Development of a Protocol for Treatment, with a Neuromuscular Electro-Stimulation Device, to Improve Outcomes and Reduce Length of Stay for Critical Care Patients

CC是高风险的，死亡率为20-30%，它也是昂贵的，约占NHS预算的3%，或每年37.5亿英镑。目前，在一系列类型的专科ICU中，使用了大量的护理机制来稳定和治疗CC患者-这取决于病情或损伤的类型。通常，间歇性气动压缩（IPC）或血栓栓塞阻止袜（TEDS）被用作预防DVT的标准措施。此外，药物用于维持血液流向关键内部器官和身体外围之间的良好平衡，同时保持健康的血压和脉搏。在严重的患者中，这些药物可能会损害患者，因为无法找到平衡。申请人开发了geko TM设备：一种小型电池供电的设备，贴在膝盖后面，发送小电脉冲刺激腓总神经。这会产生小腿肌肉的收缩，使血液在身体周围流动。它目前已被批准用于NHS和美国医疗保健系统，以预防DVT。geko TM还被证明：显著增加重要内脏器官的血流量：肾脏和心脏增加静脉，动脉和微血管血流量，并减少因创伤或手术引起的肿胀。这些都是重症监护病人健康状况的主要指标。geko TM是一项创新技术，受6个全球专利系列保护。自由经营已经建立了大量和定期的专业搜索。该项目的创新将是用geko TM替代IPC或TEDS-表面上是为了预防DVT-但也获得了geko TM提供的系统范围支持的显著优势。* 这将解决仅在英国和美国就价值超过10亿英镑的全球市场，前五年的估计价值为4000万英镑。* 使用该设备将节省NHS约£ 570米每天减少CC患者的住院时间。* 之前已经研究了该设备对环境影响的可能性，并证明比TEDS和IPC节省10倍。该第1阶段项目将开发进行完整临床试验所需的第一阶段方案，第2阶段的健康经济学研究和经济影响评估。

CC is high-risk with a mortality rate of 20-30% It is also costly, accounting for approximately 3% of the NHS budget, or £3.75bn per annum This project aims to reduce the length of stay of patients under Critical Care (CC) or in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Currently, a vast array of care mechanisms are used to stabilise and treat a CC patient in a range of types of specialist ICU -- dependent upon the type of condition or injury. Normally, Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) or ThromboEmbolism-Deterrent stocking (TEDS) are used as a standard measure for the prevention of DVT. Also drugs are used to maintain a fine balance between blood flow to critical internal organs and the body's periphery whilst maintaining healthy blood pressure and pulse. In severe patients these drugs can compromise the patient as a balance cannot be found. The applicants have developed the gekoTM device: a small battery-powered, device that sticks to the back of the knee, sending small electrical pulses to stimulate the common peroneal nerve. This produces contractions of the calf muscles causing blood to flow around the body. It currently approved for use in the NHS and US healthcare systems to prevent DVT. The gekoTM has also been shown to: significantly increase blood flow in critical internal organs: kidney and heart increase venous, arterial and microvascular blood flow and to reduce swelling due to trauma or surgery. These are all major indicators of the health of a patient under critical care. The gekoTM is a innovative technology protected by 6 families of global patents. Freedom To Operate has been established by numerous and regular professional searches. The innovation in this project will be to substitute IPC or TEDS with gekoTM - ostensibly for DVT prevention - but also gain the significant advantages of system-wide support offered by the gekoTM. * This will address a global market worth over £1bn in the UK and US alone with an estimated value of £40m over the first five years. * Use of the device will save the NHS approximately £570m per day reduction in the Length Of Stay of CC patients. * Potential for the environmental impact of the device have been studied previously and demonstrated a 10x saving over TEDS and IPC. This Phase 1 project will develop the first stage protocols needed to conduct a full clinical trial, Health Economic Study and Economic Impact Assessment in Phase 2\.