Innovel Medical, a London-based developer of clinically focused medical technologies funded by Pentland Medical, presents a perspective that airway safety outcomes may be influenced by how procurement decisions are made. This consideration becomes particularly relevant when cost factors are prioritized over purpose-built securement solutions intended to support patient safety, infection control, and tube stability.
«In operating rooms and critical care settings, airway securement is an important part of patient care that doesn’t always receive the same level of attention,» Stewart Munro, Managing Director of Innovel, states. «Clinicians recognize its role in maintaining stability during anesthesia and ventilation, though the approaches used in practice can vary.»
The implications of this variability are increasingly supported by emerging data. According to a study, unplanned extubation (UE) remains a measurable and persistent safety concern, even as structured airway safety programs demonstrate the ability to reduce its incidence. These findings, Munro argues, point to a broader opportunity for consistency in airway management practices, particularly in how devices are selected and applied.
«In many areas of medicine, practice evolves as evidence accumulates, yet airway securement has often relied on methods that were never originally designed for the task. There’s an opportunity to revisit these conventions with a more intentional lens,» he explains. Munro believes that unplanned extubation is preventable and encourages standardized securement approaches supported by reliable tools and protocols.
Within clinical settings, Munro notes that the challenges associated with non-purpose-built securement methods can present in several ways. Clinicians may encounter variability in adhesive performance, which can affect tube stability during procedures involving movement or prolonged positioning. Skin integrity can also become a consideration, particularly among pediatric and older adult patients, where repeated application and removal of general-use tape can affect the skin barrier. These factors, while often managed at the bedside, contribute to a broader picture of cumulative clinical and operational impact.
Research into ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) further illustrates the importance of secure airway management. A pneumonia surveillance guidance highlights the role of tube movement and micro-aspiration in bacterial contamination of the lower airway. A meta-analysis, encompassing more than 16,000 patients, found that re-intubation increased the risk of VAP by more than fivefold. Such findings, Munro stresses, reinforce the connection between airway stability and infection risk, underscoring the value of securement methods that can maintain consistency throughout the duration of care.
Munro offers an additional perspective on how these clinical realities intersect with procurement practices. «When decisions are made primarily at the unit-cost level, it can be difficult to fully account for the downstream clinical considerations that follow. Expanding the lens to include total care impact allows for a more balanced evaluation,» he remarks. This viewpoint reflects a growing conversation among healthcare leaders and procurement teams about how to align purchasing decisions with broader patient safety and system efficiency goals.
Innovel’s response to these insights is reflected in the development of LeaFix, a purpose-built airway securement device designed specifically for endotracheal applications. Engineered with a focus on both stability and skin compatibility, LeaFix incorporates a structured adhesive design that distributes pressure across anatomical anchor points, supporting consistent tube positioning. Its CE marking under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) reflects adherence to stringent regulatory standards, providing an additional layer of assurance for healthcare providers seeking validated solutions and providing Innovel with real-world clinical evidence to improve its solution.
Beyond its technical features, Innovel observes that LeaFix may reflect a growing recognition of airway securement as a distinct area within clinical practice. Munro states, «In other areas of care, purpose-built devices have often been introduced over time as understanding of clinical requirements and performance expectations has developed.»
Within this context, Innovel’s broader portfolio, including complementary solutions such as packaging both eye and airway securement solutions together, is part of its ongoing focus on helping related needs across the airway management pathway. Another innovative solution from Innovel is the Vacuderm, which is a smart tourniquet with an aim to not only identify potential invisible veins, but also facilitate easier cannulation.
The conversation around airway securement is also extending into professional forums and educational initiatives. Innovel has supported a recent webinar, where clinical experts shared insights into airway-related risks and emerging best practices. Such platforms, as Munro notes, can contribute to raising awareness and fostering dialogue among clinicians, hospital leaders, and policymakers.
As healthcare systems continue to refine their approaches to patient safety, airway securement presents an opportunity for alignment between clinical insight, regulatory standards, and procurement strategy. Munro states, «Progress usually begins with recognizing areas that have remained unchanged for a long time. From there, meaningful improvements can be introduced through collaboration and thoughtful design.»
A forward path emerges through a more integrated approach to decision-making, where procurement teams consider not only immediate cost but also clinical performance, patient experience, and long-term system impact. By supporting the adoption of purpose-built, regulated solutions, healthcare organizations can move toward greater consistency in airway management, contributing to improved outcomes across diverse care settings.
