Thursday, October 13, Karl Sprague, Project Leader at Xeridiem (Tucson, AZ), accepted the R&D 100 award on behalf of Xeridiem. In June, Xeridiem was acknowledged with the R&D 100 award, which recognizes the 100 most noteworthy products developed and available to the market.

The R&D 100 has been issuing the awards since 1963 and spans a number of categories. Former noteworthy products have been the artificial kidney (1970), the fax machine (1975), plastic fiber optic cables (1978), the bone growth stimulator (1980), advanced wind turbine blades (1991), the LED headlamp (2008), and the PleuraFlow™ Active Tube Clearance System™ (2011).

Xeridiem collaborated with Clear Catheter Systems (Bend, OR) and Carbon Design Group (Seattle, WA) to create the PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System. Dr. Ed Boyle, CEO of Clear Catheter Systems, led the development efforts. His team collaborated with Carbon Design Group to enhance the design and create functioning prototypes of the medical device. Xeridiem's role was to design the product for manufacturability and begin production.

The PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System was designed to assist with fluid discharge post-thoracic surgery. Previously, after heart surgery, a tube was inserted into the chest cavity to assist with post-operative fluid drainage. Complications developed when fluid and blood thicken and clog the standard tube inserted into the chest. The PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System uses a guide wire contained in the tube for an active clearance technique. The active clearance system may reduce the need for emergency removal of the tube due to blockage and creates an effective and unique clearance technique.

Karl indicated the tube materials, guide wire coating, and guide wire manufacture were instrumental to the final production of the device. Tube material selection allows for the PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System to be flexible without bending and collapsing on the guide wire. In addition, careful package design is required to allow for sterilization and safe transport of the PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System. The designs for manufacturability creates a commercially viable product that minimizes material and production cost.

Despite challenges, the team maintained focus on the ultimate goal of getting this device into the hands of physicians to help patients in need, recovering from heart surgery. Karl commented, "While it's nice to see this device receive recognition from the technical community, we are even more excited to see how much we could improve clinical care for patients."