Reimagining the Oral Airway: Innovation Born in the OR
Thu Feb 05 2026
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.
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
Learn more about Arete Medical Devices: https://aretemedicaldevices.com/
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1
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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. 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 Learn more about Arete Medical Devices: https://aretemedicaldevices.com/ Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1