The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) premarket clearance for the ReddyPort elbow device used in noninvasive ventilation (NIV).
“ReddyPort’s patented elbow is central to the eco-system we are building to help mitigate clinical obstacles tied to NIV therapy from dry-mouth, oral biofilm accumulation, to speech recognition,” says Tony Lair, ReddyPort CEO, in a release.
ReddyPort’s elbow features a self-sealing valve that provides seamless oral access to the patient’s mouth without the need for mask removal, alleviating the risk of therapeutic pressure loss and maintaining lung compliance. With ReddyPort’s elbow, bedside clinicians are empowered to use ReddyPort’s oral care appliances (toothbrush, Yankauer, suction swab, and applicator swabs) for routine Q2/Q4 oral care and dry mouth relief while minimizing unplanned mask removal that often leads to improperly fitted masks, pressure injuries, and time-consuming re-fitting processes, according to a release from the company.
The ReddyPort elbow also enables patients and clinicians to use the ReddyPort microphone. The ReddyPort microphone amplifies audible speech tones while minimizing background noise, helping patients to regain their ability to effectively communicate with caregivers and family members.
NIV is the first line of therapy in respiratory insufficiency or failure, commonly seen with conditions like COPD, asthma, pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, NIV is utilized to wean patients off mechanical ventilation. NIV therapy failure frequently occurs because the mask causes persistent dry mouth, biofilm formation, skin breakdown, and difficulty communicating.
When NIV failure occurs, patients face a transition to invasive ventilation, higher costs, longer length of stays, and diminished outcomes. Furthermore, Q2 or Q4 oral care protocols performed on ICU patients are compromised by mask removal that results in alveolar collapse, undermining the respiratory status of the NIV patient, according to a release from the company.
“The ReddyPort System, with the ReddyPort elbow at its core, promotes NIV success by empowering clinicians with efficient access to provide oral care without removing the mask or loss of therapeutic pressures,” according to the company’s release.
The ReddyPort elbow delivered 45,000 compliant oral care sessions to patients under FDA Emergency Use Authorization.
Photo caption: ReddyPort elbow
Photo credit: ReddyPort
