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Abstract
Abstract
Adaptive Treatment Medical (ATM) is dedicated to enhancing patient safety and provider efficiency with innovative medical solutions. Our flagship product, the Break Away Buddy, is designed to securely hold nasogastric (NG) tubes, preventing accidental or intentional removal by patients. NG tubes are commonly used in clinical settings as a temporary intervention for malnutrition or toxic ingestion. However, patients experiencing hospital psychosis, underlying psychological conditions, or distress, especially in pediatric cases, may become agitated or violent following tube placement. This can result in premature removal, which introduces serious risks such as dysphagia, aspiration pneumonia, tube knotting, and other complications. By emphasizing security, safety, and efficient care delivery, the Break Away Buddy helps reduce these risks, limit care disruptions, and free up healthcare professionals to focus on what truly matters: achieving the best possible outcomes for their patients.
Background
Background
Nasogastric (NG) Tubes
Nasogastric (NG) Tubes
NG tubes are used temporarily, 6 weeks or less, in clinical setting to deliver or remove contents in the stomach. Delivering contents would include tube feeding or drug delivery, while removing contents includes suction for pumping the contents out of a stomach. Different types of NG tube, varying in lumen (number of channels) and French (size), are used depending on the purpose and characteristics of the patient.
NG tubes are inserted by a clinical care provider, such as a nurse, doctor, or dietitian, through the nasal passage way, into the nasal cavity, down the nasopharynx, past the epiglottis, and down the esophageal tract until it reaches the stomach.
Standard market NG tubes are made out of medical grade silicon or polyurethane. This material is strong and biocompatible, meaning it is ideal for withstanding the temperatures of the human body as well as the mechanic stress of fluid flow when attached to an IV pump or vacuum suction.
Treatment & Complications
Treatment & Complications
NG tubes are commonly used when a patient suffers from malnutrition or toxic ingestion, but can also be used as treatment for conditions such as unconsciousness, gastrointestinal perforations or surgeries, dysphagia, gastroparesis, upper GI bleeding, and more. The insertion of an NG tube can be prone to the following risks:
Sinusitis
Sore throat
Dysphagia
Aspiration pneumonia
Tube malfunction due to knotting, blocking, or displacement
Problem Identification
Problem Identification
NG tubes grant patients a large chance of acquiring the risks listed above under 'Treatment & Complications' upon every reinsertion attempt that only grow when the NG tube must be reinserted. Patients suffering from hospital psychosis, psychological conditions, or young patients may experience distressing and violent thoughts or actions once an NG tube is administered causing unplanned removal, or the act of a patient accidentally or purposefully removing their own NG tube without clinician consent.
Unplanned NG tube removal can have many adverse affects to several stakeholders. After removal, a patient will experience a pause in their clinical care as well as an increase in the risk of complication or side effects on reinsertion. The tube, carrying biological fluids, pharmacueticals, or nutritional aids, once removed would empty its contents, causing a significant, potentially biohazardous, mess. Finally, the reinsertion of the NG to resume care not only increases the risk for the patient and becomes more challenging for the clinician, but the clinicians must also spend extra time replacing and cleaning after removal that could be spent caring for patients.
Market Evaluation
Market Evaluation
In 2023, more than 12 million NG tubes were inserted internationally. According to the Market Research Report, the $590.64 million market in 2025 is projected to reach $852.81 million by 2033.
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
Facial Attachments: (Nasal Bridle & Adhesives)
Facial Attachments: (Nasal Bridle & Adhesives)
Nasal Bridle:
Cost $260+ each
Wraps around the nasal cavity like a zip tie, rather invasive
Can still be pulled by a patient, more painful
Facial Adhesives:
Cost $0.02-1.50 each
Not safe for sensitive skin or long term use
Can be pulled off by patient allowing for tube removal
Restraints & Pharmaceuticals
Restraints & Pharmaceuticals
Restraints:
Cost $10+ per pair
Prevents pulling on the tube along with all other functions of the arms
Requires in depth charting and supervision during use in a clinical setting
Pharmaceuticals:
Cost varies but is approximately $225 per 10 milliliters (Haloperidol)
Drugs used to alter the state of a patients mind require a prescription from a doctor as well as extensive charting and administration
Needs Statement
Needs Statement
A more effective and comfortable NG tube securing system would reduce the likelihood of tube removal, enhance patient comfort, and save time for healthcare providers by minimizing the need for repeated intervention.
Break Away Buddy
Break Away Buddy
The Break Away Buddy is the flagship product from ATM. Starting at the initial ideation stages of product development moving from a custom breathable nose plug to the current cutting edge solution, this device prioritizes security, productivity, and affordability to the highest degree.
Instead of reinventing the NG tube, creating some new in depth process for clinicians to learn, or inventing a solution creates a more dangerous environment for patients, the team at ATM focused on incorporating simplicity into the design. Why fight patients who pull out NG tubes instead of finding a safe and clean way for them to do so. This line of thinking is what inspired the Break Away Buddy.
Prototype #1
Prototype #1
Device that attaches to preexisting NG tubes and upon pulling can break away without removing the tube or spilling the tubes contents.
This two piece device has elastic fold ins that upon removal will shut each end of the device allowing for zero movement of the tubes fluids.
Prototype #2
Prototype #2
Device utilizes the same mechanics from prototype number one with more realized insertion points for the two halves of NG tube.
Prototype number two also includes a clip to secure the internal half of the NG tube to the nose.
