Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Monitor

Development of a critical medical device to prevent ventilation-related complications

Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Monitoring and Control System

Project Overview

This TÜBİTAK-funded project (10M TRY grant) focused on developing a critical medical device to prevent ventilation-related illnesses in intensive care patients. The system monitors and controls endotracheal tube cuff pressure, ensuring optimal pressure levels to prevent complications while maintaining an effective seal.

Clinical Significance

Maintaining proper endotracheal tube cuff pressure is critical in intubated patients:

  • Too low pressure: Risk of aspiration pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia
  • Too high pressure: Risk of tracheal tissue damage and ischemia
  • Our solution provides continuous monitoring and automatic adjustment to maintain optimal pressure range

Technical Implementation

Left: System architecture diagram. Middle: Graphical user interface for cuff pressure monitoring. Right: Mechanical manifold design for pressure control.

My Contributions

As project lead and proposal writer, I was responsible for:

  • Guiding the team in creating a solution for preventing ventilation-related illnesses
  • Developing the control software using C programming language
  • Designing an intuitive C++ GUI for medical professionals
  • Creating a specialized manifold that enables seamless switching between vacuum and pressure on the pump
  • Ensuring ISO 62304 compliance for medical device software
Left: Laboratory testing setup for pressure accuracy and response time. Right: Device in simulated clinical environment.

Technical Challenges

The project presented several engineering challenges:

  • Creating a responsive pressure control system with medical-grade accuracy
  • Developing reliable pressure switching mechanisms
  • Designing fault-detection algorithms to ensure patient safety
  • Implementing an intuitive interface for busy healthcare environments
  • Meeting strict medical device regulatory requirements (MDR and ISO 62304)

Impact and Outcomes

This project has advanced patient care in intensive care units by:

  • Reducing the risk of ventilator-associated complications
  • Minimizing the need for manual monitoring by clinical staff
  • Providing consistent pressure maintenance within safe parameters
  • Contributing to improved outcomes for intubated patients
  • Meeting critical regulatory requirements for medical device safety

References