The endotracheal tube market is estimated at 200-250 million tubes worldwide. Furthermore, this market is growing at an annual rate of 6.7-6.9%, which corresponds to almost doubling every 10 years.

Currently, annual market revenue is $2.3 billion in 2023 and is estimated to reach $2.9 billion in 2029.

Presscuff has the greatest impact on complex surgeries and intensive care (frail patients), which account for more than 40% of the total market:

- Intensive care accounts for 15-17% of the market and amounts to more than 30 million intubation tubes per year.
- Complex surgeries with an increased risk of complications account for more than 28% of the market (>56 million). 

But there are also opportunities for Presscuff outside these two segments: in ambulances, for example, it would be safer to use a Presscuff tube as standard, as it is not always immediately clear how serious the situation is.

Geographically, our focus is initially on the US and Europe.

For our market study, we spoke to more than 10 leading hospitals in Belgium. This revealed that there is strong interest in Presscuff:

In addition, we approached the leading international specialists in the field of pneumonia in intensive care: both the professors from Lille and Barcelona are world leaders in artificial ventilation and both have already indicated their interest in working with us. Prof. Stijn Blot from Ghent University even sits on our advisory board on a pro bono basis.   

There are currently several options on the endotracheal market:

Standard tube:

Standard systems use tubes with cuffs (balloons) and their main advantage is that they are inexpensive. However, since the cuffs cannot be inflated too much to prevent damage to the trachea, they do not seal completely and have no positive effect in terms of reducing VAP.


Subglottic tube:

Suction systems such as the subglottic drainage system have been partially proven to be effective in reducing VAP. This effect has been studied and amounts to a 40 to 45% reduction in pneumonia. This is an improvement over the standard tube, but this system also has problems:
- There is a risk of suctioning tissue into the trachea, causing damage to the trachea and rendering the system ineffective.
- If the opening is just above the cuff, it sucks on the cuff and the system no longer works. So the opening is placed higher, but this means that the fluids are not completely sucked up and some fluid remains above the cuff, which can then leak through.
- It is complex for nursing staff to use. In addition to the tube, a suction machine and collection containers that need to be disposed of regularly must also be provided.


Silver-coated tube

There are also other solutions, such as tubes with a silver coating. However, the reduction in lung infections has never been proven and, moreover, these are very expensive (USD 90).

 
Presscuff is the first system to use pressure between the cuffs. Presscuff is the only system that uses the openings/channels along the cuffs, instead of closing them completely.

Presscuff does not generate harmful pressure on the surrounding tissues and therefore does not cause pressure injuries. The positive pressure chamber ensures complete closure of the trachea.

It is also easy to use.