Feeding tubes are known to get clogged, and removing them from patients for cleaning introduces extra discomfort for patients and complicates matters for clinicians. Actuated Medical of Bellefonte, PA just received FDA clearance to introduce its TubeClear system in the U.S. that unclogs feeding tubes without having to disconnect them from the patients.
The system uses single-use clearing stems connected to a control box to access the blockage and mechanically remove it from the tube.
From the announcement:
Maureen L. Mulvihill, Ph.D., President of Actuated Medical, commented that, “Clogging is a significant problem occurring in approximately 25% of feeding and decompression tubes. Our TubeClear system has proven to be both fast and consistently effective. In fact, our studies show it to be at least seven times faster than current approaches. It allows caregivers to quickly reinstate feeding and medication regimens without removing and replacing tubes. In this new era of healthcare cost containment, it will certainly help organizations save significant time and money.”
In addition to the newly approved system for NG tubes, two new TubeClear control boxes as well as clearing tubes for Nasoenteric (nENT), Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy (PEG) and Gastrostomy-Jejunostomy (GJ) tubes are currently pending 510(k) clearance with the FDA.
TubeClear is also CE Marked and is available throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Press release: Actuated Medical Obtains FDA Clearance for TubeClear, a System That Clears Patient Feeding and Decompression Tubes
Product page: TubeClear…
