Tech & Innovation in Healthcare

Question: I’ve always struggled with intubating patients mainly because I’m unable to see inside the esophagus while inserting the breathing tube. Are there any tools available that could make this task easier?

Kansas Subscriber

Answer: Intubation is a difficult procedure, and one company has recognized the challenge of performing the task without being able to see inside the body.

In 2018, Visura Technologies received U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its TEECAD device. The TEECAD is a small-size camera that attaches to a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) probe to provide visualization of the patient’s esophagus in real time during the intubation procedure.

The clear images of the body structure help healthcare providers efficiently guide the breathing tube into place. According to the company, providers using TEECAD succeed on the first pass 91 percent of the time compared to 44 percent success on the first pass when intubating blind.

The TEECAD’s silicone design is soft and helps reduce throat injuries during intubation. Plus, the camera is disposable to minimize the need for cleaning.

Recently, the company announced the next version of the technology — the TEECAD mini, which is designed for “adult patients with anatomical requirements not currently served by standard TEE probe sizes,” according to a press release.