Alexandra Verne

Stephen John Hahn

Morgan Bohrer

Michael L'Ecuyer

A device for biofilm removal from an endotracheal tube is disclosed. Such a device may include a hollow catheter having a tip, wherein said device is inserted down an endotracheal tube of an orally intubated patient. Said tip may include a cylindrical central portion and a fin configured to dislodge biofilm from the inner lumen of the endotracheal tube as the device is rotated, either manually or mechanically, inside the endotracheal tube. The fin may be configured as a helix and positioned to spiral around said cylindrical central portion of the tip thereby forming a channel, defined by the pitch of said helix, about the circumference of the cylindrical central portion. Biofilm dislodged from the inner surface of the endotracheal tube by the rotational motion of the fin may be retained within the channel until the tip is removed from the endotracheal tube. The device may further comprise a motor for mechanically rotating the catheter and tip. Finally, the device may be configured to interface with a mechanical ventilator such that airflow to an intubated patient is not impeded while said device is used to remove biofilm from the inner surface of the patient's endotracheal tube.

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Northbrook, IL, United States of America

Alexandra Verne