FilterCap
Once the airway device is inserted, the paramedic needs to attach four more pieces of equipment to the device. There is a specific order the equipment needs to be assembled in to make sure the rest of the equipment is protected and the most accurate CO2 readings are recorded. From my research I discovered that it is easy to assemble the equipment in the incorrect order because the ISO standard design allows this to happen.
This design was entered into AUT’s X-Challenge which I was the Runner up and the People’s Choice Awarder winner in. I used the prize money to create a Start-up for this product.
The final design is a combined breathing filter and ETCO2 connector. The design has a silicone band that indicates “Patient side”. It also has arrows, and letters to indicate which way it connects. A for airway (patient side) and B for BVM (inflatable bag). Feedback from Paramedics was it would make it easier to remember the order of the equipment and they could start recording the CO2 output as soon as the breathing tube was in.
This idea was entered into AUT’s X-challenge where it won the Runner-up prize and the People’s Choice award.
Further development after 2021
As part of a start-up, I tried to commercialize this idea. I managed to make a Proof of Concept that worked when plugged into a LifePak 15 (defibrillator). I was in talks with St John about a possible pilot trial. They were excited about this and wanted to try it out. Every paramedic I talked to believed this would make their jobs a little bit easier. Unfortunately, St John had changed the defibrillator they were using so I could not go through with a trial.
I patented this idea in NZ. I learned a lot about IP protection, sourcing manufacturers and manufacturing techniques.