RAMP™ Rapid Airway Management Positioner As the RAMP inflates, ear to sternal notch positioning is achieved and glottic exposure improved.
Proper patient positioning during direct laryngoscopy is frequently overlooked by novice staff during the intubation process. Manual attempts are nonstandard, unreliable and extremely time inefficient. In the emergency setting patient positioning - "ramping" - is neglected, or even dispensed with altogether, due to the inherent time constraints related to endotracheal intubation. Indeed, improper patient positioning is a frequent cause of failed laryngoscopy. The RAMP is an inflatable device powered by its own air supply. By quickly achieving ear to sternal notch position in even the largest of patients, alignment of the airway axes is facilitated and glottic exposure improved. The RAMP also aids in maximizing upper airway patency, improving the mechanics of ventilation and lengthening the apneic time period to critical hypoxia in massive obesity.
Supine patients (especially obese patients) will experience an increased work of breathing due to a natural tendency of the internal organs to press against the diaphragm. Ramping a patient largely relieves this restriction, facilitates easier BVM ventilation, and lengthens the safe apnea period to critical desaturation. An additional benefit is the "ramped" Transfer. This can be achieved with the AirPal RAMP All-in-One device. This device combines the AirPal Platform, our leading lateral safe patient transfer and positioning device, with the AirPal RAMP. The AirPal RAMP All-in-One device can maintain the patient in a proper ramped position to maximize airway patency and comfort during transfer from table to stretcher.
Ear to Sternal Notch Positioning
When obesity or a difficult airway is encountered, head elevation/neck flexion is required for proper axis alignment. With the RAMP, ear to sternal notch position can be obtained in seconds to align these airway axes and facilitate a "first pass" endotracheal intubation. Oral Axis: Straight line drawn parallel to the hard palate. Pharyngeal Axis: Line passing through the anterior portion of the cervical spine. Laryngeal Axis: Straight line passing through the centers of the cricoid cartilage and the base of the epiglottis.
Improved Glottic Exposure
Proper positioning of the patient through a ramping procedure will result in increased glottic exposure. Clinical evaluation of the RAMP has shown that a patient can be properly positioned for direct laryngoscopy in less than one minute. Traditional methods using stacks of hospital linen are nonstandard, unreliable and extremely time inefficient. This requires multiple staff to accomplish. Ramping of the patient with the RAMP can be accomplished automatically by one operator with no awkward lifting required. There are no linens to slip or settle under the patient's weight and the patient may be repositioned immediately and automatically after intubation for a surgical procedure.
Improved Spinal Support
Traditional methods of ramping a patient usually involve the ad hoc placement of linens to form the ramp. This creates an irregular surface and the spinal column may not be effectively supported. The act of manually handling the patient may also induce injury to the patient's spine. The RAMP distributes and supports the patient's weight evenly along the patient's spinal column. As the RAMP is inflated it supports the natural curvature of the spine with a steady fluid upward motion. Further, there are no pressure points supporting the patient so the patient can remain in the ramped position for long periods of time without compromising skin integrity.
