SBIR Phase I: Active Device for Reliable Cleaning of Feeding Tubes

SBIR 第一阶段：用于可靠清洁饲管的主动装置

• 批准号: 0810029
• 负责人: Roger Bagwell
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Actuated Medical, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-07-01 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0810029&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Active; Device; Reliable

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop the Tube-Clear device to remove clots from feeding tubes. In excess of 411,000 people receive feeding tubes annually in the United States. Feeding tubes become a requirement when critically ill and compromised patients lose the ability to swallow, but still need nutrients or medication. Clogging is a significant problem in the treatment of these patients, leading to time without nutrients or medication. While several approaches exist for clot removal, none are 100% successful, and when they fail, an uncomfortable and expensive process is required to replace the tube. Existing processes for cleaning feeding tubes can be time consuming, even when they succeed. With the aging population, a more reliable device to remove clots becomes critical. This SBIR Phase I program will develop the Tube-Clear, an activated device, to pass into a feeding tube and break up food clots, quickly and reliably, without removing or damaging the feeding tube. The Tube-Clear will ease the burden on nursing staff and patients dealing with the frustration of clogged feeding tubes. The anticipated selling price would be $35 with a reusable control unit selling for $300. Anticipated volume would be 2,000 per year. The effect of pricing on market acceptance will be studied in more detail in Phase II. In addition to the market for cleaning feeding tubes, PRII believes our technology can be extended to cleaning of other medical devices and tubes, such as catheters and endoscopes for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) and drain tubes. Markets for these devices are in the hundreds of thousands to millions of units per year. Nursing experts have expressed that the Tube-Clear device would be a significant advance in dealing with clogged feeding tubes.

这个小企业创新研究的第一阶段项目将开发管道清理设备，以清除进料管中的血块。在美国，每年有超过41.1万人接受喂食管。当危重病人失去吞咽能力，但仍需要营养或药物时，喂食管成为一种必需。堵塞是治疗这些患者的一个重要问题，导致时间没有营养或药物。虽然有几种清除血块的方法，但没有一种是100%成功的，当它们失败时，需要一个不舒服且昂贵的过程来更换管子。现有的清洗进料管的过程可能是耗时的，即使他们成功了。随着人口老龄化，一种更可靠的清除血块的设备变得至关重要。SBIR一期项目将开发一种名为tube - clear的激活装置，该装置可快速、可靠地进入进食管并分解食物凝块，而无需移除或损坏进食管。“清管”将减轻护理人员和病人处理喂食管堵塞的负担。预计售价为35美元，可重复使用的控制单元售价为300美元。预计数量为每年2000个。定价对市场接受度的影响将在第二阶段进行更详细的研究。除了清洁饲管市场，PRII相信我们的技术可以扩展到其他医疗设备和管道的清洁，例如用于微创手术（MIS）的导管和内窥镜以及引流管。这些设备的市场每年有数十万到数百万台。护理专家表示，管清设备将是处理喂食管堵塞的重大进步。