Prototype #3
Prototype #3
Device utilizes the same mechanics with a larger component to go inside of the patient’s nostril. The clip attaches to the very end of the device reducing overhang outside of the patient’s nose once separated.
In prototype three the seal on the narrow component was altered to avoid printing errors.
Final Product
Final Product
The final design is composed of two parts, one piece that sits inside the patient's nostril and attaches with a clip to the exterior of the nose, and one component that slots into the first piece. An NG tube is inserted like normal into the patient’s nasogastric track, then is cut in half right at the opening of the patient's nostril. Each cut end of the tube is inserted into the open ends of the product, and the interior nose component clips onto the nostril to hold the device in place.
The exterior nostril component is inserted into the plus sign shaped opening of the interior nostril component. A small cylinder extending inside of the interior nose component pushes open the flap on the exterior nose component to allow fluid to flow through the device. Once the two devices are separated, by the patient pulling the NG tube, the seals on both components will close and prevent liquid from continuing to flow and making a mess.
Business Revenue Model
Business Revenue Model
ATM is building their pioneering device, the Break Away Buddy, on a transactional business model. Each individual adapter, or unit, is vacuum molded polyurethane sold in bulk boxes of 300 units specifically to hospital supply distributors. The initial cost and annual cost, ongoing material and product cost, as well as break even and profit margins are all outlined below:
Upfront & Annual Costs
Upfront & Annual Costs
$15000 . . . . . Manufacturing Molds
$50000 . . . . . Machinery
$5000 . . . . . . Certifications (Patent, etc.)
$2000 . . . . . . Inspection Equipment
$5000 . . . . . . Annual Maintenance of Machinery
$1000 . . . . . . Annual Quality Control Testing
$2000 . . . . . . Annual Regulatory Compliance Audit Fees
$20000 . . . . . Facility Renting
$5000 . . . . . . Facility Utilities
$3000 . . . . . . Insurance
$72000 One-time Cost
$36000 Annual Cost
Ongoing Unit Pricing
Ongoing Unit Pricing
$0.03 . . . . . . Material Costs
$0.02 . . . . . . Labor
$0.01 . . . . . . Packaging
$0.02 . . . . . . Shipping
$0.02 . . . . . . Administrative Overhead (Marketing, Management, etc.)
$0.10 Per Unit
Profit Margin
Profit Margin
Break Even Point
Break Even Point
Path to Market
Path to Market
The Break Away Buddy is considered a Class II Medical device by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) standards. The path to market would be made up of acquiring a patent to protect the intellectual property of the device, gathering the materials for and submitting a De Novo premarket approval, and ends with upholding all regulatory controls as defined by the FDA.
The device qualifies under De Novo, as it has predicate devices such as the external nasal bridle or an intranasal splint, but introduces novel technology and special use by splitting the NG tube and sitting just inside the nostril for tube security. After undergoing clinical testing and clinical evidence was collected the De Novo approval will be submitted and processed with the help of FDA reviewing staff.
Meet the Adaptive Treatment Medical Team
Meet the Adaptive Treatment Medical Team
Director of
Director of
Research & Editing
Research & Editing
Abby Neumeister
Abby Neumeister
Abby Neumeister is a student at Wichita State University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. She specializes in biomechanics and has a strong passion for adaptive technology. Her experience of managing multiple social media accounts has equipped her with the knowledge needed for editing.
Her passion for adaptive technology grew from working with children throughout her life and volunteering with Walkin’ & Rollin’ during college. These experiences, combined with her academic coursework, have strengthened her ability to conduct thorough and meaningful research.
Director of
Director of
Marketing & Technology Systems
Marketing & Technology Systems
Taylor Cazabat
Taylor Cazabat
Taylor Cazabat is a student at Wichita State University pursuing her Bachelors & Masters of Science concurrently in Biomedical Engineering. She specializes in biomechanics and has a strong passion for finding affordable healthcare solutions. Her experience working for the Engineering Student Success Center and completing undergraduate research enhanced her knowledge of technological systems including website development, data processing, and graphic creation. Utilizing her experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) on a surgical trauma unit during her undergrad helped her gain irreplaceable knowledge for developing the Break Away Buddy. It was her experience with patients ripping out their NG tubes that inspired her passion for this project.
While business and marketing are not her specialty, she utilizes her strong research skills to understand the market, determine business credentials to base a successful model upon, and implement the model to the highest degree within the specified initial budget.
Director of
Director of
Design & Manufacturing
Design & Manufacturing
Madelyn Stilwell
Madelyn Stilwell
Madelyn Stilwell is a student at Wichita State University pursuing her bachelor's and master's degrees concurrently in Biomedical Engineering, along with a minor in Chemistry. She specializes in biomechanics and mechanobiology. Her research experience in cancer cell mechanobiology has built a strong foundation in research methods, technical writing, and engineering problem solving.
Through her work at the Project Innovation Hub at WSU, she has developed expertise in prototyping and manufacturing processes. She also possesses over eight years of CAD and simulation experience across multiple platforms, including Fusion 360, SolidWorks, OpenSim, and COMSOL. Madelyn is driven to apply her design knowledge to improve the lives of patients and healthcare providers alike.
During her time at WSU, she has served as a mentor for the Shocker Design Experience, overseeing the development of over 50 student teams and their product ideas. From this role, she has become an expert in utilizing a human-centered design approach to innovation, focusing on empathy to understand users and designing to meet their needs.
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