ClearFlow, Inc.

Previously known as Clear Catheter Systems, ClearFlow, Inc. is a privately-held medical device company in Bend, Ore. The company was founded in 2007 to develop a family of anti-occlusion surgical drainage devices based on technology from two cardiothoracic surgeons: Ed Boyle, from Bend, Ore.; and Marc Gillinov, at the Cleveland Clinic.

The first product, the PleuraFlow Active Tube Clearance System, is a chest tube, with 510(k) and CE Mark approval, designed to overcome the limitations of traditional chest tubes used in heart, lung and trauma surgery. ICU nurses spend considerable time attempting to keep chest tubes clear, which is time-consuming and often not successful, resulting in “failure to drain” events that require surgical intervention and significant increases in cost and length of stay. About 2.7 million cardiothoracic surgeries are performed in the United States each year, with two chest tubes used per case on average. In Europe, the annual average of cases performed and chest tubes used is roughly equal that amount.

In December 2011, RCT joined Aphelion Capital and California Technology Venture (CTV), in a Series C financing round intended to provide sufficient capital for CCS to expand sales efforts of the PleuraFlow chest tube device.