Improved breathing tube placement
Official title: IVOS Medical: Intubation, Optimized.
Funded at Ivos Medical, INC. · NIH-11193843 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a better video tool to help doctors place breathing tubes more quickly and safely for adults needing emergency or surgical airway care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ivos Medical, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dana Point, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $926,634 |
| NIH project number | 5R44HL164325-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193843 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) who need or are likely to need endotracheal intubation in the emergency department, intensive care unit, or during surgery would be the candidates for device testing.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those who do not require intubation, or patients with very unusual airway anatomy not covered by the device design would likely not benefit.
What this research studies
When doctors place a breathing tube they often use a small camera to see your vocal cords, but blood, vomit, or secretions can block the view and slow the process. The team is developing a video laryngoscope blade with a disposable sleeve designed to keep the camera clear during intubation. They will test the design in simulated settings (including cadaver labs) and in clinical settings like emergency departments and operating rooms to see if it improves first-attempt success. The focus is on speeding up tube placement and reducing complications from failed or delayed intubation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians get breathing tubes in on the first try more often, lowering risks like low oxygen or airway injury.
How similar studies have gone: Video laryngoscopy is already widely used and has improved intubation success, but using a disposable sleeve to keep the camera clear is a relatively new idea that has had limited clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Ivos Medical, INC.
Dana Point, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Punsalan, Gabriel — Ivos Medical, INC.
- Study coordinator: Punsalan, Gabriel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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IVOS Medical: Intubation, Optimized.
A small NIH-funded project aims to improve endotracheal intubation, a life-saving airway procedure, by making it safer and more reliable for adults in emergency and critical care settings.
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Personalized Intubation Safety for Sick Neonates
A new approach helps doctors safely manage breathing tube placement in critically ill newborns, aiming to reduce complications and improve outcomes.
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Pre-intubation checklist to make emergency breathing tube placement safer for injured children
Using a pre-intubation checklist and support tools to help emergency teams place breathing tubes more safely in children after traumatic injury.
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Safer breathing tube placement for newborns in the NICU
This project uses a personalized safety bundle to try to reduce complications when placing breathing tubes in critically ill newborns in neonatal intensive care units.
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A new endotracheal tube with optical sensors to improve intubation safety
This study is testing a new type of breathing tube that has special sensors to help doctors place it correctly and keep an eye on it during procedures, making it safer for patients who need help breathing.
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Improving the safety and effectiveness of emergency intubation procedures.
This study is looking at ways to make it easier and safer for doctors to use a special camera tool during emergency intubation, by creating a disposable cover that keeps the camera clean, so patients can have better care when they need it most.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.