NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
When someone stops breathing, time starts to tick. First responders often need to get air into the lungs quickly, and one of the most reliable ways is to slide a tube into the windpipe. This process, called intubation, keeps the airways open so that oxygen can flow again.
Here’s the problem: intubation is incredibly difficult. Even trained doctors can struggle, and every additional second puts the patient at greater risk. Now, researchers at UC Santa Barbara have designed a soft robotic device that could change the way first responders handle these emergencies. It guides the breathing tube into place quickly, safely and with much less training than traditional methods.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive offers straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM bulletin.
Why breathing tubes are so difficult to place
Our bodies are built to prevent food and foreign bodies from entering the lungs. A small flap called the epiglottis blocks the windpipe during swallowing and the path to the windpipe is narrow and curved. To get around these obstacles, current tools are rigid. Doctors must raise the epiglottis with a metal scope and carefully tilt the tube forward. If it slips into the esophagus, oxygen goes to the stomach rather than the lungs. “Traditional tools have to be rigid to be pushed, and they only rotate by pressing on sensitive tissue,” explained Elliot Hawkes, professor of mechanical engineering at UCSB.
DANGEROUS HEART CONDITIONS DETECTED IN SECONDS USING AI STETHOSCOPE
Even trained doctors can have difficulty with intubation. (Universal Images Group/Getty Images)
How the software robot works
The new system, called the Soft Robotic Intubation System (SRIS), takes a gentler approach. First, a curved guide sits at the bottom of the groove. Then, a soft inflatable tube slowly unrolls from the inside to the outside as it moves forward. Instead of being forced, it naturally follows the correct path to the windpipe. This reduces friction, reduces the risk of injury and automatically adapts to different body shapes. “This growing paradigm naturally explains minor variations in anatomy,” said lead author David Haggerty, a recent Ph.D. at UCSB. diploma.
What the tests show
The results are revealing:
- Experts had a 100% success rate.
- Paramedics and EMTs achieved a 96% success rate with just five minutes of training.
- Non-experts placed the tube in 21 seconds on average, less than half the time needed with advanced videolaryngoscopes.
Why this device could save more lives
Millions of emergency intubations occur each year in the United States. Many take place in chaotic, dimly lit or stressful situations, where current tools don’t always work. A device that makes the process easier could be a lifesaver for:
- Paramedics at the scene of an accident
- Military medics in combat zones
- Doctors in hospitals with limited equipment
AI VIDEO TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATE THE TRAINING OF HUMANOID ROBOTS
In trials, experts and non-experts performed faster and more efficient intubations using the new airway management system, improving the efficiency of emergency responses. (Kurt Knutsson)
The UCSB team is currently preparing for clinical trials and FDA approval.
HOW MICROROBOTS CAN SOON TREAT YOUR SINUS INFECTIONS
What does this mean for you
If this device delivers on its initial promises, it could mean more patients survive emergencies where breathing stops. For families, this means a greater chance that first responders will be able to keep their loved ones alive until they arrive at the hospital. For doctors, it offers a safer, faster tool when seconds really count.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Do you think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get personalized analysis of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my quiz here: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Breathing is life, but securing the airway is one of the most difficult tasks in emergency care. This software robotic system can help transform a high-risk procedure into something more predictable and safer. Although more testing is still to come, early data shows how robotics could make a lifesaving difference to patients around the world.
Medical personnel participate in hands-on training to practice emergency response and resuscitation techniques using a realistic simulation mannequin. (Universal Images Group/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Would you feel more confident knowing that first responders in your community had access to this type of life-saving robot? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive offers straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide – free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM bulletin.
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
