M.J. Peck, D. Alias
fpaBIO,LLC,
United States
Keywords: airway management, intubation, portable medical device, point-of-care innovation, combat casualty care, emergency medicine, anesthesia technology, precision health
Summary:
Rapid and reliable airway control remains one of the most time-sensitive challenges in both emergency and military medicine. The Novelet™ Stylet, developed by FPAbio, is a compact, portable device designed to improve first-pass success when placing an endotracheal tube in difficult or unpredictable conditions. Its unique sequentially articulating design allows clinicians to adjust the shape of the stylet in real time—from a C-curve to an S-curve—without removing or reshaping the tube. This feature shortens procedure time, reduces airway trauma, and improves safety for patients in both hospital and field environments. The Novelet™ is a one-piece device requiring no assembly or complex setup. It can be used effectively by anyone trained in intubation, from anesthesiologists to combat medics. Current prototypes, at TRL 5–6, have been evaluated in simulation studies and by clinical advisors across anesthesia and emergency medicine. The design is compatible with existing airway equipment and can be manufactured at low cost using ISO 13485-certified processes in both the United States and Taiwan. With future integration of CO2 or placement sensors, the Novelet™ could also serve as a precision verification tool. Its simplicity, adaptability, and reliability make it ideally suited for modern point-of-care medicine and for improving airway access in austere or combat settings.