The endotracheal tube market is estimated at 150-230 million tubes worldwide. Moreover, this market is growing at an annual rate of 6.7-6.9%, equivalent to nearly doubling every 10 years.

Currently, the annual market revenue is $2.3 billion in 2023 and it is estimated to reach $2.9 billion in 2029.

Presscuff has the greatest impact to complex surgery and intensive care (frail patients), this accounts for more than 40% of the total market: 

- Intensive care accounts for 15-17% of the market and represents 22-26 million intubation tubes per year.
- Complex surgery with increased risk of complications accounts for more than 28% of the market. 

But also outside these 2 segments, there are opportunities for Presscuff: in the ambulance, for example, it would be safer to use a Presscuff tube as standard, since it is not always immediately obvious how serious the situation is.

Geographically, our focus is first on the US and Europe.

For our market study, we spoke with more than 10 leading hospitals in Belgium. From this it became clear that there is a strong interest in Presscuff:

Moreover, we have approached the leading international specialists in pneumonia in the intensive care unit: both professors from Lille and Barcelona are real world leaders in artificial respiration and both have already expressed interest in working with us. Prof. Stijn Blot of the University of Ghent even sits interest-free on our advisory board.   

Currently, there are several options on the endotracheal market:

Standard tube:


Standard systems use tubes with cuffs (balloons) and have the main advantage of being inexpensive. But since the cuffs are not allowed to be inflated hard to prevent damage to the trachea, they do not seal completely and have no positive effect when it comes to reducing VAP.


Subglottic tube:

Suction systems such as the subglottic drainage system have a partially proven benefit when it comes to reducing VAP. This effect has been studied and amounts to a 40 to 45% reduction in pneumonia. This is an improvement over the standard tube, but this system also presents problems:
- There is a risk of aspiration of tissue into the trachea, causing damage to the trachea AND rendering the system inoperable.
- If the orifice is only just above the cuff, it sucks in the cuff and the system no longer works. So the orifice is placed higher, but this does not allow complete aspiration of the fluids and some fluid remains above the cuff, which then passes through.
- Use for the nursing staff is complex. In addition to the tube, a suction machine must be provided and collection trays that must be regularly discarded.


Silvercoated tube

In addition, there are other solutions, such as silver-coated tubes. Of these, the reduction in pneumonia has never been proven and, in addition, they are very expensive (90 USD).

 

Presscuff is the first system to use pressure between the cuffs. And thus, Presscuff is the only one that uses the openings/channels along the cuffs, rather than closing them completely.

Presscuff generates no harmful pressure around the surrounding tissues and thus no pressure injuries. Because of the positive pressure chamber, a complete closure of the trachea is achieved.

In addition, it is easy to use.