubes. The simplification reduces intubation time and gives the coaxial endotracheal tube design an advantage that may provide both a safer and simpler means of providing single-lung ventilation.