Video-guided bedside thoracoscopy system

This technology is a thoracoscopy system that allows for endoscope guided placement of chest tubes and repeated bedside thoracoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It decreases visits to the operating room and increases the number of safe thoracoscopies that can be done to get the patient better faster.

Unmet Need: Safe and accurate bedside chest tube placement with real time feedback and option for additional diagnostics and therapeutics.

Current methods for conducting chest tube placements can lead to misplaced chest tubes. Misplacements can lead to repeated intervention, unintended injury and higher expenses.. Although video-guided procedures are more commonplace in other procedures, video-guided chest tube placement is yet to be standard of care.

The Technology: Video-guided bedside thoracoscopy system for safe chest tube placement, advanced diagnosis and therapeutics.

This technology improves on current thoracoscopic procedures by allowing for endoscope guided placement of chest tubes and repeated bedside thoracoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. As such, this system can enable more thoracoscopic procedures to be done at the bedside while also facilitating safer and faster care for patients. The cost of the system is offset by enabling additional procedures (thoracoscopy) which can be done bedside and get the patient better faster often without a trip to the operating room.

Applications:

• Bedside chest tube placement
• Teaching tool for chest tube placement procedures
• Research tool for different lung diseases
• Follow-up evaluations of chest tube position and underlying disease
• Therapeutic applications done bedside such as biopsy, pleurodesis and finrinolysis

Advantages:

• Video-assisted tube placement – real-time feedback allowing for bedside adjustment prior to X-ray
• Reduces operating room visits by enabling more bedside procedures
• Improves accuracy and safety of tube placement
• Cost-effective - cost of the system is offset by enabling additional procedures (thoracoscopy) which can be done bedside and get the patient better faster often without a trip to the operating room.

Lead Inventors:

Robert Crum, M.D.

Joshua Sonnet, M.D.

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU24084

• Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik