ABOUT | tracheal-dilator

Our senior design group is working with Dr. Randal Paniello, an otolarygnologist at the Washington Univeristy School of Medicine, to address ventilation issues during laryngtotracheal resection and dilation.

Subglottic Stenosis:

Subglottic stenosis is defined as the partial or complete narrowing of the subglottic region in the trachea via build up of scar tissue. Subglottic stenosis is often the result from trauma inflicted on the trachea, usually from tube intubation.

For severe subglottic stenosis, treatment is laryngotracheal resection and dilation. During this procedure, a balloon dilator is used expand the incised scar tissue to the wall of the trachea. The issue with the balloon dilator is the complete blockage of the airways. The balloon can only dilate up to 2 minutes at a time before it must be removed to allow the patient to breathe.

Our goal is to design an alternate to the balloon dilator. Our device aims to allow the surgeon to dilate for longer periods of time, ideally allowing for only one dilation. The device should meet the following specifications:

Our senior design group is working with Dr. Randal Paniello, an otolarygnologist at the Washington Univeristy School of Medicine, to address ventilation issues during laryngtotracheal resection and dilation.

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Subglottic Stenosis:

Subglottic stenosis is defined as the partial or complete narrowing of the subglottic region in the trachea via build up of scar tissue. Subglottic stenosis is often the result from trauma inflicted on the trachea, usually from tube intubation.

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