Presscuff 1A
The 1st Pressurized Endotracheal Tube
€159,500
total amount raised in round
- Backed by over 60 investors
- Eligible for a tax reduction
This campaign ended and is now negotiating with select business angels
Contact us if you are interested in a private meeting with this entrepreneur.
DISCLAIMER
Every investment decision must be based on an examination of an exhaustive set of information provided by the entrepreneur on their online profile. Spreds only proceeds to a limited verification of this information and does not control the investment opportunity within this company. Spreds did not verify the extent to which the business plan is deemed realistic and does not intervene in determining the final terms of the investment, including the retained maximum valuation. Spreds will align itself with the financial terms negotiated with the co-investor(s).
THE PROBLEM
In intensive care and hospital surgeries, there is a need for artificial respiration. This involves the use of “intubation”: an endotracheal tube passes through the pharynx to deliver air directly to the lungs.
But this allows saliva (and other fluids) to seep directly from the mouth, along the outside of the tube, into the lungs. Saliva contains many bacteria , which thus get directly into the lungs. In intensive care units, this causes 1 in 4 patients to develop pneumonia. This type of pneumonia is also called “Ventilator Associated Pneumonia” or “VAP” and is a known problem in hospitals.
But this allows saliva (and other fluids) to seep directly from the mouth, along the outside of the tube, into the lungs. Saliva contains many bacteria , which thus get directly into the lungs. In intensive care units, this causes 1 in 4 patients to develop pneumonia. This type of pneumonia is also called “Ventilator Associated Pneumonia” or “VAP” and is a known problem in hospitals.
THE CONSEQUENCES
In intensive care units, most patients requiring artificial ventilation are already severely debilitated. Additional pneumonia, therefore, is a major problem. Such pneumonia (or VAP) causes:
- Increased risk of mortality. +/- 15% of artificially ventilated patients die in intensive care because of this type of pneumonia.
- Moreover, such pneumonia leads to a prolonged hospital stay of an additional 6 to 13 days.
- This costs society a lot of money. Several studies estimate the impact between >5'000 to 40'000 euros, per patient.
In the operating room, just over 28% of surgeries are at high risk for pneumonia. Here, these are called PPC or Postoperative Pulmonary Complication. Again, the consequences of these complications are significant:
- Greater risk of mortality: 1.7% vs. 0.2%.
- Moreover, such a PPC leads to an extended hospital stay of 3 days.
- This costs society a lot of money: up to 48'000 USD per patient.
CURRENT SOLUTIONS DO NOT WORK
The entire industry then tried to stop the seepage of the liquids along the outside of the tube.
In this process, a balloon (“Cuff”) is inflated along the outside of the tube. But the fluids just flow through the wrinkles (channels) of the balloon. So everyone tried to seal these openings even better, by:
- Different material for the cuffs;
- Different shape of cuffs;
- Multiple cuffs;
But nothing worked. After all, it is impossible to completely seal these openings because:
- Each trachea is different in shape;
- Each trachea is different in size;
- The cuffs should not be inflated too hard, as this will damage the trachea
THE SOLUTION OF PRESSCUFF
Presscuff is the only solution that uses these openings around the cuffs instead of trying to close them.
Our patented endotracheal tube is a system with 2 cuffs (balloons). Between the 2 cuffs we add air pressure. This air pressure will escape along the channels of the cuffs, preventing the fluids from seeping down. After several hours, the nursing staff can suck out these fluids. The continuous sucking out of these fluids, would also lead to difficulties (more on this later, in the Market section).
Our patented endotracheal tube is a system with 2 cuffs (balloons). Between the 2 cuffs we add air pressure. This air pressure will escape along the channels of the cuffs, preventing the fluids from seeping down. After several hours, the nursing staff can suck out these fluids. The continuous sucking out of these fluids, would also lead to difficulties (more on this later, in the Market section).
“This is genius, AND really so simple” - anesthesiologist when he first heard about Presscuff
So we use these little channels instead of trying to seal them. We create a complete seal through this positive pressure chamber without having to use high pressure.
DOES THE PRESSCUFF SYSTEM REALLY WORK?
Presscuff combines the power of pressure and cuffs, the two main elements of our innovative product, and is also protected by a patent. Both in vitro and in vivo tests demonstrate its effectiveness. During a clinical study with 12 intensive care patients at the UZ Brussel, complete occlusion was achieved, without any flow in the participants.
Scientific studies confirm that fluid passage is responsible for 98% of pneumonia in intensive care. With Presscuff, we offer a reliable solution to drastically reduce this risk.
Scientific studies confirm that fluid passage is responsible for 98% of pneumonia in intensive care. With Presscuff, we offer a reliable solution to drastically reduce this risk.