Using a special chest tube to reduce pain after heart surgery
Official title: Chest Tube with Sustained Release of Local Anesthetic Agents for Pain Reduction in Cardiothoracic Surgeries
Funded at Medical Elution Devices LLC · NIH-11006814 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new chest tube that helps reduce pain after heart surgery by releasing numbing medicine, making recovery easier and cutting down the need for strong painkillers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical Elution Devices LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | September 18, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $275,752 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL176225-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006814 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing cardiac surgery who will require a chest tube post-operatively.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require a chest tube or are not undergoing cardiac surgery may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new type of chest tube that releases local anesthetic agents to help manage pain after cardiac surgery. Chest tubes are often painful and can lead to the need for strong opioid medications, which have significant side effects. The goal is to create a chest tube that minimizes pain locally, reducing the reliance on systemic opioids and improving patient recovery. By testing this innovative approach, the research aims to enhance the overall experience for patients undergoing thoracic procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce pain and improve recovery times for patients after cardiac surgery.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of local anesthetic delivery is not entirely novel, this specific application in chest tubes for cardiac surgery is innovative and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
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Medical Elution Devices LLC
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stromberg, Daniel — Medical Elution Devices LLC
- Study coordinator: Stromberg, Daniel
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.