UCSB develops soft robotic system for emergency intubation
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have built a soft robotic intubation system (SRIS) that in trials produced rapid, high‑success placement of endotracheal tubes; experts achieved 100% success, paramedics/EMTs 96% after five minutes of training, and untrained participants averaged 21 seconds to place the tube. The UCSB team says the device reduces injury risk by unrolling a soft inflatable tube that follows airway anatomy and is preparing for clinical trials and FDA approval in the U.S.
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📌 Key Facts
- Developer: University of California, Santa Barbara (lead authors include Prof. Elliot Hawkes and David Haggerty)
- Device name and mechanism: soft robotic intubation system (SRIS) uses a curved guide and an inflatable tube that unrolls to follow the tracheal path
- Performance metrics: experts 100% success; paramedics/EMTs 96% success after 5 minutes of training; non‑experts averaged 21 seconds per placement; team preparing for clinical trials and FDA approval