A prototype of Evone (EVA device) providing FCV was developed and tested in a clinically relevant setting in healthy pigs and pigs with diseased lungs. A safe and adequate ventilation for 6 hours and 3 hours respectively, was demonstrated, marking the achievement of Milestone 1 of this project (TRL7).
Moreover a higher efficient ventilation with protective potential was demonstrated an published (Schmidt et al EJA 2018). In lung diseased pigs FCV was again demonstrated higher efficient than VCV, but also more lung protective. This study was awarded ‘Best Abstract’ at Euroanaesthesia 2018.
To create acceptance and awareness the Evone prototype (at TRL6 and TRL7) was demonstrated at a.o. the World Airway Management Meeting 2015 (Dublin), at Euroanaesthesia 2016 (London), 2017 (Geneva) and at the Cutting Edge Laryngology Conference 2016 (London), European airway Management congress 2017 (Berlin), ORL-HNS congress 2017 (Barcelona). End user feedback was gathered for device improvements and a first step in acceptance by end users and KOLs was herewith initiated.
Further, at Euroanaesthesia 2017 a large Industry symposium was organized and chaired by Prof. Dr. med. Hartmut Buerkle from Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Gilles Dhonneur from Paris. Three Key Opninon Leaders (Prof. Dr. Carin Hagberg, Prof. Dr. Luciano Gattinoni and Prof.Dr. med. Dietmar Enk) explained the FCV technology and elucidated on related (potential) clinical benefits.
CE marking was obtained in August 2017 (Milestone 2 of the project), allowing first clinical use of the device.
Contacts with KOLs and anesthesiologists obtained a.o. at the above mentioned conferences lead to clinical demonstrations in several hospitals in different countries. Well-over 300 patient cases in more than 30 hospitals in 10 countries across Europe were performed during the project. These cases revealed safe and efficient ventilation performance of Evone in these highly variable patients. Gained feedback was used to further improve the device where needed.
Clinical studies were executed, which aimed to evaluate Evone’s ventilation performance and potential clinical benefit in the ‘general’ population and in specific patients groups. The studies revealed clear benefits, which are to be presented and published on scientific congresses and in journals (Milestone 4).
In January 2018 the first Evone was sold to the VUmc (Amsterdam, the Netherlands). Ventinova had established the life cycle management system (milestone 5). To further enhance sales across Europe distributors in 13 countries were selected, trained and supplied to enable them to demonstrate and sale the device. By the end of the project, devices were sold to Spain, Italy, France, Austria, UK, the Netherlands and Turkey (Milestone 6).
FDA clearance (Milestone 3) was not achieved during the project.
Note: EVA, Evone, FCV, Tritube, Ventrain, are registered trademarks.