News

New NanoVibronix Device Decreases Pain and Discomfort from Nasogastric Tube Use

4 June, 2009

NG-ShieldTM Generates Surface Acoustic Vibrations That Decrease NG Tube Friction On Tissue

New Study Presented At DDW 2009

CHICAGO, June 2, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data show a new device helps mitigate
the pain and discomfort associated with nasogastric (NG) tubes which are used to
decompress the upper gastrointestinal tract as well to administer nutrients and
medications directly into the stomachs of approximately 50 million hospitalized patients
worldwide each year¹. The data were presented here today during an American
Gastroenterology Association (AGA) Institute Clinical Practice Distinguished Abstract
Plenary Session at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW) 2009 at McCormick Place.

Developed and marketed by NanoVibronix Inc., the NG-Shield generates surface
acoustic vibrations that decrease the friction of an NG tube on the nasal and
pharyngeal tissues of the patient.

"Data clearly show that NG-Shield reduced NG-tube-related pain and discomfort by a
clinically significant degree," explained study investigator Professor Samuel Adler,
M.D. head of Gastroenterology at Bikur Cholim Hospital in Jerusalem. "As physicians,
we must be mindful of patient comfort and work with our staffs to make their
experience in the hospital as pleasant as possible without inflicting additional pain.
A technology like NG-Shield offers a great benefit to patients who require an
indwelling NG tube."

In the study, "Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of a New Device Intended to
Decrease Pain and Discomfort Associated with NG Tube Use," (Abstract #832), Dr.
Adler turned the NG-Shield off and on during set time periods as the tube was
inserted, maintained and removed from 24 healthy volunteers. The subjects ranked
nasal and pharyngeal pain and discomfort on a scale from one to ten.

The data demonstrated that NG-Shield reduced both nasal and pharyngeal
discomfort levels significantly during the time periods when the tube was fixed
within the patient. No difference was seen in the passage or removal phases.

The study also concluded that NG-Shield possibly could be utilized to treat or reduce
NG tuberelated injury. Further trials are planned to investigate its efficacy in
preventing NG tube related sinusitis, nasal and pharyngeal trauma.

A recent patient perception survey of hospital care underscored the need for better
pain management in U.S. hospitals; almost one-third of patients gave hospitals poor
ratings on pain control².

More About NG-Shield

NG-Shield is composed of the NG-Shield device and a disposable clip-on accessory that may be placed on the external portion of any Nasogastric tube, providing pain relief and turning the catheter into an active therapeutic device. The clip-on accessory is connected to a reusable electronic unit that houses electronics and a rechargeable battery.

For more information on NG-Shield, please visit NG-Shield Data.

About NanoVibronix

NanoVibronix Inc., located in Farmingdale, Long Island, develops products that utilize its proprietary therapeutic ultrasound technology. The company has developed a unique line of catheter based disposable ultrasound devices designed to treat catheter associated injury including pain, discomfort and biofilm formation. The first two products in this category are the UroShield^TM for in-dwelling urinary catheters and NG-Shield^TM for in-dwelling nasogastric tubes.

About Digestive Disease Week

DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, DDW takes place May 30 - June 4, 2009, at the McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. The meeting showcases approximately 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. For more information, visit http://www.ddw.org.

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[1]  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Hospital Discharge Survey: 2005 Annual Summary with Detailed Diagnosis and Procedure Data. Table 4: Number of all-listed procedures for discharges from short-stay hospitals, by ICD-9-CM code, sex, age, and geographic region. United States, 2005. Series 13, Number 165: Page 191.

[2]  Jha AK, Orav EJ, Zheng J, Epstein AM. Patients' Perception of Hospital Care in the United States. N Engl J Med 2008; 359(18):1921-1931.