An Effective and Novel Design for Aspirating Sputum With

45 BACKGROUND: Conventional sputum suction is a routine clinical practice, but complications may 46 arise from the blind manipulation of the catheter. Recently, a visual sputum suction system (VSSS) was 47 developed. We hypothesized that this new system would be feasible and efficient for sputum suction in 48 a laboratory setting. 49 METHODS: We used 1.5% and 3.0% coagulant to simulate mucus and sputum. Conventional 50 single-lumen and triple-lumen catheters were inserted separately into a beaker for sputum suction (15 s, 51 200 mmHg). Then a micro-imaging fiber was integrated into the triple-lumen catheter to create the 52 VSSS. The single-lumen catheter and the VSSS were inserted separately into the mouth cavity, the 53 nasal cavity, the tracheostomy tube, and the endotracheal tube of a human analogue model for further 54 comparisons. 55 RESULTS: As the suction channel of the triple-lumen catheter was reduced by 46.8%, the amount of 56 simulant it suctioned was significantly less than that suctioned by the single-lumen catheter. However, 57 under real-time guidance, the VSSS suctioned more simulant than the conventional single-lumen 58 catheter in a human analogue model. 59 CONCLUSION: Sputum suction with this new system was feasible. Because of its real-time imaging 60 guidance, the efficiency of the VSSS procedure was greater than that of the conventional single-lumen 61 catheter. Therefore, this system may provide a new platform for sputum suction in the future. 62