GB2456815A

GB2456815A - Tube for delivering surfactant to the lungs of a patient

Info

Publication number: GB2456815A
Application number: GB0801362A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pramod Mainie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-25
Filing date: 2008-01-25
Publication date: 2009-07-29
Also published as: GB0801362D0

Abstract

A tube for delivering surfactant to the lungs of a patient comprises a tube of appropriate length having a locking mechanism at the proximal end to secure it to an endotracheal tube. A syringe is then used to introduce surfactant into the tube. The patient is preferably a neonate or preterm baby. The tube may come in three lengths. The tube maybe inserted into the endotracheal tube prior to placing in the trachea of a patient, therefore it can also serve as an introducer by imparting rigidity to the endotracheal tube. The tube may have markings, such as coloured markings, on it to indicate length.

Description

I

/ 2456815 SuriTube A device to aid administration of surfactant to preterm babies

Background

When a preterm baby is born, the immaturity of its lungs means it is unable to breathe properly on its own. A tube, called an endoctracheal tube, is therefore placed in the trachea, and, the baby is put on a life support machine immediately after birth. Premature lungs are deficient in a compound called surfactant, and to improve the baby's chances, surfactant is administered, given directly into its lungs via the endoctracheal tube.

Current medical practice is to administer surfactant via a nasogastric tube, manually adapted and inserted into the endotracheal tube. This procedure carries certain risks1 which are summarised briefly below.

The Surfrube would be specifically for the administration of surfactant and for safe and hygienic use with the endotracheal tube. Its use would give rise to a significantly improved and cost efficient technique for administering surfactant.

Current medical practice Current practice for administering surfactant is to take a nasogastric tube (a tube normally placed in the stomach via the nose), cut it down to size using sterile gloves and scissors, and then insert it into the endotracheal tube. The endotracheal tube is calibrated in cm, which enables the clinician to know how far down the baby's trachea the tube is placed.

The surfactant is then administered through the nasogastric tube.

The cost of this method of administration includes the nasogastric tube, and sterile gloves and scissors. This method is also fraught with potential complications. Many inexperienced clinicians cut the nasogastric tube to the wrong length, with the result that either: - if cut too long, the tip of the nasogastric tube protrudes beyond the end of the endotacheal tube, with potentially devastating consequences: or -if cut too short, the function of the life support machine is hindered as the surfactant coats a significant length of the endotracheal tube, thereby increasing the resistance of this tube to oxygen from the life support machine. Oxygen flow is therefore reduced.

Furthermore, poor technique in cutting the nasogastric tube often results in an unstenle tube, and this can lead to an infection in the baby. a

Improving current medical practice -The Surilube This new instrument consists of a tube already cut to the appropriate length and adapted with a locking mechanism to secure it in the correct position to the endotracheal tube.

When the SurfTube is inserted into the endotracheal tube, it securely attaches to the endoctracheal tube with a click'. This assures the clinician that the tip of the SurfTube is at the right position, ready for administration of the surfactant via a syringe which fits onto the Surftube.

Endotracheal tubes for preterm babies come in three different lengths, and hence so too will the SurfTube. If the SuriTube is inserted into the endotracheal tube prior to placing the endiotracheal tube into the trachea of the neonate, it also serves as an introducer'-it imparts a rigidity to the endotracheal tube, thereby making its placement into the trachea easier.

Once the surfactant has been administered, the endotracheal tube length is often decreased by cutting it with scissors and re-attaching to the life support machine. This is in order to decrease any dead-space which hinders good function of the life support machine. In many babies a second dose of surfactant is required, and hence the surftube length will be too long in cases where the endotracheal tube length has been shortened. in this case the following technique is used. The SurfTube will have markings on it. One yellow mark at 7cm, and one red at 9cm. The SurfTube will be inserted into the endoctracheal tube and aligned with the endotracheal tube by matching the calibrations on both tubes. This will ensure that the tips of both tubes are in the same position in the trachea. The syringe is then attached and the medication administered. At no time in all methods of administration does the tip of the Surflube need to be touched, hence reducing infection risk As well as avoiding potentially devastating complications, the device is also cost-saving as it saves on sterile scissors and sterile gloves required to fashion the nasogastric tube.

Claims

Claims This new instrument consists of a tube already cut to the appropriate length and adapted with a locking mechanism to secure it in the correct position in the endotracheal tube.

When the SurfTube is inserted into the endotracheal tube, it securely attaches to the endoctracheal tube with a click'. This assures the clinician that the tip of the SurfTube is at the right position, ready for administration of the surfactant via a syringe which fits onto the Surftube. Thus the administration of surfactant is such that all the medication will be administered to the correct position in the trachea, The SuriTube ensures the medication is not given into the Endotracheal tube, and not too far, into one of the lungs.

Because the SurfTube does not need to be manipulated prior to use, there is a much decreased chance of contaminating the SurfTube with bacteria and then infecting the baby.

The Sw-Tube is cost-effective, as it replaces a nasogastric tube, sterile scissors, and sterile :* gloves, the equipment nonnally required to administer surfactant. *1*a

S.... Endotracheal tubes for preterm babies come in three different lengths, and hence so too will the Surflube. If the SurfTube is inserted into the endotracheal tube prior to placing : the endotracheal tube into the trachea of the neonate, it also serves as an introducer'-it * imparts a rigidity to the endotracheal tube, thereby making its placement into the trachea * easier. This is because the SurfFube will be made of a plastic material which is rigid but malleable. * .. e * a...

Once the surfactant has been administered, the endotracheal tube length is often * * decreased by cutting it with scissors and re-attaching to the life support machine. This is in order to decrease any dead-space which hinders good fi.mction of the life support machine. In many babies a second dose of surfactant is required, and hence the surftube length will be too long in cases where the endotracheal tube length has been shortened. In this case the following technique is used. The Surfrube will have markings on it. One yellow mark at 7cm, and one red at 9cm. The SurfTube will be inserted into the endoctracheal tube and aligned with the endotracheal tube by matching the calibrations on both tubes. This will ensure that the tips of both tubes are in the same position in the trachea. The syringe is then attached and the medication administered. At no time in all methods of administration does the tip of the SurfTube need to be touched, hence reducing infection risk As well as avoiding potentially devastating complications, the device is also cost-saving as it saves on sterile scissors and sterile gloves required to fashion the nasogastric tube.