Could a 'robotic cough' stop deadly pneumonia in ICU patients?

This pilot study tests two non-invasive methods to keep the airways clear in adults who are unconscious or severely ill and need a breathing tube. One method uses a special tube with continuous low-pressure suction, and the other delivers a programmed 'artificial cough' through the ventilator. The goal is to see if these approaches can prevent early pneumonia better than the current standard of care, which involves antibiotics or manual suctioning. The study includes 60 patients with conditions like severe trauma, stroke, or cardiac arrest, and follows them for 90 days.