Covidien plc has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) Clearance for its Kangaroo feeding tube with IRIS Technology. This camera-equipped disposable feeding tube is designed to enhance patient safety by providing visualization for a procedure that currently is blinded.
The Covidien Integrated Real-time Imaging System (IRIS) technology streams a real-time video back to the Kangaroo IRIS monitor, providing visual information that can aid clinicians in identifying key areas of a patient’s anatomy. The system - dubbed the "first of its kind" by the company - also enables medical professionals to save images from the live stream and make notes associated with the image.
Prior to availability of the Kangaroo feeding tube with IRIS technology, feeding tube placement often was done blindly. The risk associated with blind placement is the misplacement of the feeding tube into the patient’s airway, which can potentially cause a punctured lung or even death. The Kangaroo feeding tube with IRIS technology now gives sight where medical professionals were previously blind.
“The Kangaroo feeding tube with IRIS technology is truly unique and was built with patient safety in mind,” said Jim Clemmer, president, Medical Supplies, Covidien. “Products such as the Kangaroo feeding tube with IRIS technology are designed to help improve patient outcomes and set new expectations for medical device product safety and innovation around the world.”
In addition to FDA clearance in the United States, the Kangaroo feeding tube with IRIS technology is approved for use in Europe, Japan, Canada and Australia. The Kangaroo IRIS monitor is currently programmed with seven languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.