Apparatus and method for improved assisted ventilation

A method for ventilating an individual, the method comprising:

• inserting a ventilation device within a natural respiratory opening of the individual by advancing a working end of the ventilation device within a body passageway of the individual, where the working end includes a distal opening fluidly coupled to a first lumen and a medial opening fluidly coupled to a second lumen;
• wherein the ventilation device is in fluid communication with a control unit;
• drawing suction through the distal opening using a suction mechanism and maintaining the suction for a period of time;
• assessing whether the distal opening is sealed by measuring a strain on the suction mechanism after a pre-determined period of time, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a ventilation lumen from one of the first lumen or the second lumen by, i) ceasing suction and selecting the first lumen as the ventilation lumen when the strain indicates that a tissue of the body passageway does not seal the distal opening within the period of time and ceasing suction through the first lumen after the pre-determined period of time, and ii) maintaining suction and selecting the second lumen as the ventilation lumen when the strain indicates that the tissue of the body passageway seals the distal opening within the period of time;
• and
• ventilating the individual through the ventilation lumen using the ventilation device.