Soft robotic intubation device enables 87% first-pass success rate

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have developed a novel soft robotic intubation system (SRIS) that significantly improves the success rate and speed of endotracheal intubation, a critical procedure to maintain an open airway. Unlike traditional rigid laryngoscopes that require lifting the epiglottis and pushing a stiff tube into the trachea, the SRIS uses a soft, inflatable tube that everts and grows forward along the natural airway pathway, reducing tissue injury and friction. This innovative design allows the tube to automatically curve into the trachea, accommodating anatomical variations without the need for forceful manipulation. Testing on mannequins and cadavers demonstrated that expert users achieved a 100% success rate, while emergency responders such as EMTs and paramedics reached a 96% overall success after just five minutes of training. Non-experts attained an 87% first-pass success rate, placing the tube in an average of 21 seconds—less than half the time required by current