Acorn assists with the market introduction of Sinapi Biomedical’s Xpand Chest Drain.

March 2006

If you were to wander through a trauma ward of a South African state hospital, you are likely to see a number of patients ‘attached’ to a heavy glass bottle by way of a catheter inserted into the patient’s chest or side. The bottle and catheter are there to drain fluid from the patient’s pleural cavity.  It prevents good patient mobility though, and this is actually one of the clinical requirements to effectively drain fluids from the chest.

Chest drainage is required when one of the pleural layers is punctured, causing fluid to leak into the pleural space (potential space between lungs and ribs) and causing the affected lung to collapse. The most common causes of puncture include injuries (violence, sport, car accidents) and surgery (heart bypass, lung resection).  Drainage is also required in cases of Pleural Effusion (accumulation of fluids in the pleural space due to inflammation) and Empyema (an accumulation of pus in the pleural space, common with TB sufferers).  In South Africa the state hospitals treat high numbers of patients with violence-related chest trauma, and any means of more effective chest drainage, leading to reduced treatment time and shorter hospital stay, can reduce the burden on state hospitals.

The chest drainage system most widely used in this country is called the under Water Drain (UWD) and is depicted below left.  The system is cumbersome, complications are common and and incorrect usage will its effectiveness to drain fluids.

Traditional glass-bottle system	Sinapi Biomedical’s Xpand Chest Drain

Sinapi Biomedical’s product, the Xpand Chest Drain, (pictured above right) incorporates 6 required features.  It is much smaller and lighter relative to the traditional UWD and allows for greater ambulation (movement) of the patient whilst attached to the chest drainage system, which in turn leads to more effective drainage and an improved outcome (clinically proven).

The Xpand was conceived, developed and tested by engineers Chris de Villiers and Nico Smit, and after 4 years of product refinement and market testing is ready for the market. Next steps include penetration of the local market (both public and private), and thereafter introduction into international markets, including other African countries. Preceding this will be achievement of the CE mark for the product according to the ISO13485 standard.  Acorn Technologies assists Sinapi Biomedical with fundraising, commercialisation activities and business strategy.