A new chest tube system to prevent clogs after heart surgery
Official title: Proactive Dual-Irrigation Cardiac Chest Tube to Maintain Postoperative Patency
Funded at Circulatech LLC · NIH-11007859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new chest tube system called ThoraFlush, which helps keep tubes clear after heart surgery by automatically flushing them with saline, making recovery easier for patients and reducing the work for nurses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Circulatech LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pembroke Pines, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2024 |
| Project end | September 22, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $392,119 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL176288-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11007859 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients scheduled for cardiac surgery who will require chest tube drainage postoperatively.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing cardiac surgery or those who do not require chest tube drainage will likely not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel chest tube system called ThoraFlush, designed to prevent clogs that can occur after cardiac surgery. The system uses dual irrigation technology to continuously flush the tube with saline, reducing the need for manual maintenance by nursing staff. By automating this process, the ThoraFlush aims to improve patient outcomes by ensuring better drainage and minimizing complications associated with clogged tubes. The research will test the effectiveness of this system in both laboratory and live models to ensure it outperforms current methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to fewer complications and faster recovery times for patients undergoing cardiac procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches in improving chest drainage systems have shown promise, indicating potential for success with this novel technology.
Where this research is happening
-
Circulatech LLC
Pembroke Pines, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pistiner, Jake — Circulatech LLC
- Study coordinator: Pistiner, Jake
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.