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Presscuff 3A
€297,500
total amount raised in round
230%
- Eligible for a tax reduction
DISCLAIMER
Every investment decision must be based on an examination of an exhaustive set of information provided by the entrepreneur on their online profile. Spreds only proceeds to a limited verification of this information and does not control the investment opportunity within this company. Spreds did not verify the extent to which the business plan is deemed realistic and does not intervene in determining the final terms of the investment, including the retained maximum valuation. Spreds will align itself with the financial terms negotiated with the co-investor(s).
THE PROBLEM
In intensive care and during surgery in hospitals, artificial respiration is necessary. This involves "intubation": an endotracheal tube is inserted through the throat to deliver air directly to the lungs.
However, this allows saliva (and other fluids) to seep directly from the mouth, past the outside of the tube, into the lungs. Saliva contains many bacteria, which thus enter the lungs directly. In intensive care, this causes 1 in 4 patients to develop pneumonia. This type of pneumonia is also known as "Ventilator Associated Pneumonia" or "VAP" and is a well-known problem in hospitals.
THE CONSEQUENCES
Most patients who require artificial ventilation in intensive care are already severely weakened. An additional case of pneumonia is therefore a major problem. Such pneumonia (or VAP) causes:
- A higher risk of mortality. Approximately 15% of patients on artificial ventilation die in intensive care because of this type of pneumonia.
- In addition, such pneumonia leads to an extended hospital stay of 6 to 13 extra days.
- This costs society a lot of money. Various studies estimate the impact at between €5,000 and €40,000 per patient.
In the operating room, just over 28% of operations are very risky for pneumonia. Here, these are referred to as PPC or Postoperative Pulmonary Complications. Here too, the consequences of these complications are significant:
- A higher risk of mortality: 1.7% vs. 0.2%.
- In addition, such a PPC leads to a prolonged hospital stay of 3 days.
- This costs society a lot of money: up to $48,000 per patient.
CURRENT SOLUTIONS ARE NOT WORKING
The entire industry has attempted to prevent fluids from seeping along the outside of the tube.
This involves inflating a balloon ("cuff") along the outside of the tube. However, the fluids simply flow through the wrinkles (channels) of the balloon. So everyone tried to seal these openings even better by:
- Using different material for the cuffs;
- Using a different shape for the cuffs;
- Using multiple cuffs;
But nothing worked. After all, it is impossible to completely seal these openings because:
- Every windpipe is different in shape;
- Every windpipe is different in size;
- The cuffs must not be inflated too much, as this can damage the trachea.
THE PRESSCUFF SOLUTION
Presscuff is the only solution that uses these openings around the cuffs instead of trying to close them.
Our patented endotracheal tube is a system with two cuffs (balloons). We add air pressure between the two cuffs. This air pressure will escape through the channels of the cuffs, preventing fluids from seeping down. After a few hours, nursing staff can suction these fluids away. Continuous suctioning of these fluids would also lead to difficulties (more on this later, in the Market section).
"This is ingenious, and really so simple" – anesthesiologist when he first heard about Presscuff
So we use these small channels instead of trying to close them. This positive pressure chamber creates a complete seal without the need for high pressure.
DOES THE PRESSCUFF SYSTEM REALLY WORK?
Presscuff combines the power of pressure and cuffs (hence our name, Presscuff). These are the two key elements of our innovative product, which is also protected by patents. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo tests. During a clinical study with 12 intensive care patients at UZ Brussel, complete occlusion was achieved without any leakage in the participants (100% success rate).
Scientific studies confirm that fluid leakage is responsible for 98% of pneumonia cases in intensive care. With Presscuff, we offer a reliable solution to drastically reduce this risk.
TAX SHELTER 45%
Investments in this company benefit from a 45% personal income tax reduction. Read more…A remaining amount of €267,500 is available for the Tax Shelter benefit.
Raise summary
| Crowd investments | €57,500 |
| Committed by others | €240,000 |
| Amount raised | €297,500 |
| Minimum round | €25,000 |
| Maximum round | €2,500,000 |
| Shares in the company (total round) | 22.341% |
| Pre-money valuation | €8,690,000 |
| Post-money valuation min. | €8,715,000 |
| Post-money valuation max. | €11,190,000 |