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On This Episode:
Oral airways have looked basically the same for nearly a century despite dramatic changes in patient populations, sedation practices, and monitoring standards. What if a simple design change could bring significant improvements to safety and efficacy? In this episode, CRNA John Brown and entrepreneur Jason Keen of Arete Medical Devices share the story behind a newly designed oral airway that aims to solve problems anesthesia providers have quietly worked around for decades.
They’ll take us through real-world OR frustrations to prototyping, clinical testing, and early adoption across hospitals and surgery centers. Jason and John explain how adjustable sizing, integrated oxygen delivery, reliable end-tidal CO₂ monitoring, and reduced oxygen washout could improve both workflow and patient safety, especially during MAC and sedation cases. Join us to hear how a simple design change could lead to safer, more effective airway management practices in everyday anesthesia.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🫁 Why traditional oral airways no longer meet modern sedation needs
🔧 Designing an adjustable airway to reduce waste and mis-sizing
📉 Improving end-tidal CO₂ accuracy while lowering oxygen flow rates
🏥 Clinical testing across hospitals and surgery centers
🌱 Cost savings, plastic reduction, and sustainability in anesthesia tools
Important Links:
- Learn more about Arete Medical Devices
- The 1099 CRNA Institute
- Earn MAC Dev Credit
- Now you can watch the show on YouTube!
"Every airway we’ve ever used still needs an assist—this was built to fix that.”
