Opportunities
NG Tube Inserter
The Technology
Intubation of an anaesthetised patient with a nasogastric (NG) tube can be a straightforward procedure. The normal method of inserting a NG tube is by simple laryngoscopy and the use of Magill’s forceps. However, sometimes for various reasons (patient’s anatomy, surgical equipment or tracheal tube in the way) it can be very difficult to carry out and is therefore often a job an anaesthetist dreads.
Some methods have been proposed to overcome the intubation problem, including: forward displacement of the larynx; filling NG tubes with water; and inflation with air via a facepiece to open the upper oesophageal sphincter. However, these techniques do not appear to have been integrated into clinical practice.
A consultant anaesthetist at a Manchester teaching hospital has developed a device which makes NG tube insertion easier to perform.
The Advantages
- Simple and easy to use
- Successfully used on over 30 patients
Figure 1: Picture of NG tube inserter
An independent opinion on the device was gained from a consultant anaesthetist in another NHS hospital, who confirmed the problem and stated that he would use the device if it were available on the market.
The Potential Market
It has been estimated that 102,000 procedures per year carried out in England alone, may benefit from the use of a device that makes NG tube insertion easier to carry out.
The Opportunities
We are seeking a commercial partner experienced in the development and sale of anaesthetic devices to the NHS. A licence arrangement or a collaborative development project, are both possibilities.
The Contact
For more information about this or other technologies available for commercialisation through TrusTECH, contact:
Dr Joanne Thomas
Senior Technology Manager
TrusTECH, Innovation Unit
1st Floor, Postgraduate Centre
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester
M13 9WL
T: 0161 276 6965