Pediatric non-profit, DesignWise Medical Inc., in conjunction with Cnicus LLC, Chicago, IL, has been awarded a $25,000 grant by the Atlanta Pediatric Device Consortium to continue the development of a medical device used to confirm the correct placement of feeding tubes in infants and children.

Tube feeding, although commonly used in clinical settings, is not without risk. Incorrect placement of a feeding tube into the trachea (rather than correctly into the esophagus) can result in filling the lungs with liquid feeding formula, and can lead to serious medical complications and even death. 

Some studies have shown that feeding tubes are incorrectly placed up to 55 percent of the time, and currently the principal method for confirming correct placement is with an X-ray, which in the home setting is not an option.

The SurTube feeding tube has an externally communicating tip whose location in a child's body can be determined with a simple external detector, without the need for a confirming X-ray and its inherent radiation exposure. 

"This grant is incredibly important to the continued development of this much needed device for children and will allow us to refine the design and demonstrate its feasibility," says DesignWise Medical founder and CEO, Brad Slaker. "Additionally, this is the first large project-specific grant DesignWise Medical has received and represents an important milestone for us. This grant further validates the unique approach we are taking to develop the needed medical products for children through a non-profit, volunteer-based business model."

The initial concept for the SurTube device was invented by pediatric nurse Kathryn Waitzman who also founded Cnicus LLC to develop the SurTube device and bring it to market. 

The Atlanta Pediatric Device Consortium (APDC), created in 2010, is an FDA-funded group of Atlanta-based organizations whose mission is to "enhance the lives of children through the development of novel pediatric medical devices, which are both safe and effective."