A new chest tube system to prevent clogs after heart surgery
Official title: TABA: Proactive Dual-Irrigation Cardiac Chest Tube to Maintain Postoperative Patency
Funded at Circulatech LLC · NIH-11251843 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new chest tube called ThoraFlush that helps keep tubes clear during heart surgeries, making recovery easier for patients and reducing the need for extra care from 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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $6,500 |
| NIH project number | 3R41HL176288-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11251843 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients scheduled for cardiac procedures that require chest tube placement.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing cardiac surgery or do not require chest tubes will likely not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving chest tube technology used in cardiac surgeries to prevent complications caused by clogs. The current chest tubes often lead to incomplete drainage, resulting in significant patient issues and increased hospital costs. The new device, ThoraFlush, uses dual irrigation technology to automatically keep the tubes clear, reducing the need for manual maintenance by nursing staff. By testing this device in both laboratory and live models, the research aims to demonstrate its effectiveness in maintaining proper drainage and improving patient recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to fewer complications and faster recovery times for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, similar technologies have shown promise in improving patient outcomes in other surgical contexts.
Where this research is happening
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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.