The Company
LunGuard was founded in 29.12.2008. The company's main goal is to dramatically reduce VAP (Ventilator Associated Pneumonia), phenomenon within the adult ICU’s by using PFT (Peristaltic feeding tube).
The Problem
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care units (ICU’s) throughout the world, due to aspiration of pathogenic microorganisms that reaches the oropharynx from the stomach. LunGuard is developing an innovative Peristaltic Feeding Tube (PFT) as a solution to this problem. The active PFT with its external control unit can reduce the movement of gastric contents into the oropharynx and as a consequence should lead to significant reduction in VAP episodes and its complications.
Market Potential
The number of annual intensive care unit admissions in Europe and USA is about 8.8 million patients (4.4milion in the USA, assuming the same segmentation range in Europe).
Due to an aging population and the increasing acuity of illness of hospitalized patients, both the total number of intensive care unit patients and their proportional share of hospital admissions overall are expected to grow.
The incidence of VAP varies from 30% to 50% and mortality rate reaches 20%. VAP episodes lead to extra Length of Stay (LOS) in hospitals/ICU's and to increased non reimbursed hospital cost, up to 26 billion $/year in Europe and USA.
Patients with VAP had significantly higher unadjusted ICU LOS (10 – 15 days vs. 4 days), higher mortality rate and much hospital extra expenses (additional 20-30K$ per episode).
Consequently, preventive measures will reduce VAP episodes and will save a lot of money.
The product
The innovative and unique disposable PFT brings a novel solution to this problem. The active PFT with its sophisticated external control unit should dramatically reduce the movement of gastric contents into the oropharynx and as a consequence should lead to significant reduction in VAP episodes and its complications.
Main advantages: cost effective disposable (stream of revenues), safety, compatible with current procedure routine, rapid and intuitive learning curve, maintenance free, using existing reimbursement code and easy integration with ICU’s infrastructures.
Advantages
-
Significant VAP incidents reduction
-
Safety
-
Dramatically reduces LOS (Length Of Stay)
-
Reduces mortality incidents
-
Cost effective disposable (“stream of revenues”)
-
Compatible with current procedure routine
-
Rapid and intuitive learning curve
-
Maintenance free
-
Using existing reimbursement code (DRG code within the ICU)
-
Easy integration with ICU’s infrastructures
-
Minimal staff training, special skills or attention
-
Might fit other scenarios where continuous gastroesophageal reflux prevention is required:
-
Crush induction in hospital (OR, ER) or out-of hospital (ambulance)
-
Prolonged naso or Orogastric feeding in hospitalized and ambulatory patients
-
Prolonged feeding in preterm newborns
-
Resuscitation scenarios
The Team
LunGuard's team consists of a group of professionals and is headed by Ofer Pintel, CEO (B.Sc., M.Sc., and MBA) and Moshe Dayan (B.Sc., MBA), Director & VP R&D.
The team includes two leading physicians who were involved with development of few medical devices and hold key positions in the field of ICU and gastroenterology; Prof. Pierre Singer (Chairman of Medical Advisory Board) is the head of General Intensive Care Department and the Institute for Nutrition Research of the Rabin Medical Center, Belinson Hospital and Dr. Yaron Avitzur (medical advisor, senior gastroenterologist).
Company status
First animal trials are expected in Q3/Q4 - 2009.