Tilson Trach Guard

• Is the Tilson Trach Guard right for my patient?
• Instructions for Parents
• The Origin of the Tilson Trach Guard

Protecting the exposed trach from accidental external occlusion.

The Tilson Trach Guard is a tracheostomy tube protector. It helps prevent blocking of the tube opening by chubby chins, bedding, gauze dressings, clothing, and so on.

Unlike artificial noses, tee pieces, etc. the Tilson Trach Guard has a low profile and doesn't get clogged by even copious secretions or coughed-up mucous plugs. The Trach Guard is reported to be effective at stopping or deflecting these bits so they are not projected forward.

Tilson Trach Guard has improved the quality of many of our pediatric patients. It's a great safety product. John Conrad (dedicated customer since 1987) Geisinger Medical Center Danville, PA

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Is the Tilson Trach Guard right for my patient?
Indications for Use	Tracheotomized Pediatric Patient The Tilson Trach Guard is designed for use on tracheotomized pediatric patients. At Risk for Occlusion Chubby chin, poor head control, other neuromuscular difficulties. The Tilson Trach Guard is helpful when your patient is off the ventilator and hasn't been decannulated. History of Accidental Occlusion or Unidentified Episodes of Oxygen Desaturation History of Readmission for "Mystery Problems" Reductions in alertness, setbacks in physical or mental development, and increased susceptibility to illnesses may be caused by unobserved hypoxic episodes due to tracheostomy occlusions.
Contraindications for Use	Requires Continuous Ventilation If your patient is continuously ventilated, his airway is maintained by the ventilator circuit. The Tilson Trach Guard is not used in this situation. Requires Resuscitation Remove the Tilson Trach Guard if it is necessary to resuscitate your patient
Special Considerations	Requires Continuous Humidification of Inspired Air A humidification collar (trach collar) can be used over a Tilson Trach Guard to provide humidified air Uses Speaking Valve If your patient can use a speaking valve, great! Some of our patients use a speaking valve during the day and a Tilson Trach Guard at night Requires Constant Supplemental Oxygen A trach collar can be used over a Tilson Trach Guard to provide supplemental oxygen

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BROCHURE	UNITED STATES IFU	EUROPEAN IFU
Because it is a medical device it is available only from or by order of a physician. To help your physician learn about the Tilson Trach Guard, download and print our product flyer for him. Or you can have a free sample sent directly to him by filling out our form on our contact page.

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The Origin of the Tilson Trach Guard

Meet Nick

Kate and Tim Beevers created the Tilson Trach Guard because of a little boy named Nick Tilson. Tim is an engineer by training and  Kate is a respiratory therapist. In the summer of 1986 she was working in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho when Nick first came to visit. He was about a year old and had been trach’d early on because of a congenital condition. He was getting more vigorous by the month; however he was plagued by periodic pulmonary problems that seemed to set him back. Because of his condition his parents were constantly anxious and occasionally needed a day or two just for themselves. It was on one such respite visit that he started this whole journey for all of us.

A Close Call

Because Nick was pretty vigorous, the PICU nurses had put a blanket out in the nurses’ station for him to play on and be with company. After a while, Nick tired and lay down peacefully for a nap. After a few minutes, the nurses were shocked when his oxygen monitor’s alarm went off. With all these professionals literally inches away, Nick had occluded his trach opening and was quietly crashing. Of course the nurses quickly resuscitated him, but the message was clear to Kate: if this could happen in an intensive care unit, with the best equipment and multiple, highly-trained care givers, what were the chances that this would happen at home? And, come to think of it, couldn’t his chronic pulmonary problems have been caused or worsened by occasional episodes like this one?

The nurses soon started to put adapters and tee pieces on Nick’s trach, but they all knew these were only makeshift solutions. Because of Nick’s short neck and oversized head, these devices pushed his head into an unnatural position.

A Solution in the Making

Kate found some parts that were close to what she wanted, and asked Tim to adapt them in his machine shop. Nick’s doctor was quick to approve using them on his patient in the hospital. and could also see a continuing need once Nick went home. So, while Kate contacted other hospitals to assess the size of this problem and understand the clinicial issues, Tim went to work on the design.

Next came patent searches, government regulations, and medical design standards. Finally they were ready for final approvals and had only one detail left to finish. What would they call this product? The choice was obvious. For more than 20 years the Tilson Trach Guard has provided precious air and peace of mind for many thousands of other children and their families around the globe.

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